Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-08-25

u Know, know, " she answered. quick
~, and with a trace OF trepidation, for in
to her, and her olive cheeks became sui
fused with red. 'My father has spoken
very highly of you."' she continued, land
need l soy that his friends are welcome
here?"
These words gave Ivan hope and cour-
age, for he was not aware at this time that
she was betrothed to Moshka Umansk, and
he said:-
"Presuming upon my welcome. then, I
pray you give me your arm, nd let ME
lead you into the corridor"
She hesitated for moment but only for
moment, and then, remembering how
highly her father had spoken of the young
laying the tips of her gloved hand on his
| arm, she allowed him to lead her TO the
corridor. huge stone passage as in most
Russian houses. fand now decorated for the
monce with evergreens and rare plants.
Then, with the mpuisiviveness that
abruptly
"Rachel, I have seen you often, and love
for you has grown up in my heart, until it
seems to me as if the world without you
would be a bowling Wilderness.
"But you are Christian" she exclain,-
ed, drawing little away from him, and
looking very astonished.
"And what Of that? Love levels all. Love
has no creed; it sweeps away every barrier
of race and faith. But tor your sake would
renounce everything, and will become your
slave"
"Hush, you must not speak like that, "
she answered, trembling little with the
excitement his words caused her. Il ad-
nit that love is all-powcrful, but, though I
you love; it is impossible"
"lmpOSSi ble!" he echoed,
eyes"
Wherefore impossible"
Because l am already betrothed and
pledged TO a co-religionist"
This announcement seemed to cause
Ivan to stagger. Fire came into his eyes
and his cheeks Redeemed, while his voice
was quivering as he said:-
Betrothed and pledged! No. no. say not
that; have dreamed ofyou Let me not
awake to find that have been Knocked by
9! phantom. Detrothed and pledged Nay,
though it be so, i will hope to win you. I
know not my rival; but ann as good as he
as brave as he as strong as he and will
pc his deadly enemy, even to the gates of
the grave"
ooh, how strangely, you talk" Rachel
exclaimed, with shudder. Wherefore
do you speak like that? 1t is not kind. 1t
is not manly"
"Not manly" cried Ivan, with a laugh
OF bitterness. Not manly to hate ones
rival, and to wish to STAY him? The lower
animals brook no rivalry. Is man less
than the animals? Love that is thwarted
becomes madness. and madness is reckless
OF consequences. tell you Rachel, love
let him bewaren'
Over Rachrl's beautiful face there swept
look OF fear and pain that was quite
foreign to it, and, gazing, teartully on Ivan,
who addressed her in language that she
had never heard before in all her life she
said;-
"Talk not like that. You Brighten me,
and shall flee from you as from one who
ness. tell you that my love and pledge
are already given. How, then, can l be-
stow them on you?"
Il confess I have been hasty," he an
swered, alphabetically. But have nursed
my admiration for you SO long in silence
me to speak, feel as if many words would
but waste time. Again I say to you,
Rachel, that the world to me without YOU
will be a blank, and my life will be pur-
"oh! why do you distress me-" she
claim upon me. There can be nothing in
common between us. Our paths lie wide
asunder. A man must not linn at the I'M
possible; he should not leap at the stars,
and it is sinful for him to attempt to sap
the happiness Of a woman. Up to now my
life has been without one discordant note
Why should you now sound discord? To
Moshka Umanski I am pledged, and
Moshka Umanski will become my husband
He is one ofmy people, he is the choice of
my parents, he is the heart of my heart
For me to listen to words oflove under
these circumstances would be deadly sin.
lfyou desire my friendship you shall have
is u o,,1 NJ -
But more than friendship l can never give
you"
She had spoken hurriedly and with some
display of excitement, but with an evident
intelligent grasp of the situation. Alexietf
seized her hand with an amount of nervous
energy that quite startled her, and with
blazing eyes he looked into her exquisitely
and misgiving. She tried to draw away,
but he held her fast, and said with GER
tain subdued iierceness:-
ITO look on you is to forget everything
else. | have looked on you, and all the
world has faded from my gaze. i'll turn
my eyes from you shall be blind, even as
q sun gazer is. Bid me live, bid me hope,
bid me rejoice. Tell me to grove in the
dust at your feet and will do it, There is
no request you can make that will not
comply with, save to go from you in des-
Ivan Alexlet, release mel" she cried,
with growing anger. which flushed her face
once more and caused her eyes to glow un-
til they flashed like the stars that sparkle
in frosty splendor in the Arctic heavens.
But her anger only enhanced her un-
speakable. beauty; and those wondrous
eyes burned into his very soul, making him
boider, more reckless, more determined.
You must give me hope!" he said pas
sionately.
'"It cannot be; it is impossible"
Impossible! There is no such word.
A passion of love such as burns
within my veins can sweep every OBJ
stacle away, even as the avalanche that
thunders down the mountain side sweeps
all before it,"
"Are you mad?" she groaned. still trying
to release herself
"Iflove for you be madness, then am 1
mad" he answered. ''Again ask you to
give me hope.",
'And again say that cannot be-"
20, Rachel! harden notyour heart against
mel"
II would not do so, but you are forcing
me to it. 1 would be your friend. 1 will
love you as sister,"
''Such love will not satisfy my great
passion which burns like valcano and
will not be subdued. 1 am a bound slave
tok J, To-,