Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-26

| ~ muSI speak now, Il florence. Let me
know my fate. | cannot bear this uncer-
tainty Florence, love you with all my
| heart and soul-as never man loved before,
[ do believe" he said in low passionate
tones. "Let my love bridge over the great
| gulf of pride, of caste, between US, if, as 1
suspect, there is such gulf.' He felt her
trembling and shrinking, and tried to draw
| her nearer to him. "Florence. dearest,
listen to me; do not lightly refuse my
| prayer"
"But cannot grant it-indeed l can
not" she said. crying softly. '.What you
ask is impossible"
81 ask you first of all for truth, Flor
ence"-his hopes sinking fast. .'Is it that
you cannot love me?"
"Yes-no-think what you will it comes
! always to the same thing-I cannot marry
you," she said more firmly.
cit must be Yes or NO distinctly,
| Florence. Either you do love me, as have
sometimes dared to hope, and your pride
bars the way, or you do not love me, and
have lured me on from caprice to please
yourself, little caring how you might spoil
my life. If it were not for your pride,
| Florence, and your station, L should be a
far humber wooer; but if | abased myself
to you, / should be worthless in your eyes
| Il
to me; grant my prayer, and the one
thought of my life shall be to give you hap
! piness, to encompass you with love deep
er than you can imagine. 1 would not risk
your happiness by tempting you to share
| fate devoid of a single comfort that know
is essential to you; L can give you all, be-
| sides my great love and my lifelong devo-
tion," he pleaded.
81 cannot-I cannot" she cried; but
she was sorely tempted.
| Pride was her bane. She could not re-
linquish the birthright she thought her
own: she could not then realize the worth
of what she then so recklessly trampled
on. Her decision was formed; but she be-
trayed his power over her. She was cry
ing bitterly.
''Must the decision be now? Why have
you spoilt all my remaining time with you
by forcing it upon ME now?"
eyes, it must be now, Florence. You
must either accept or reject me. l must
know my fate. Tell me truthfully-trIlth-
fully, mind-with your hand in mine, your
eyes meeting mine-that you bid me hope.
that you put off the decision only to give
yourself time to ascertain the real state
of your feelings towards me, and 1 will
wait your pleasure thankfully. But
| you cannot say that-your love is power
less in the presence of your pride. Am
not right?"
She knew that he was. He dropped her
hand and paced up and down the room.
"You are very hard with me; you press
me cruelty" she said, and then he stopped
suddenly before her.
difference, do you love me? Have you
any love for me?" he demanded vehement
ly.
She could not tell him that she had not
| She dared not tell him that she had. She
kept her head bent down in silence.
s'Ah, l know knowr' he said sadly.
| cit is your irreVOcable decision that you
will not marry me. You give me no hope
either now or in the future"
! How her heart acbed to see the bright
ness all gone from his face! How she
longed to grant his prayer! But she dared
not break down the barrier between her
caste and his.
"You utterly reject my love now and
forever" he said; s.you Danish me from
you. Is it SOP"
Il DON'T wish to Danish You; like you
too WELL" she admitted. "But l cannot
! marry you," she added sorrowfully.
"Thank you; but your presence will
now be uncomfortable TO me. l do not think
/ could suffer to be played with, in the
way you think possible even by you, Flor
ence. But we must talk little Of the fu-
ture," he went on calmly. '!Haye you
fully decided to leave u.s."
eyes, [ have promised 70 go to Lady Ra-
! ven directly she returns.''
| "And does my mother know this:" he
asked.
'EShe does not know the date OF my
aunt's return or of my departure"
| t,,I T aSL. xxrl,n fn
join Lady Raven?
! seThe goth OF February.
"And this is the 18th of January lit
| tie more than four weeks you will remain
with us them"
Her heart sank when she heard the GER
tain limit put to her stay. She had hith-
erto left it unsettled even to herself; she
could not bear to know that the decision
was irrevocabIe; but she knew it was so
| now.
81 think you will grant me this requc>;,
| Florence; it is to keep my dismissal! at
| present from my mother. A little later
| she may know it; but, whilst you remain
| with US, it will be more pleasant for us all
| that she should not be aware of the truth.
You need not fear because of my presence.
OF course l cannot utterly desert my
! home: but the next month will not see
| much Of me here. For a week l can en-
| ploy myself nearly night and day at bust
ness; after that I shall be at Rugby for
| fortnight, which may be extended to three
weeks. Work will be the best thing to
make me forget the siren who lured me on
| in spite of my better sense" he said sadly.
| al suppose you will not be inclined to for
! give me when [ tell you that l wish | had
never seen you. You have not spoilt all
| y, Il 4
| ed my future for me.''
| "Lat us ne were and forget all
this Wretched conversation" Miss Worth
| ington interposed.
''Thank YOU. No; your visit over, you
| would certainly forget me, while 1 should
| perhaps be hoping that you might think of
me. 1t is better as it is; suspense is the
most intolerable pain that we mortals nave
| to bear. \ GU will do what | wish, Flor
| ence, by saying nothing for the present to
arouse my.mother's suspicious; it will be
less embarrassing for you, and will save
those l hold dear all pain too" He took
| out his watch. ''Half-past five," he said.
MY father will soon he home, and 1 must
| say goodbye. l shall have to be at busi-
ness all this evening, and will just run
| down stairs TO- my mother first. Let
! us shake hands for what may be the last
| time, Florence"
He took her hand carelessly and coldly
| for moment. She claSped his eagerly, but
| could feel no answering pressure.
"Iou have my most earnest wishes,
| Florence" he said, .sthat the future may
! bring you all the happiness you expect to
| find in it,"
| In another moment he was gone and Miss
| Worthington was left alone, with every
N frame tbrohbinr