The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-03-25
CHAPTER Ix.-continued.

moment, Mr.. Damiens,n she replied,
carelessly, though her flushed cheek be-
lied the serenity of her manner. If she
only knew the wild turmoil Of passion
which thrilled his soul she would have
been even less at ease.
He scarcely hears her, as she adds
another coil to the wrap round her
white throat
''Now am ready" Wanda says, and
they pass out into the lonely road, with
the frozen river on one side Of it and
the snow burdened pines on the other.
81 would not be presumptuous, Miss
Arlington, but may say that this lit
tie walk is a glimpse of Heaven to me?''
he faltcrs.
He feels the soft hand ON his arm
tremble, he sees the fearless misery
which comes into the eyes and dims
them.
'sLet-let us walk faster" she whis-
pers scarcely above her breath.
$50 fnster!" he echoes bitterly. "Yes,
had almost forgotten myself. There
should be short cut to the left here.
Are you cold?"
''No," she says, but there is tremor
in her voice, which she strives hard to
render light and careless.
$50 faster!" he says with despair
ing shrng of his shoulders. .sAh, II
these hours of torment would only go
faster. Do you remember the day that
first saw you? You were standing at
Mrs. Evesham's cottage door one July
evening and the wind blew my straw
hat to your feet. You picked it up and
gave it to me-"
81 do not remember have forgot.
ten," Wanda says indistinctly.
sit seems an age to mean age
l."
He stops, for something like sob
strikes his ear.
He looks down into her face. It is
pale, and the red, ripe lips are tremu-
lous.
He has mistaken her emotion. The
red flush flies to his face, then leaves it
white with suppressed excitement.
ssWhat! Wanda!" he hesitates, for,
with quiver of the lids, tears are
springing to the blue eyes. "Whatl
you are crying! Is it possible you love
me, grip" and he seizes both her hands
and looks down into her face with a
hungry glare. SIS it possible? Look
at me, Wanda. Oh! Heavenl I long,
and yet dare not hope. Wanda, you
know love you. You cannot help but
know it. have loved you since the
first moment saw you, Inever dreamt
that you would give me hope to love,
No, it cannot be. Look at me, Wanda,
Is it possible that--you--love-me?"
Slowly and fearfully the words drop
from his lips.
Then she tries to draw her hands
away, but he only clings the harder.
''Speak, Wanda" no says, Anarsely,
"Do you love me?'
Then she speaks. Slowly, heavily
she lifts her eyes to his and looks al
him with great yearning misery and
solemn truthfulness in them. 81 am
SO sorry that you should entertain such
feelings for me, Mr.. Damiens, for / can
never return your loye.n
She sees him qulVer under the blow
she has struck, and with a woman'i
tenderness seeks to heal the wound.
"Oh! do not look like that" she cried
for he has dropped her hands and
stands before her dazed like one in 6
dream,
II cannot help nay looks" he says
bitterly. Nor can / help loving you
1t is no crime to love you, Wanda-Miss
| Arlington"
'Nor for me to be unable to look up
on you as other than a friend"
eyes, yes, that is true" he replied
hurriedly. HYoa must be my friend.
will not annoy you with my solicita'
tions, will worship you in silence"
She could pot see his face. She
could not see the cunning malignant
CLEAN of those dark eyes, nor imagine
that the mans humble words but
cloaled designs Of future conquest.
He had recovered the first blow of his
disappointment and was now himself
again "a cunning, treacherous man,
ready to do anything to attain his ends
He give her apl Not he, indeed, What
care he Though she had dozen lovers,
he did not blame her for 1t, only-it
would be all the worse for them.
So he said once more with all humil-
ity: "Be, as you say, my friend, Miss
Arlington. am as you see a rough.
uncouth fellow, and you may humanize
me-"
II am very segFy fog FoN," Wanda
said frankly; ...6lt, Mr.. pamiens, you
must not let Your passion grow
the better of you. There are hundreds
of girls as attractive as am, which is
not saying Mqeh for thelF charms. who
will gladly give you back love for love,
| who have not already set up an idol OF
their own"
The words escaped her lips without
thought. She would have given the
world to have recalled them, but it was
too late.
"Then you do love another?" he
asked, with Nell -telghed detection.
/, She bliished crimson. :
..'No one has ever spoken to me OF
love but you." she preyhticated-
.'Loye is not born Of words, (" Damiens
said, passionateiy. "a gIaAae=a pres
sure Of the hand. a flash of@blt why
aeiips 3 bliss denied inea 9Sufiee It to
Ray that you are lost to me, Nay, do
not tremble 50, Miss Arlington; your