Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-12-09
CHAPTER NJ

but Philip Darlington saw Florence in a
moment, and crossed quickly to her side.
"For three days nearly, Florence" he
said, "you have summed me--has the in
teryal been long enoughs Have you tor
mented me ,-iiiicicntly TO satisfy yourself?
Or is it the truth, as they tell Inc, that
you have been ringing the changes OF ia
iigne and illncssy You do not look i'll
however," And she did not then; her
cheeks were flushed to the hue OF rose.
IL am not ILL.," she answered unstead-
lily, leaving her hand in his burning grasp.
"Ah, thought not. guessed your mo-
tive in flying from me; but ] have caught
you at last. However, you shall not com
plain Of my persecution, Florence. Send
me from you to-day, and | will leave YOU
in peace till you summon be back again
But do neither lightly, beg YOU"
lie spoke with almost tremulous eager
ness, aud his low tender voice seemed full
OF pathos. She took refuge in evasion.
I'll have never stunned you; OH the con-
trary, have continually wondered ut your
absence"
"And longed for my presence? That il
good to hear, Florence. Give me a little
patient attention then, now that 1 have
come that is all that ask. cannot beat
about the bush; it is my nature To always
20 straight 10 the point; and you have
made me suffer suspense, during the last
three days, beyond my powers Of endu-
rance. You tell me ia words, Florence,
that YOU do not like me, and yet confess
rarely, | grant, but sometimes
have power over YOU. lou put me from
you, and you tempt lie to your side.
know we'll that / am often outwardly
harsh and brusque TO you; but you have
tried me sorely. Between such tempting
sweetness aud such bitter disregard tor att
my feelings am puzzled.
Miss Worthington's face was bent down;
one hand covered her eyes, the other was
in his grasp. instincti,eiy he guessed his
fate; but he meant TO know il now beyond
all doubling.
"Florence, | alone Of all this household
read your pride; did l not 1 would ap-
proach you very differently. 1t is proba-
BILE you will deem il presumption that /, u
tradesmau--yes, | know"-he felt her start
at his words, dare to raise my eyes TO one
% far above me but there Is something in
real. true, unseliish love that is worth o
second thought before il Is east aside"
"Oh, pray stop! DO not say more to me
she pleaded In low broken tones. She
not bid him stay; she prayed him to be
silent, and yet clung conyulsiyely to his
hand.
al must speak now, Florence. Let me
know my fate. / cannot bear this uncer-
tanty, Florence, love you with all my
heart and soul--as never man loved before,
4 DO bali Ia nj In q
tones. Let my love bridge over the great
gulf Of pride, Of caste, between us, IL, rs l
suspect, there Is such gulf" He felt her
trembling and shrinking, and tried 10 draw
her nearer to him. "Florence, dearest,
listen to me; do not lightly refuse my
prayer"
"But cannot grant it--indeed I can
not" she said, crying softly. "What you
ask Is impossible"
al ask you first Of all for truth, Flor
you cannot love me:"
"Ycs-no-think what you will !; II comes
always to the same thing--I cannot marry
you," she said more firmly.
sit must be YES or NO distinctly,
Florence. Either you do love me, as have
sometimes dared to hope, and your pride
have lured me on from caprice to please
yourself, little caring how YOU might spoil
my life. III IL were not for your pride,
Florence, and your station, should be a
far humber wooer; but il abased myself
to you, should be worthless in your eyes
IL know that. Florence dearest, listen
TO me; grant my prayer. and the one
shought OF my life shall be to give you hap
piness, to encompass you with love deep
or than yop, can imagine. would not risk
your happiness by tempting you to share .
fate devoid Of single comfort that know
IL essential to you; can give you all, be-
sides my great love and my lifelong devo-
tion," he pleaded.
al cannot--I cannotv' 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 tramplcd
on. Her decision was formed; but she be-
ing bitterly.
.Must the decision be now? Why have
you spoilt all my remaining time with you
by forcing il upon nic howf"
eyes, 1t must be now, Florence. You
must either accept or reject me. I must
know my fate. Tell me truthfully--truth-
fully, mind--with your hand in mine, your
eyes meeting mine--that YOU bid me hope,
that you put OF the decision only to give
yourself time to ascertain the real state
Of your feelings towards me, and 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 soom.
"You are very hard with me; you press
me cruelly,v she said, and then he stopped
suddenly before her.
"Florencc, do you love me! Have you
any love for mer 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.
"Ah, know--I knoww he said sadly.
ait 10 your irreyocsblc decision that YOU
will not marry me. You give me no hope
either now or IN the future"
How her heart ached to see the bright
ness all gone from his face. How she
longed 10 grant his prayer! But she dared
not break down tho barrier between her
sssts sai hsa-