The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-03
CHATTER III,
SURELY You Low MEY

VI HHGAAE 6NVAAN SSAWy SAeWASAa
raised his hat, smiled, and shook hands,
my father is not at home" she said,
striving to appear calm and collected,
even whilst conscious that she failed,
NOR do l expect him back before ten, "
II was aware hc had gone out" an
swered Crawford, reading signs of an
inward strife and outward confusion in
her counteuance, land for that reason
Isought this opportunity Of speaking
to YOU"
ITO mel" she replied, her heart beat
ing so loud that she could scarce hear
her own voice,
ITO yOu," he %rejOiued, ~glancing from
her through the red-tiled passage to
the orchard beyond, with its ripening
fruit bending the branches OF trees
whose topmost leaves were silyorea by
the rays OF the iust'risen noon sailing
upwards to purple heights. 1--WE can
best talk there" he added, nodding
towards the orchard as he stepped into
the hall. "Come," he said, as she hesi'
tated.
She walked beside him until reaching
rustic bench beneath a wide boughed
tree they sat down. Stella felt as one
in o dream, a certain unreality being
given to the scene by the faint white
light behind them aud the deep, blur
red shadows around them; and above
all by the fact OF her sitting here beside
this man with outward composure, as II
her throbbing heart and whirling brain
didnot ~ioretell that the hourha arrived
when she must decide her destiny.
'Stellal" Crawford began, in a low
voice that was tremulous with sup
pressed emotion.
It was the first time he had addressed
her by her Christian name, and never
had 1t sounded sweeter to her ears.
II have been here for three pleasant
months that have seemed brief as days,
but now / am going away"
"Going awayW abe repeated, all the
beauty Of the night suddenly fading
from her eight, and all the happiness Of
her life ebbing from her possession.
"Would you be sorry il we partedT"
he asked, watching her a~ttentively,
eyes" she replied, with white lips.
'Then we needn't, for Stella, l love
you, and have loved you from the first,
and we must know no separation"
Don't say that" she answered, quick
ly. II mustn't hear you"
"What may not / say what your own
heart has assured you Of long ago2" he
asked, bending towards her.
Because" she rejoined, drawing
back, "as told you long ago, l am en-.
gagged to marry another man"
But surely, 1haye not deceived my.
sell, all this time; tell mei Stella, that
you love me-"
~ love you," she said in a low voice,
too ingenious to deceive him, too hon
est too equivocate, feeling joy in o con-
fession that nevertheless panied her,
Then, dearest, il we love each other
we have nothing to fear, and nothing to
endure, for we shall be the whole world
to each other"
The rapid strides by which he ad-
vRnced bewildered her, but she chung to
the land mark binding her to her old
life. ~ am pledged to another" she
murmured. "and / cannot, dare not
break faith with him"
"But you don't love him." asserted
Crawford.
AS che could not contradict him che
remained Silent.
Would you waste your young lie in
ajoyless, loveless marriage with him,
see the years pass by in hopeless weari-
ness, whilst with mo you would know
the happiness of mutual love, for which
your heart and mine crave2"
II am bound to him." she persisted,
Eyes, / am bound TO him."
by some foolish promise given at u
time whom you didn't understand your
self or know what love is; but now,
dearest, you will not by keeping your
word condemn your life and mine to
misery" Crawford answered, every
note in his voice appealing to her heart.
HE may release me-" she suggested.
"Not he. Be certain he will keep you
to your word; and to marry him would
be a wrong both to him whom you
don't love and to one who loves you
with all his soul"
She sat silent, her brain whirling with
confusion, her heart beating tumultu.
ously, tho delight Of this mans avowal
stirring and distracting her.
"Come with me-" ho said, in tones so
low that they were almost a whisper.
ooh, no, no; l dare not"
"But you said you loved mo. Stella"
he exclaimed reproachfully.
II love you" she repeated. eyes, I
love you'll love you |"
Every we'll. Women have darod
much before now for sake Of the mon
they loved"
She felt tho force Of his words, and at
that moment she believed herself capa.
bic Of making every sacrifice for him.
"Why should we part for ever2 Life
10 terribly short, dearest, aud our joys
are fow. Must we thrust them from
uB2 Come with me-"
II dare not" ahe ialtered, in d voice
80 irresolute that his quick cur told
him shO wavered. ut would be unjust
to observation-disclosures"
"Will you persist In bringing misery
to yourself and to mo, aud in wronging
, the man you wed by giving him an
empty hoart2"
"sparc mo, l nm miserable" sho
cried out with o low sob In hor throat.
Take but one step and you have
severed all old tios," he said.
Leave me" she pleaded, tho obbing
strength Of u last appeal In hcr voice;
"leavo me, l cannot listen to you.h
GLOW eau l leave you tothO wrotchod
iatc to which you condemn yourself
through some mistaken sense Of duty7
How can / part from you now that /
know you lovO me9"
"Havo pity OH mo-"
'It's because that my heart Is full Of
pity and love that l plead with you.
Come with mo from this dull place,
whore yours pass as In a dream, aud l