The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-03

ance would induce her to accept any
other position than that OF his wife,
and so fascinated was no now that he
felt prepared TO grant any request or
make any sacrifice rather than part
with her.
'As my own wife," he said, as ii con-
Guiding his last sentence.
She drew a long, slow, quivering
breath, and a look OF intense relief
passed across her pale face. He seized
her hand aud covered 1t with kisses,
you will be mine, dearest, You will
BIO my WIFE"
"Yes," she Whispered. "Yes, l am
weak-I cannot bear to lose you"
He would have clasped her in his
arms, but she withdrew from his en-
brace,
"our marriage must soon take place."
he said.
Arthur Forrars will be here within
ten days"
"He will have to look for his bride
elsewhere" Crawford reloined, eXult-
ingly. "He will not find her here"
"Where, then, shall we be married 7"
she asked,
in London, 1t must be done as
quietly and as privately as possible.
When 1t has taken place you may let
all the world know, il you please"
MAY l not tell my father?p
"No; that would ruin all. II must be
kept secret from everybody for the
present. To-day is Wednesday to.mor,
row will 90 to town and get a special
license to marry you; then on Saturday
morning you will como to London, and
will meet you at the station, and with
in an hour from that time We shall be-
man and wife"
"Your wife!" she said, with happy
eyes and glowing cheeks. The struggle
vas now over.
mine for ever, No man cal part US
then"
"shall we come back hereT
"No; it would be best to remain away
for some timo. After our marriage we
will leave England and go abroad; 1t
may be for months" Crawford replied,
"But my dear father"
"He will be happy in your happiness,
dearest"
AS she lent against a tree near where
he sat under the apple boughs, the soft
moonlight falling through the branches,
touching her hair and Frightening her
face, he felt that no sacrifice was too
great to gain her.
II hope there will DO no possible
hitch in your coming to town." he said,
afraid even then OF losing. her.
II think not. l have long promised
to spend a day or two with my Aunt
Diles, who lives at Crossley, half way
between this and London; but instead
Of going to her l will come to you"
He smiled, thinking that u woman
always could BIO trusted to carry out a
deception.
"You will be- resolute, dearestP" he
suggested.
"Yos. In this last hour l feel as If I
had lived q year, and put all my old life
from me-"
"1'o begin q newer and happier one
with me-" he rejoined.
"What should l do if you did not
love me always-always2' she said,
giving utteranCe to q thought that sud.
denly beset her,
"Can you doubt mo already 2" he
asked, reproachfully.
"Forgiye me, but"
II could forgive you anything in tho
world, Stella, but one"
And thatP" she said, raising a timid
glance at his face,
"That you didn't love me" he replied,
his eyes glowing.
"But you know / do; am / not prov.
ing itP' she asked hurriodly.
eyes, my own Stella, my own bright
star that will guide me to happiness"
he replied fervently, as became forward
and strove to kiss her. She instantly
drew back. "Poor. frightened, foolish
little bird" he said laughingly. Then
he added, II had better leave now, lest
your father should return. Tomorrow
I will come and say goodbye to him.
after which you and l will not meet till
our wedding day"
'our wedding day2" she murmured;
"how strange 1t seem to speak Of our
wedding day, and how near it lies at
hand"
"The nearer the better, %surely.n
"Let us hope So" she answered, with
q faint sigh.
"Love must cast out all fear," he re.
piled, as he walked beside her down the
path and into the hall, where he raised
her hand TO his lips and kissed it again
and again before the door closed upon
him.
When he had gone u dozen PAGES
from the house he looked back, and
then lighting a cigar continued his way
along the road, lying white and dusty
in the moonlight, crossed hero and
there by heavy shadows OF overhanging
trees. As the excitement Of his inter-
view gradually subsidized, a sense OF do
preston seized him, the strain upon
his nerves relaxed. and reaction follow
ed. Thoughts concerning the wisdom
OF the stop no was about to take beset
him. Questions regarding the posi-.
bilities OF his future confronted him; he
felt grave miagiyings, serious doubts
concerning himself. He was aware that
in marrying Stella he would not only
bind himself ~irrecoverably but might
hamper his position and MUIR his pros.
poets. Yet he could not part with her,
could not conquer the fascination she
exercised over him.
He knew full we'll IL would DO best for
him and best for her If they never met
again, but that was q sacrifice he was
unable to make in the present, no mat.
tor might might befall him in the fu-
turc. Claim his prize he would; that
that ho could not deny himself, Many
q man has before now boen ruined by a
womRn-should no be ruined likewise.
From past experience he knew that
his love was u brief lived flame, des'
tined from the beginning to dwlndle to
indifference and expire in dislike. But
perhaps his affection for this sweet aud
simple, loving and trusting girl might
continue and DO tho n green and re.