Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-05-26

hopelessncss OF Il all; he knew that e
have given his heart in this irrevo.
cable way to an object SO unattainable
was, indeed, the very madness Of
70 ". There was but one thing to be
done-to say farewell to her forever
with the faint hope that she might
have guessed something Of his devo
ton and would give him in his exile
an occasional kindly thought"
As he finished speaking La Tosca sat
perfectly still. save for tho tremulous
motion Of the lace upon her breast.
She could not affect to misunderstood
the meaning of his words. and q
strange, wild Joy filed her heart, not
unmingled with certa feeling OF
self-contempt. What did II mean?
Had she, La Tosca. adored by half the
gilded youth Of Italy, and hose favors
had been sued for In vain by the
highest in the land, given her he ,rt to
this young man, who stood silent be-
fore her and whom she had only seen
half dozen times ut most?
"ls this On allegory, signor?" she
asked a little tremu)ously.
"Yes. madame"
Her fingers wandered over the keys,
the beautiful head bent little so that
he could not see her face.
1.-The young mani recognize" she
said slowly. "But-the princess?"
as yourself" he cried, losing all
control. "rardon, madame, my folly,
my madness. You appeared b fol 9
me. and followed in rrible dream,
till / awoke PROSTATE at your
feet on the steps of the
temple where your beauty regina
That is my excuse. Do not Judge il,
/ beseech you, too harshly. Forget
the poor, rash fool who dared to bask
for one short hour in the sunlight Of
your smile. And now, madame, fare
WELL"
No word escaped her lips. The
dreamy music still went on. With n
passionate gesture Of despair he turned
from her. .
She raised her eyes and followed
him with n glance rs he moved toward
the door. Like lightning fash the
whole truth was revealed to her. She
loved him. The proud heart had
found its master.
"S.gnor Cavaradossi! she said softly.
As II moved by a steel spring, the
young man turned and faced her.
With a sudden gesture, she rose and
advanced toward h \ in that slow,
graceful snuous :. hion that distin-
guished her. Her face was colorless,
save for the red lips and dark CLEAN
of her lustrous eyes, those marvellous
ewes that seemed to sink into his very
soul. "Signor Cavaradossi," she be-
gan in her low. rich voice. stopping q
pace or two from him and leaning
with one arm upon the back OF q tall.
carved chair near her; "if I might be
permitted TO critic Sc your allegory, I
should say this: Had | been your
poet, and real pass on had ever en-
tered, not into my head like vain
dream, but into my heart and into the
blood OF my veins. ] swear ! would
have been raid of nothing. ] could
be O criminal. perhaps, but certainly !
would never be coward"
"Madsme."
She did not notice the interruption,
but went on swiftly as II afraid TO
stop and think.
IF loved, would bravely look the
matter full in the face. ! sh uld
know al the first look whether I be-
longed wholly TO the object Of my
passion, and ] would abandon myself
without weakness, without hypocriti-
cal reservations, 10 his mbrace forever.
| would do more, Signor Cavaradossi.
would wish u respected name. q
stainless honor. u magnificent destiny
before me, so that could cast 1t all
down. my life and my soul, ut the
feet Of him ] lived. II there were
shame aud disgrace for his sake,
would glory in It! ! would throw
down my gauntlet publicly, glad to
lose the whole world. so there could
be nothing in IL except my love-"
With parted lips. and breath that
came quick and fast, he bent toward her.
Madame. lie cried. huskily. "For
Gods sake. do not play with my reason"
"And IL ] had been disdained, rs
would have been probable, for rarely
Is there such 4 love on both sides, l
would find, yes, | would find q strange
pleasure in the very excess Of my hui
initiation. I would 60 alone, alone
forever, TO some obscure corner of tho
world, happy and smiling, to die Of
nv wound. She stopped, o faint
color glowing in her cheek, and q
light in her eyes that made her whole
face radiant
Mario stood for an instant, as II
turned to marble. What wild fancy
was IL that now had arisen and was
.rying aloid to him for credence?
Then. suddenly, the long pent up pas-
sion OF h heart burst forth in tor
rent OF words He implored her 70
tell him the truth; II there was one
shadow of q chance OF his love being
returned. ANSWER me. answer mel"
he cried, 'only one word"
"This 10 my answer" she murmured,
Hinging herself into his arma IL re-
main In Romei love you!"
CHAPTER VI
Glow charming You are this after
noon. You look like one OF the blonde
A.