Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-03-08
At WAR With HERSELF.
The Story Of a WOman's AtOnement,
by Charlotte N. Braeme.
CHAPTER XIV.

averted from him. Lady Charnleigh
would not let him see the happiness so
plainly written there.
"I wish" he said, that you were not
so wealthy, Leonie. | should have
liked to prove the purity and disin-
terestedness of my love. wish there
were thousand difficulties In the way,
that by beating them down, one after
another, | might show how dearly
love you. would serve twice seven
years for you, as Jacob did for Rachel,
he loved SO dearly. would be con-
tent, sweet, to wait upon you all my
life il might call you my own in
death. Oh, Leonie, say one little word
to me-"
Then the lovely face bent half shyly
over him.
r"Do you love me so well, Bertram?"
she asked, in low voice.
.EYou can never know how WE'LL
sweet. might spend my life with you
I might give to your service every
moment of it'll it with thoughts OF
youAknow no other care or interest;
aud yet, when came to die, you would
not know how much | loved you. 1t is
not given to all men to tell what they
feel
Il do not think you are very deficient
in eloquence," she said, with happy
smile.
"Ah, my darling il were a poet, I
might put my love into song q song so
beautiful, so full OF divine harmony,
that the world in reading it would
know now had loved you. If | were
an artist could paint you, and show
to the world that form which to me is
peerless But not being either, can
not do so. can only tell you in plain
words that love you better than fame,
fortune or life; and | plead to you,
Leobie, for some little love in return.
a am full Of faults" said the girl.
81 am not SO perfect as you think me,
Bel tram You might, perhaps, be dis
appointed in me after all. "
"There is no fear of that: know you
have fGu IS, but, Leonie, they are such
as cam but love"
You a. not know what they are"
she said, I am so worldly Bertram-
love rank, wealth. position, money,
gayety, Lie, fashion, and those things
WHICH the wise despise. love them,
and. should never be willing to live
without them,
Love we,with them, said Sir Ber-
tram, and shall not care; those are
very veniGl faults, Leonie, in one 80
young and beautiful as you"
e am not very patient, either" she
continued: and in me there is great
want. can give it no name, and know
no name for it; but | want something
that Ethel Dacre. for instance, has in
perfection. am changeable, as the
wird-grave, gay, idle, Industrious,
good and wicket, all in an hour"
"lCan only repeat that | love your
faults, Leonie. l believe they are
dearerto me than the virtues of other
women. But, Leonie, sweet, have you
heard what | asked you? Tell me
willyon care for me, will you be my
wife}p
1t, was the question that she had
heard in her dreams thousand times.
Will you be my wife, Leonie? My
love shall shield yOu-my heart shelter
you, Do not turn from me. Never
mind those lilies-if they could speak,
each leaf would urge a prayer for me.
Look at me tell me, will you be my
wife,"
Her fair head dropped near him: the
passion Of his words had conquered
her. She could make no answer.
He took her little white hands and
covered them with passionate kisses
She made no resistance. She did not
not draw them from him. Then, rails
ing the fac so beautiful in its softened
tenderness he kissed the white brow, |
his lips murmuring the while words so
full Of Tenderness that she never forgot |
them
Say only one word, Leonie. Tell |
me that you love me-even ever so lit
tie. Twill hope for more in time"
"bcan tell you that, she whispered.
"Yti love me a little" he cried.
"Yes-iust in the smallest possible
degree she replied, with a smile of
perfect happiness.
AID will you try really to love me
morey'
Il will try" she answered. "D2 you
think the lesson will be hard one to
learn, Bertram?"
He kissed the fair hands again, tell
iug her she was as peerless as u queen.
She tried to hide the happiness that |
surged through heart and brain, |
thinking that it was not maidenly for
her lover to see how well he was
loved
My head is not very firm one" she
said, suddenly, looking up at him.
hnonttf,I y l. ,N,,k
in, drawing the blushing face nearer
to his own.
"You have Interrupted me, Bertram
I repeat. my head is not very firm-my
brain will not hold many ideas at once
Just now it is filled with thoughts of
the ball and several other things. Ber-
tram she continued, slowly, TASK me
those questions again when the ball is
over, and l will give you an answer"
He looked at her in rapture of
hope.
my darling" he cried, show good
you are to me! Oh, Leonie, shall | win
you after all? The very hope dazzles
me. If you sent me from you I
should"
What should you do?" she asked,
anxiously.
Not kill myself" he replied, slowly.
Death is towards resource. But
from my life every CLEAN of bright
ness would die out. | should 90 far
away, darling, from home and friends,
to some strange far-off land, where
nothing could remind me of you.
l should lose everything that makes
life dear in losing you. And no face
avaY, charned me- Save vOnrs Won