Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-06-07

this man with the face and head OF a
Saxon king, He never appeared to
rest; he seemed unable to eat or drink
as ordinary beings did. The question
ever on his lips, whether on steam
boat or rail, or road was
"How long will IL be before the
Journey Is accomplished"
Periods of hope came over him, whom
he would say TO himself that she loved
him, and that his dismissal was but n
caprice; and then he would picture to
himself long happy life blessed with
Leonie's love. Again a period Of
despair would succeed, when he would
feel sure that his err and must prove
fruitless. We're such the result, he
decided he would go and lose himself
in the depths of an African desert,
SO time passed, until one day, in the
early spring-time, he reached the
picturesque old city Of Reims, in the
fair land Of France,
The sun was shining the birds were
beginning TO sing, pale blossoms were
peeping, summer buds growing green
on the trees. Leonie Rayner feeling
strong and almost well, sat in the
pretty salon Of the little villa alone.
Sir Huntey, who was most devoted
Squire OF dames,' had sent magnifi-
cent bouquet of pale hyacinths and
violets, and many other fragrant flow
ers, that brought such sweet, sad
memories to her mind, AS she sat
there admiring them, Ethel entered
the salon; her face wore an express
sion OF sudden, Startled joy. She
went up to Leonie and took some Of
the flowers in her hand,
81 ought to lie jealous she said;
para has sent me no bouquet,
Perhaps he thought you did not de-
servo one, :" remarked Leonie, with u
little laugh,
"Leonie, said Ethel, suddenly bend
ing over her, could you bear u great
a might try, - replied the girl, with
a sad smile; Il do not think life holds
many more joys for me. "
Some one is here, and waiting to
see you. -s''' --e>
us it Lord Charnleigh?" asked
Lconie with u sudden shrinking of
pain
NO, it is not Paul" replied Ethel.
Guess again. 1t is someone you liked
better than you have ever liked Paul"
The beautiful face grew white, the
violet eyes opened wide-fear, hope,
expectation, sorrow, all appeared in
that wistful glance.
rs tit it Bertram?" she whispered,
and the faint whisper died on her lips
yes, it is Sir Bertram. Here he is
to speak for himself" and Ethel turned
away, while Sir Bertram claspod her
in his arms.
my darling" he cried, you will not
send me from you again"
She tried to resist, to cry out to him
that she was not worthy of his love-
but he would not listen to her, The
might of his love swept away all OBJ
stacles, as the whirl of the stream
sweeps away dead leaves.
"You will not send me away again,
Leonie, my love, my wife that must be.
I have tried life without you, and |
prefer death.
1t was useless to resist, If her pale
lips opened to utter a word of remOn-
he closed them with passionate
kisses; if she tried TO withdraw herself
from those loving arms he only re-
peatod over and over again that he
would not leave her. that he would not
even release her, until she had prom
ised to be his wife.
You know you love me, Leonie; if
you did not you would not let me kiss
your face. You know you love me-
why be so cruel, why try to deprive
me Of all hope and pleasure in life?
Leonie, will you be my wife? You did
not love Paul FIemyng-you loved me.
Say one word and will release YOU.
He told her that he would not, could
not release her, until she did so; and
then he looked at her with such long
inc, loving eyes that her heart almost
lched with the excess of her happiness,
so she whispered the one word he
You are more lovely than ever,
Leonie, ne said, my pearl among
"Bertram, she asked, gently, "how
did you know that l was"
That you were no longer a countess,
and were free for me to VIM" he in
terrupted. BLESS all newspapers,
Leonie- they told me all about it, and
them it is that | am here"
CHAPTER XLvu.
81 will never speak falsely again
never while | live" Leonie had de-
clared; and now, as she stood in the
pretty garden of the villa. the words
returned to her with cruel force.
Bertram had prai> ed her SO warmly,
Bertram admired her so truly; he
tho CHIT her so loyal, so hOnorable; he
believed her to be almost perfect; he
had no idea of her sin-not the faint
e t notion Of the fraud, the deceit that
she had practiced; he believed her fair
and pure as a spotless lily. She knew
herself to he fair only in the light of
No enc knew of her sin but Paul, and
fortunes would not drag the tory of it
from him. Was there any need to tell
Sir Bertram? 1t would part them for
ever, she felt sure. She remembered
what lie had once said, that he could
pardon anything but dishCnor, but that
never. The revelation of her sin would
surely part them. Re loved her, con-
sidering her loyal and true, but would
he love her when he knew that in plain
words she had been thief? Why not
marry him and say nothing to him
about the past? He would never know;
and he would believe in her until the
last day of his life.
So once more Leonie Rayner stood |
in the sunlight and held as it were
the balance of her life in he" hands;
once more she was at war with her.