Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-04-05


Leonie," he said. "How proud am! |
ask myself what have | done that
| should win treasure so priceless as
your love. How am TO repay you?"
His handsome head was thrown back,
his face ali aglow with the light OF
love, yet softened by the tenderness
! that made IL beautiful as woman's.
He looked in that moment lover OF
whom any woman might have been
proud-brave, gallant, handsome, and
noble; yet no such thought came to
Lady Charnleigh. She shrank from
the eager eyes and tender words
"That you should love me-" he said.
at seems so wonderful, Leonie. 1t Is
as though queen had stopped from
her high estate to place subject by
her side. The sun in the summer skies
seemed no further from me than you,
! LeOnie.'
Still she had no word TO- him, and
he looked at the downcast, colorless
face with something Of wonder He
| knew she was senslvlve and had not
expected rapture; but he had certainly
looked for something very different
from this.
"Leonie," he said, why are you so
silent. so sad, coulG fancy you had
been forced into accepting me- and
you know, all unworthy as | am, you
have taken me OF your own free will"
She raise her eyes to his face.
81 know that Paul have not been
forced, as you call 1t. "
Il know that, darling"
She shrank back at the word p it was
one that Bertram had delighted in us
ing to her, and it seemed such an in.
fringement on his rights that she
shrank in pain. Then she suddenly
remembered that he hpdno right over
her, and that no ore living posses ed
any, except the young solder by her
! side.
Say am welcome, Leonie, he con-
tinued, with something like pain in his
voice. Say something kim to me, or
| shall think the time that you gave
me such unutterable happiness only
came to me in dream, after all"
Then she reused herself.
"Of course you are welcome, Paul.
How strangely you word your ideas!
And II will try to make you very
happy"
1t was quite enough to drive him be-
side himself with purest joy. She did
love him, and she would be pleased to
be his wife, He had thought her cold
and reserved but it was only maidenly
modesty and sweet, girlish reserve after
all-nothing more. He took her jew
elled hand in his
MY darling, my wife that is to be, 1
thank you for the gift of your love. L
could mot love you better My heart,
my mind, my strength, my life itself,
are all yours. ] believe in you as be-
lieve in Heaven. You have said you
care for me-you have promised to be
my wife; and my faith is boun less as
the deep sea"
The passion of his words touched her
with remorse. How all his love was
wasted upon her. How little she de-
served it, She had none for him. 1t
is not in human nature to love that
which we have injured, and she had
injured him; she had robbed him of
all that belonged to him. and now she
found that she could not even give him
love in return. 1t was in vain that she
tried. He stood there in the place Of the
man she loved. For his sake she must
part with Bertram. How was it posi-
BILE to care for him? And yet she had
done him such a grievous wrong that
her whole heart turned with infinite
pity to him.
"Leonie" said Paul Flemyng, ARE
you quite sure you love? Pray forgive
me; you look so sad. A dreadful idea
has Just occurred to me-shall [ tell
you what it isl"
81 do not think any idea of yours can
be very dreadful, " she replied, Eyes,
tell me, Paul.
Are you quite sure, dear, that you
have not consented to marry me from
some quixotic notion of generosity -
some idea that you will make upto me
for having lost in order that you might
gain? Surely, it is not so Leonie?"
The words stabbed her with the
sharpest pain.
at is not sou she cried you are
cruel to me, Paul. Why will you net
believe that love you?"
81 will and do believe only that you
seem so sad, my darling. would lain
see you smiling bright, happy"
81 shall be happy in few days. You
do not realize how" Then her
voice faltered, and the words died on
her lips.
II do not realize how strange it is to
love and be loved perhaps not, dar-
ling. love you all the more for your
shy sweet reserve. Now, tell me
WHY do YOU wish to keep our engage.
m ent secret?"
1T is only for time" she answered,
wistfully, and not unless you please, OF
course. But you know, PAUL cannot
help it-others have cared for me as
we'll as you"
TO BE CONTINUED