The Washington times., 1894-07-22

that he sat beside her after an absence tina
| seemed eternity: until once more his soft anC
winning voice fell like charm on her ears
! She suddenly realized the emptiness the
| loneliness of her life, and knew that his pres
! ence alone could fill it with joy-could trans
| form her world to paradise. But at the sam,
time the memory OF her fathers words cam,
back to her, bidding her beware. warning
| her against building for herself pleasur;
| house whose foundations were laid in sand
He had objected TO George Gerald because
he was gambler; but temptation ad been
conquered, vice had been overcome and hei
| father, if living-she told herself-could have
nothing to urge aGaint the man she loved.
! Il am not quite penniless," he said; "for ar
uncle Of mine who died few months ago left
me two hundred year. 1 know it is nothing
| in comparison with your fortune. but it will..be
enough for me, and shall never touch a
penny OF your moley-it shall be settled OH
| yourself"
Don't talk of it," she replied, intcrrupting
him.
mo, dearest. will talk only of my love for
| you. Tell me you haven't forgotten me. tina,
some of the old affection remains for me still u
mo, dearest, will talk only of my love for
you. Tell me you haven't forgotten me. that
some of the old affection remains for me still. u
| He pleaded in n voice that thrilled her. the
| light of his eyes falling on her with the
| warmth OF sun rays.
You find me unchanged" she replied. let
ting her hand rest in his.
"Then. dearest. be my wife Don't refuse
me again. or l know what NOT may happen
he said. finging himself on his knees by her
side. with you as my guide 1 can never go
astray. You will be my help, my strength,
my protection, my happiness
The old desire to become his guardian, to
shield him from temptation, to be his help
mate and support, returned to her tenfold.
She let one hand rest upon his head, her fln-
gers hidden among his yellow locks. while
her heart beat wildly to the rhythm OF the
words, Il love him-I love him-I love him."
Dearest" he said. raising his bright, boy
ish face, Twill you not say you love me a little
bit? Won't you tell me you will be my wife?''
She would gladly have assured him her
heart was his, but the still small voice of con-
science, not quite drowned in the tumult of
her feelings, whispered that to give him her
love was to disobey her dead fathers wishes
There was but one method to silence that
voice and she took it at once.
Before l promise to be your wife," she
said, You must pledge me your oath that you
will never again bet or gamble
Still On his knees he looked into her face
and smiled.
'Swear!'' she said, solemnly.
II swear by all hold sacred in Heaven, by
all l love on EARTH that will never bet or
gamble again" he said.
Shyly and blushingly she bent down her
head and for the first time he kissed her lips.
CHAPTER III.
For three years no happier home was to, be
found in all England than that OF George
Gerard and his wife. Under her ennobling
and strengthening influence his character de-
veloped and deepened; in the warmth and
tenderness of his affection her life expanded
and sweetened. Bounded by world OF their
own, where the darkness of care and the
voice of discomfort and the tones of reproach
were unheard. their happiness was complete.
His past life, with the one weakness which
had almost ruined it. was forgotten; it had
disappeared from sight like an island in tho
sea, which travellers behold one hour and
which has vanished in the next.
Never since his marriage had he entered
gambling hell; never was he seen upon race
course; nor was this propensity ever men
toned. His wife was not more proud of his
triumph over temptation, of his keeping his
oath, than was George Gerard himself. When
he thought or dreamt of the past it was always
with feeling of horror mt what had been;
with sense of pride and elation at his pres
ent. His heart was filled with gratitude to
and love for his wi!e-the source and center
OF his happiness.
Whilst spending a week with some friends
In a houseboat on the Thames during the last
days of August Laura caught cold. but be-
lieving it would depart as suddenly as 1t
came, gave 1t no heed. A cough followed,