The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-08-31

viving with the sincerity of her resOlu-
I ton. Il will be true, though it hurts me
i horribly to speak the truth to you. You
ought not to throw away consideration
/ of prudence, perhaps duty, for the sake
/ of a girl who does not, can not, love you
! as you ought to be loved for making such
/ sacrifices. | ought not to have promised
/ what | did. Can you ever forgive me. II
! | beg of you to give up the idea of mar
1 rying me? | should disappont you, fear
| shoud?"
! ''F'orgive youi" repeated Marsden,
I quietly, "neyer." His hand, which lay
on the sofa cushions, clinched itself tight.
/ "If you persist in breaking with me, if
4 you attempt to juggle mc-but you are
! too wise. too kindly. My sister talks of
what she does not understand. | GER
I taiuly viii not attempt To reside at Ewes
( leigh, and throw open my house to the
/ country for some time. but | am by no
! means in the straits she imagines or in
vents; and even if | were. no amount of
/ fortune, no advantages would atone 10 ne
I for you-I love you-l want you-and
nothing shall separate us
But, Clifford. shall YOU be happy with
, me. if l cannot love you as you do me-
Love as | doE" cried Marsden, start
| ing up to take a hasty turn. and throwing
/ himself OH the sofa again. That you
never can, Nature forbids it. But you
shall be my wife. and give me what ten
derncss Won cam"
Nora began TO feel indignant at his tone.
IF you really loved me, YOU should
think of my happiness as well as your
own"
Il do. l only care to make you happy.
But | don't want any one else to make
yOu happy. Nora. it cannot be possible
that after your solemn promise TO me-
you want to draw back? There is some
/ thing | do not understand here; some
thing more than Isabnl's letter.
Her letter brought on climax; but |
have been uneasy for some time, fright
ened at the responsibilities | was going
to undertake; frightened at my own
want of affection for you; though | do
like You, and | am miserable at making
you unhappy
Then save your misery and my I'M
happiness! Marry me; marry me willing
| ly-for marry me YOU must
Are you 50 resulvedt" asked Nora,
changing color and feeling alarmingly
faint
4 am; even though think have hit
on the solution Of the riddle" said Mars
den, rising and confronting her. You
may not love me. but you love some one
else:
Nora was silent. Falsehood in every
shape was abhoTent to her yet truth in
this case was terrible: how could she con
fess her weakness, Marsdeu's eyes. full
of deadly rage We're fixed on her. Il am
right: You do not reply" Then Nora.
with a sudden fash of courage, deter
mined that all concea!ment should be
swept away. You are right, Clifford"
she said. coloring crimson. throat and
cheeks and ears but | thought | had
got over it all. that it would trouble me
no more; and do humbly pray you to for
give me for deceiving Won. as well as
myself
Forgive you. Of course, forgive you,
my sweetest, my darlngr he cyclamd
Il only want You 10 love HE now. If
you will but give me the fra -nents which
remain, | am Satsfed, | will even bless
that solemn rectangular prig Winton, for
tramplng the divine pearl Of your ten
derncss under his feet, SO that it may
come to me in any shape"
''Why do You imagine-wha makes You
think of Mr. Winton?" faltcred Nora.
vaguely distressed by his tone, and shock
Cd beyond description at the notion Of
having betrayed herself
''Who else could it be? Unless. indeed.
some very juvenile affair, with a Teutonc
baron or graf aboard" he laughed. harsh
ly. Il do not mind Winton. lie never
could love as | do. He has a sort Of
chilied-shot detachment u your pretty
step-mother, which may
There you are mistaken" interrupted
Nora quickly. (Which Of the two Win
tons did you believe her engaged to-"
her. You have been exchanging con
fdences with Mrs. L'Estrauge?" he said
Il have received hers"
at was Black Winron who was for
q while engaged To her: but your friend
was attached 10 her, tool" returned Mars
den.
"Iou told mc-you implied he was en-
gagged, murmurcd Nora
''Oh, | see You mean deceived vou?
| really cannot remember what | said
only what l believed. But that is Of no
consequence. want you to understand
me, Nora. l viii not give YOU up.
hold You to your promise. Keep it. and
I'll gladly devote my lite to You. Break
! it-no. | will not believe that. III not
think of it! Nora. de- not desert me, Al
the good that's left in mo. cIiugs round
/ you. If You shake me off, | know l shall
60 to the devil. and it Will be the worse
for you. ! know what | am capable Of;
could be damnahly cruel"
DO not suppose Won can frightpn me
cried Nora. reused 10 anger by the shadow
of a threat. Il care too much for you not
to feel infinite pain in disappointing YOU:
but Will not submit to he buIled,'
Great heavens, You misunderstood
mo. | do not know what | am saving
/ Nora. You must not be faithleSS. Look
here. | am utterly dependent on you for
/ my future. | have mo- hope. no life apart
from You. AMI hold You to your promise.
Is | cling to salvation. On Your head bc
( it whatever becomes of me without YOU.
+ My love, my soul, do not turn from me.
viii never give YOU up. I claim you,
/ whatever happens"
The profound Suppication Of his voice.
! the eufroaty OF his speaking eyes.
shook Nora'S heart. Had she. indeed. any
right to turn from one to whom she
+ seemed 50 essential?
( DO not decide anything to-day. Cliff
ford she said in a low voice. She was
{ beginning II feel quite exhausted
+ Think over all have said. ana 50 will
OF what You have urged"
/ L Will do anything you like. save one
thing. he interrupted. hut no reflection
. Will change me. | see all this has been
Too much for you. | will leave Won for
the present, and in a day or tWo'I trust
% lind You recoucjled to the dreadful al
. t'rhatN" at keeping your promise to me-
Nora bent Der head in silence and after
Io"hiuE AT her for minute or TWO with
glance of mingled anger and admiration.
clifford said with 4 short laugh:
'iurlonSly enough, | am summoned to-
morrow - see the rival TO whom you