Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-23

| work to forget you. 1 did my best, il
took a long time, but I thought thai
l had succeeded in the end
L hope So" murmured Madeline
scarcely knowing what she said. She
stood with eyes cast down, the color
flown from cheek and lip; fair mag
Of sadness and distress.
You hope so? 1 dare say you do,
said Lancelot, with a discordant laugh
1T is tiresome to have any one pursu
ing you as l have done-as l could MOI
help doing-during the last few days
1t has been impossible to keep away
But as l was saying, l thought 1 haG
forgotten, because 1 thought that yor
had cruelty and unkindly given me VI
and that it would be folly. for me tt
remember you. Madeline, do you I'm
derstand?"
Yes, | understand"
We'll, my father wrote to me. Lady
Stevenage spoke to me, Lady Esler in
timated her desire-all to the same
effect They want me to marry Con
stance Esler. And I, like fool, con
scented. Madeline, what am 1 to do?''
There was a sudden look of conster.
nation in the eyes that Madeline raised
to his face.
You do not love herr" she said
slowly. "Oh, l am sorry. Have you
spoken to herr"
Not in so many words, but l am in
honor bound"
There was pause, during which
Madeline had grown whittier than be-
fore; and it was in a very quiet, al
most pathetic voice that she said at
last:
Il hope you will be happy"
Madeline, is that all you have to
say? Madeline, don't you understand
the plight I am in? 1 have promised
to ask Constance to be my wife and
although l may not have absolutely
said the words, yet 1 know that she
expects me every day to speak. l
know that I have committed myself.
And yet I do not love her and 1 know
now-all to late-that 1 love you
ct is, as you say, too late" said
Madeline. almost in a whisper. Some
thing in her face struck him then
something caused him to look at her
intently and to step nearer to her.
Madeline, it is not too late-if you
love me still.
She could not answer. A mist cover
ed her eyes, her brain swan, she put
out her hands to save herself from
falling. He misunderstood the move
ment and thought that she held out
her arms to him. In another moment
he had clasped her to his breast and
held her there, straining her close to
him and covering her face with kisses
hot, passionate kisses, such as Madeline
had never known before. Gradually
she came back to keener consciousness
of the situation and a flush of hot color
began to dye her checks.
Let me CO." she murmured. LET
me go; you have no right to hold me
in this way
Eyes, l have, Madeline; my sweet,
because you love me-"
"No-no-I never said"
You said nothing, except with your
hands and eyes, darling. But I could
not be mistaken; see that you are
mine; know it. I will not be con-
tradicted, Madeline"
She moved away a little and looked
him full in the face.
Il will speak the TRUTH" she said,
slowly. Il do love you, Lancelot, and
1 have loved you ever since I was a
child. l, too, suffered when your letters
ceased and tried to forget you. But
since 1 have seen you again-oh," she
cried, clasping her hands together, cit
is not so easy to forget
MY darling"
But we are divided" said Madeline,
in a low voice, land you are in honor
and duty bound, I suppose, to ask Con-
stance to be your wife. Perhaps,
Lancelot, she will say you nay. 1 think
I may venture thus far-I have some
reason to think that she does not care
for you. There may be hope for us
yet"
eff I could but think so, should be
happy"
eve must wait and see But it may
be that she will accept you-and then
that is the worst of it, Lancelot; you
will not be happy with her."
Let us take our fate in our own
hands, breathed Lancelot. 81 am not
afraid. Let us marry and people can
say what they will"
But Madeline shook her head And
all his persuasions were of no effect.
She would have none of him, she said,
unless it were in the sight of all the
world, with no one to say that he had
been in honor bound to marry some one
else.
CTo be Continued.)