Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-01-02

grew brighter and more luminous; her
cheeks were tinged with pink; her
laugh was ready and sparkling; and
her firm little mouth had now often a
happy smile lowering round II. Aud
so the days passed happily by and the
young people drifted with the tide and
| do not think that either OF them
realized that the frail little bark OF
love was slowly but surely vending
its way into the safe haven of matri-
mony that would be blest by mutual
love and respect.
CHAPTER VI.
"Denman is returning to England,
Bessie, mex; week" said Ted one day
10 Bessie. And indeed | shall not be
sorry, for the present arrangement, to
say the least of il, is very unsatisfact-
Dry. l should like to know what he is
really going to do for me. although, SO
far, he has been most generous"
Il am sure he has. responded Bes
sic, heartily, but with faint sigh, but
| don't think YOU know, Ted, how much
| have missed YOU since YOU deter
mined to take apartments near us.
But my dear little girl" he an
swered instantly, how could | dc
otherwise? You know received a let
ter from Denman, saying that he would
give me "a a week to transact some
business for him; business which prin-
cipally means unlimited writing and
running about So | did not feel in
clined to stop here after that; indeed.
should have gone TO London, but |
could not bear TO part with YOU, little
girl, And as it is, am able to do my
work and when am tired and dispiwt-
ed | can run in and have look at
your bright face, and that always does
me all the good in the world"
Does it, really" she asked, delight
eddy; "or do YOU say ii to please and
tlatter me-"
For answer, he took her little hands
in his and kissed them teuderly.
Bessie" he said in an impassioned
voice, Il hardly think that YOU realize
all that YOU are to me- | should have
SPOKEN to you before, dear, but the
knowledge of my poverty has kept my
mouth shut. But | can bear this un-
certainty no longer | love you very
dearly. | respect and admire you moe
than | can say. VIII YOU, Bessie, con-
sent to link your fate with that of a
poor man? Remember, our engagement
will probably be a very long one and
even when am i'll position to marry
you, our home will be humble and our
establishment exceedingly small. But
can at least promise you that you will
never know want. Anything that love
can do for you will be done. You know,
dear, 1t will be a life of work for both
OF us; constant looking after trihos,
which is irksOme; the best years of
our lives devoted to hard work and
saving But, Bessie, we are both young.
and | love you SO devotedly that ! am
not ashamed to ask you to share Il life
OF hard work and comparative priva-
ton with me. What is your answer?"
The girls sweet face paled, but her
eyes were bright with the light that
love can only call. Il am the pl oudest
and happiest of girls" she said
brokenly, holding up a pair of trem-
ulous hands, for love you, Ted, with
all my heart and soul Heaven knows
that | am poor enough, so that poverty
has no horror for me. We are both
young, we will both work together and
please God, we will both be happy to-
gether."
do not think Bessie was ever so
happy as when Ted, with a low, mar
tiCulate cry of Joy, clasped her in his
manly arms. But presently, while he
was raining kisses on her curly hair,
her white forehead and her pretty eyes,
she raised with sudden start and
wrenched herself from his arms
Ted she said, in a low, agonized
tone of voice, Il have forgotten some
thing that | must ask you. 1t is only
a short time ago that you asked Maud
to be your wife and vowed that you
loved her dearly. How can know that
n love so lightly transferred is abso-
lutely sincere?"
But when she saw his reproachful
glance her heart failed her
Il know that | asked Maud to marry
me" he said quietly, but ! also know
that it was my senses and not my heart
that was held captive. Believe me,
Bessie, when | say that it is you
love and you alone. AS ! have said
before, it was my animal nature that
was attracted and not my heart; and
swear to you that you are the only
woman that | have ever truly loved
am only human, you know, dear; just
sufficiently human to be caught by the
glamour of a fine figure; but | can
truthiully swear that | never knew
what love was till ! appreciated you,
The one was fascination; the truer feel
ing that feel now is one of absolute
devotion and trust"
The evident truth and sincerity in
the young mans face, voice and man
ner filled Bessie with new confidence.
"Ah my darling" she cried, with an
eloquent little catch in her voice; Il
was wicked TO doubt you; but listen,