Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-10

~enchantress: but new. i'm her presence,
all his prudential arguments seemed
To melt away.
PERSONALLY, | am more pleased than
can tell you to see you again, Zana."
he said grayely. Il can assure you that
Your image has haunted me day and
night throughout the voyage. But, for
your w sake. | am sorry. You have
no idea how people are and
how they talk"
Ernest" said the young lady. p,ac-
ing II hand upon bis shoulder, as
they sat side by side on Il sofa, you
told me many times that you loved
me. Was that true or falseg'
True. Zana. so help me heaven
exclaimed Norton promptly. How
could | see you almost aaily and live
near you and bask In your beauty.
without learning to love you: But l
saw that n intercourse might end by
being fatal 10 your peace Of mind as
well as 20 my own. and. therefore, l
Fastened my departure from India"
"Hut. why" urged Xana. since you
loved me and had taught me 10 love
you. need there have been any danger
TO your peace of mind or to mine?
Was it that you deemed ms too far be-
meath Won 10 make me ycur wife,
Beneath me?' repeated the young
engineer. mo. certainly not beneath
rae. But you know the prejudices that
exist. both Oh the side OF your people
ead OF mine, TO such inter-marliages.
| felt so sure your father would never
consent TO our union
Was that your only r~cason?' inter-
rrptcd Zaaa. Are you sure that your
English prejudlces counted for 10th
ing? | have read the books you used
10 bring me. and. rs you know. my
mother was English. Is il not true
that many E~nglishmen would say she
.rSt caste by marrying my father. de
spite his native rank! Is ii not also
true that they would say o would
lose caste by marrying me- And yet,
Ernest. my fathers ancestors were
rajahs two thousand years ago. What
were IL then? What We're those of
your great queen-empress even. then?
You loved me, Yes, you loved
me. just as the Christian knight, Gil
bert a Beckett. in the story, loved the
Saracen maiden. whom he abandoned
at Acre ard VINO followed him To Eng
land, with the one cry of Gilbert! Gil
bert. upon her lipsi les. You loved
tiiN 90 III ~ b1A . - ~ 11N -
you as she loved hlm."
The girl had risen TO her feet as she
spoke and now stood before her fugi-
tive lover, her dark yes flashing, her
shapeiy bosom heaving. her delicate
nostrils quivering-as passionate a pic
lure Of unjustly sighted love rs artist
need wish to see. What wonder If, be-
fore this tempestuous outburst. the
smoullcring fires of passion in Ernest
Norton's heart was famed into IN all
conquering flame?
.Zara." he cried. MY peerless love.
My queen. Forgive me. The scales
have fallen from my eyes and | see
now that. In o5eying what deemed
the dictates of prudence, | acted
wrongly. unworthily. Let the world
say what it may. my darling. Its cal
ious verdict shall part us no more!'
The fiasfing eyes grew
soft: the ripe. red lips parted IN a
sweet smile of heavenly content: the
naughty, supple figure trembled then
swayed. and fell into the repentant
lovers outstretc,,ed arms. For better
or for worse. the hearts OF these twain
at length beat in unison.
Love making. especially under such
unforeseen circumstances, Is apt to rem
der the love makers oblivious of their
surroundings; but it presently dawned
upon Ernest Norton that the situation
was a somewhat compromising one for
Zana. OF course, marriage-and that,
too. at the earliest possible moment
was an imperative necessity; but. until
the ceremony should have taken place,
what was he to do with her? Most GER
tainly she could not much longer pro-
long her visit to a bachelor staying at
the George hotel. without setting Mrs.
Grundy's tongue wagging 1T an alarm
ing rate.
'Zana," he said, with a little, per-