Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-12

looking out, of those gray eyes as she
raised them for moment to his face.
Lancelot sat down on the sofa beside
her and took her hand il his own.
Madeline, don't be afraid of me,
dear. 1 want to know-won't Won
promise to love me? Won't you think
Of being my wife one day. when we
are older? We are rather young just
now to arrange it." he said, with rather
a shy laugh, 'sbut I think we know
cur own minds"
Perhaps we ought not to talk OF
such things" said Madeline. more
shyly still
! Don't you think you know whether
you like me or not?'
"Oh, yes; l know that
You know that you do?'
Yes
We'll, then, I'll put it in this way.
III four years we shall be quite old
enough to know our own minds. shall
we not? In four years from now.
Madeline, I shall ask you again: and
then-if you care for me as much as
you do now, you will be my wife. will
you not?"
She smiled rather TREMENDOUSLY and
whispered her answer. IF you re-
member-if you have not forgotten"
4 forget l shall never forget" said
Lancelot, the impetuous. Il think of
you constantly-night and day. Made
line, because I am so unhappy about
you. l don't like your being here. I
don't like your being subject to that
old Miss Joyce's tyranny. If | could.
| should take you away from this place
at once and put you with my friends.
But you see, l have no power as yet
70 do anything I care for
You must not be unhappy about
me- said Madeline. Indeed, I shall
be very happy-now."
Darling. Give me kiss, Madeline
Just one. Just as a sign that you
! care for me. Will you not?'
/ She raised her lips to his and they
kissed each other-tenderly, almost
! reverently, with the gravity and delic,
acy of first love, true and pure as
that of angels. To Lancelot it meant
much more than it did to Madeline
lines heart that the memory of that
kiss would live longest and grow most
deep.
And now that that is settled" said
/ Lancelot, presently, as he sat with her
hand in his, Il can tell you all about
myself and what I have been doing
| lately. Perhaps you have heard some
of it from Lady Frances"
"She did not tell me much. She
! seemed-you don't mind my saying So
! do you?-as if she were angry with
you
II believe she is. I have heard SO
from two or three sources" said Lance
lot, with a laugh that showed him very
however, think her mother has shut
her mouth for her, for she has ceased
to express herself about my conduct
But what have you been doing
Lancelot?"
''Only what 1 told you I thought of
doing. 1 have left Aldersleigh" and
! his face suddenly grew grave-"and
am living at my mothers house in
London"
you have not quarreled with your
/ father, have you?"
''Well, I'm afraid I have-after a
/ fashion. But [ can't tell you all that
it would only vex you dear. I sympa-
my father that is what it comes to
and I have chosen to cast my lot with
her"
"You thought he1 oppressed and in
jured, perhaps?" said Madeline, softly
81 know you always like to help the
weaker side. But I hope your father
is not very angry with you,'
Lance shrugged his shoulders. "Not
angry, exactly. He is not precisely
pleased. But I don't think he cares
enough about me to be angry"
''Does not care about you" Madeline
almost gasped, with amaze. 1t seemed
to her perfectly astonishing that any
one could be so misguided as not to
care about Lancelot. "But your mother
cares?'
Eyes, my mother cares" said Lance
| lot, in a low voice. And to neither OF
these young people did it in the least
occur that the love of the expansive
sweet-voiced mother could possibly be
less pure and strong than that of the
sterner- natured father.
Are you going to live always with
/ your mother?"
(To Be Continued)