Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-12-05
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thOughtfully into the water.
"What nre you dreaming of. Jcmmic!"
she asks. as she reaches his side and slips
her hand through his arm. He presses
the little hand fondly and answers:
Wondering IL l should not be wiser to
throw myself into that water and end
all my troubles at once. GladysT
He has drawn her to him. and thrown
his arm around her shoulders. SO they
stand--sheltered from observation from
the house by the rising ground on either
side--and he holds her closely to him,
looking down into her lovely face.
Sometimes" she says. with a shivcr.
II wonder II anything is worth the life
lead. The title. or the fortune. or any OF
the possessions for which you say we
girls would sell our souls. But did not
know then what know now. did not
believe the world could hold anything l
should value more"
''And does II. Gladys:" he whispered.
"You know It does
lie bends his handsome boyish face
close 10 hers. Che sees the tender light
kindling in his eyes as his lips draw near
or to her own. and yet she does not shrink
from him nor draw her lips away. And
then he lays his mouth--warm rs an In
fnnts. nervous and sensitive as a wom-
ans. pure almost as n girl's-upon her
mouth, aud presses on II his first kiss Of
love. Ii lasts but n moment, but 1t
scnls their fate. They will never 20 back
10 friendship now. Gladys says nothing:
but she lays her head down on his shoul.
der. and wishes It could last forever.
Her compn MON, too. Is silent as herself.
But. after while. he says, In q low tone
Of happiness:
"You love me. dnrlingY'
"Oh, yes, love you! What n che
good Of denying It! You must have
any more than love between us. Jennie;
SO the less we speak Of It the better"
"You must either be mine. or ] must
leave you altogether. You must give up
Mountcarron, or you must give up me-"
"Oh. Jemmic!"
1.-THE time II past for my promises or
your reproachcs. Gladys. You have tor
tured me long enough. and, once for all.
l will endure II no longer. DO you sup
pose I am going to live my life as a
hanger-on at Carronby House, wronging
my cousin with every look give you,
every word utter? No! have courage
to take you from him. 10 wrest you from
his arms, and defy him to do his worst,
for your love Ii mine. and love gives m.
the right to you; but what do hence.
forth will do openly. will not share
even your kisses with him or any man.
You must make your choice between us. %
"Choosc between you and Mountcar-
ron." she faltcrs.
"Ycs. choose between Mountcarron ana
me-" he repeats. "Either stay at Car
ronby and be- his wife. or leave Carronby
forever and be my wife. You cannot keep
both Of us!'
"Oh. Jennie" she says. sobbins. ~
cannot lose your
At this assertion. and the sound Of her
tears. Mr.. Brookc's mood completely
changes. All the fire and the vchcmence
die out Of his face. and there IL nothing
left there but look Of triumph and over
wheln,ing tenderness. lie draws nearer
TO the weeping girl and takes her In bis
arms.
IL knew IT," he says. with long drawn
sigh Of relief. ~ knew that your heart
] would speak for itself. No, you car1Ot
lose me, Gladys, md I cannot lose you.
How we have suffered this past fortnight.
What would 1t be to spend a lifetime
apart from one another? Think how
young we both IRE, and what long visa
Of years, In all probability, stretches oct
before us. Picture to yourself. rising IN
the morning without the prospect o.
meeting during the day. and lying down
at night without hope for the morrow.
trial beyond human endurance"
"Oh. yes. ] cannot-cannOt-lose you.
she repeats, clinging closely to him.
"rhen listen to me. dearest. The sooner
this struggle Is over the better. ! shall
have no peace now till ! have taken you
beyond his reach. No. don't sob 10. dear.
and trcmble. OF what arc you afraid
DO you think my arms IRE not strong
enough to defend your That my heart IL
not a sure enough haven-that my love
IL too weak to keep and wear that which
! WON'T"
"No, no! only It is so sudden. and am
frightened"
"You shall never feel fear again when
you have given me the right to protect
You, Gladys. But try and understand
what am about to say to you. To.mor'
row morning you will receive q note from
ElinOr. asking you to come over and stay
a couple Of days at Nutley, which will give
you the opportunity to send over what
| sukBukC SOu uiuy IrVuUc W tuAc WIN
yOu In light cart. which shall be on
the lookout for, and see unladen, without
exciting suspicion from the house. A,
three o'clock-ars you listening to me,
'darlingI"
"fes, yes, .Jemmie!"
AT three o'clock will be at this gate
the one by which you have just entered
II you can walk through the park to join
me 80 much the better-if not. YOU must
drive round by the road. and when you
reach this point ! will meet you, as II by
accident, and invite you to walk the res,
of the way, and We will send the carriage
back to Carronby. l will have another
ready for y0u Just round tho corner. and
We will go straight TO Ayimer-it will b.
safer than taking the train ut Carr0nby
where we might meet some one who
knows us-and thence TO London. and the
morning after shall sec us safely landed
Ia Paris. VIII that suit you, GladysT
he asks, In conclusion.
Anything" she murmurs, $50 ! an
with YOU"
''Oh. my darling!" he exclaimed pas
sionately. 'yOu shall never regret tho sac
rihce you make for me. We will no &c
happy, Gladys. Think of the long Say'
spent together-nlways together--ir
France. or Italy, or Spain-on the shores
Of the Adriatic. or In the isles Of the
Mediterranean Sea-wherever your fancy
may dictate to you, 1t will make no diff
for0nca IN mo gO long M Won aro mine