Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-09-16
CHAPTER XIX.

ly. | will ask to see her, and then tell
her why am come"
Fortune favored him. He knocked at
the hall door, and was told that MI.
Lennon and Lady Lennox were not at
home--that they were not expected at
home until four-but that Miss LennoX
was disengaged.
Beatrix sat alone in the superb drawing
room, trying to decide what was best ana
right for her to do. She glanced llstless-
Nv enough at the card that the servant
brought ill., but when she saw the name
her coldness deserted her; the sweet face
was transformed, her eyes filled with love-
y light her lips parted with smile.
She held out both hands to Beltran on
his entrance. His jealous eyes looked
quickly at them-there was no engage
ment ring on her finger. Quite silently he
clasped the outstretched hands-thelr
meeting was so sweet, so pleasant, ana
1t would be over so soon.
She did not seem to remember that he
was clasping her hands.
81 am very glad to see you back again,
she said Il was so sorry when you went
away"
Il am presumptuous, know" he told
her. ~ cannot help it. I have only call
ed to ask you, is it true?
as what true?" she asked She had
completely forgotten the paragraph in the
newspaper, as she had forgotten every
thing else in her joy at seeing him again.
rs it true that you are about to marry
the Duke of Heathland?" he inquired.
A lovely flush rose to her face, her
heart beat fast, but prince Charlie's'
daughter made one last effort in defense
of her maidenly independence. Il can
not understand why you should ask me
that question, Mr.. Carew," she said, and
that WAS perhaps the least truthful SEN
tence she had ever uttered.
''Will you not sit DOWN." she added.
"And will you not release my hands"
she was about to say, but something in
his face prevented her.
Il will not sit down, thank you. [ will
stand just where [ am, holding your
hands in mine, while you pronounce SEN
tence Of Punishment upon me-
The dark eyes filled with pain.
Sentence of Punishment, Mr.. Carew?
Nay, you will never hear such a sentence
from me-"
''You cannot understand why l should
ask you that question: he said. Let me
tell you-you can but send me angrily
aWdy-lC Is htcduSe dIll Hldu, UeCuuSc
from the first moment that l beheld your
face until now have loved you with mad
ness, but such madness makes a mans
life sweet to him, BeatriX-this once let
me call YOU 'Beatrix.' 1 have been mad
enou a to love you. Dear heaven, if
could but tell you how no other face,
sweet. has come between me and heaven
save yours. Everything speaks Of you.
Tho Xyoyac p,ur1O,,r and tho hrOOkS Sinp
BeatriX.' l know no other word; your
name, so sweet, so simple, fills the world
for me- l did not know that | loved you.
never said to myself, She is the fairest
amongst women, and l will win ner' |
drifted as a leaf drifts down the stream.
/ dreamed as child dreams. l wake to
find myself struggling with mans love,
mans despair. | went away while [
had strength to go. You are not angry
with me, swcet?'
Il am not angry" she replied, all I'M
conscious of the story that her downcast
eyes and dropping face told. all uncon-
scious that she still stood with her hands
elasped in his.
Il went away because l felt that if l
saw YOU again | must tell you all, and that
Iii telling l might lose you. [ thought that
when l was far away from you l should
forget you, l would learn to love you less.
l have studied hard, l have worked hard,
and have returned quite as mad as when
l went away. The first thing 1 saw on
my arrival in England was the announce
ment of your hetrothal; and l have come
to ask you. IS it true?'
NO" she replied, lit is not true"
The sudden CLEAN Of happiness in his
lace startled her.
Not true! Thank heaven. Oh, Bea-
trix, permit me to ask, do you love this
great and mighty duke who has so much
to offer .ou?'
you do net deserve to know" she said;
and his heart grew lighter at the words.
'Why do not?' he asked.
"One would think-that is. l should i'm
agine--' and then she stopped
you would agine what Beatrix?'
Il should think that, if you had really
been anxious to. know. you would have
asked ME instead of going to Athens"
she sail.
Il dared not
''Why. Mr.. Carew?" she asked, briefly.
why? Because you are great heir
sss, brilliant belle. Il queen of fashion,
and l am poor barrister with no for
tune"
What nonsense!" cried Beatrix: and in
some vague way, though the words were
rather commonplace. he seemed to find a
great deal CT encoura cement in them.
Nonsense? Nay, it is hardly that. Had
l acted otherwise, it would have been the
case of king Cophetua and the beggar-
maid reversed.
''It would have been no such thing
she rejoined, quickly.
"You have all, Beatrix, and l have
nothing he said. IF the world were
mine. would lay it at your feet, would
give you ever! thing
"Are you the only generous person in
existence?" she asked
A sudden passionate FIRE famed in his