The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-12
Love Levels All.
F'rom the Princess. In Two Parts.)
PART H.

morning. sometimes in the afternoon; and
these boating expeditions were EXTENDED
on many occasions up the stream 10 hing
ston. Molesey. and Sunbury. ana many
an argument they had on literature ana art
for, as a rule. their opinions on these SUBJ
jects were diametrically oppos!te-as they
dr:fted down homeward bound.
One afternoon they were returning down
the river when the conversation turned up
on the wedding of a lady of property In
tn, neighborhood, who had recently mar
ried her coachman.
Poor unfortunate woman!' exclaimed
Geraldine. How bitterly she VIII regret
it,
why should she?" inquired Jack
Because happiness is impossible with
such an ili-assorted match"
How co you know they are ill-assort-
ed?"
why, the man is only common coach
man"
'sBut you must remember that she has
married the man, not the coachman; and
If they are fond of one another, why should
they not be happy?'
'It is impossiblew exclaimed Geraldine.
"How can shea lady by birth and edu-
catior-have anything in common with
fellow Ike that-a hewer Of wood and
drawer of water?"
Don't be too hard upon u.s." said Jack.
half seriously Remember that Homer
was a slave, Burns a plowman. and your
favorite, Pope, only the son OF lineA
draper"
"Ah. but genius levels all things" re-
piled Geraldine with smile.
"There is something else which levels all
things" observed the young boatman.
what Is that?''
Love- answered Jack, THAT glorious
feeling which is the true philosophers
stone, which gilds the road Of life, no mat
ter how rough it may be; makes dry
crust with the object of ones anecuon
more acceptable than feast without her;
and which sweeps away all distinctions OF
rank, as the running water washes away
the dull earth and leaves the grains or
gold exposed"
How eloquent you are this afternoon!
remarked Geraldine, but her voice was
tremulous, and it was evident that her
playful sarcasm was but assumed. What
novel have you been reading?'
perhaps l am eloquent" replied Jack.
"It has been said that all men deeply In
earnest are so. and this is a question that
affects me to the bottom OF my soul. In
days of old women married men because
they loved them, irrespective of their bank
ing accounts or pedigrees. II man was
honest, brave, and honorable. he was con-
siGered a match for any lady faire.' and
why should IT not be so now?''
Times have altered" faltered Geraldine,
her usually pale face rosy red; "and we
have altered them
Not so," responded Jack. 'The times
have changed, 1 grant you, and. IN many
respects, for the worse; but men and wo-
men are still the same. Indeed. so sure
am that this is the case, that am about
to stake my whole future happiness upon
it. 1 love you truly and devotedly. 1 have
never loved before, and I shall never love
again. Will you be mine? Will you trust
yourself and your future happiness to
me9"
80. this is unkind and ungenerous,
cried Geraldine, her eyes filling with tears.
You should not-you ought not to-talk to
me like this
"Why not? Out of the fullness of the
heart the mouth speaketh," answered the
young man, and, leaning forward. he pos
sessed himself of one of her hands. Put
on one side all disparities of rank or for
I love himg Geraldine, dear Geraldine. do
not let the cruel laws of society come be-
tween us and ruin the happiness of two
lovers Speak, darling, and tell me you
love me-"
"Can YOU not see?" cried the poor girl,
commencing to weep bitterly, ait is un-
kind of you to press me further
"I want TO hear 1t from your own dear
to say. 4 love you. Jack. and will be your
Wife"
30, I can not"
"But you do love me?"
"Yes, but-Oi look; there is my auntp'
shore at once"
Jack looked round, and discovered an old
lady watching them intently from the tow
ing path. and, turning the boats head. he
scrled in to the bank, saying, as he as
sisted Geraldine to land:
"I shall call upon you in the morning"
He did so. and was informed by the serv-
ant that the family had gone away early
that day. and had left no address. as they
were going to travel on the continent.
It was the middle Of the London season,
| with the youth, beauty. and elite OF the
| aristocracy. Busting up to Geraldine. the
energetic hostess exclaimed:
| Don't move away for minute, dear
| 7 want TO introduce Lord John Jasper tc
you. A most eligible parti, my dear. So
/ handsome, as rich as Croesus. and so de-
| liehtfully eccentricl Sets up as a woman
| hate-. you know, but IL he resists you. my
dear why, 1 shall give him up altogether
| A minute after she had gone in search OF
his lordsh.p a well-known face caught Ger
aldlne's attention, and the next moment
Jack. the boatman, was standing in front
OF her.
at !astr' he said. IN a low. deep voice
while his eyes seemed to pierce her through
and through.
o. Jack" cried Geraldine. What ar:
| you doing here?"
| "I have come to ssk you TO hn.sh wha'
| YOU were saying to me when your aunt In
! terrupted our conversation replied Jack
20. but isn't 1t rash OF you?' said th'
pocT girl. half inclined TO cry. "Suppos'
/ any one was TO recognize you? / should
never forgive myself Z you got int
! trouble through me. Do 80 away. JACK"
TEL me you love me-, ard I VII leave
YOU at once II you wish it, answered
| Jack
! 80, I dol dor' exclaimed Geraldine. -
! never knew how much until We were part
ed. and now please go away y. aeT'
| comes Lady Althorpe"
"Ah, Lord John, I was going to miro
ducs you to Lady Geraldine, but II seems
as though yOu have met before, TippleC
! the genial hostess "Ahi you sly things"
20, Jack" cried Geraldine, when the!
were once again alone in the crowd. why
ala you do this?''