Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-03-31
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CHAPTER XXIV.

her husband. She received him in the
pretty little boudoir in which the few
months of her girlish life at home had
been spent.
/ She was standing by the window when
ne entered. His step was so light and
auiet that she did not hear him at first;
and he looked at her for half minute in
silent admiration.
! 'Hildredw he called, and at the sound
of his voice a crimson flush seemed to burn
her neck and face. She was quite silent
for a minute, and then she turned to him
and held out her hand.
"Can you-do you really forgive me!|
he asked. 81 hardly dare to hope that it
lis true"
sit is quite true" she replied; and he
detected slight tremor in her voice. Let
me ask question in my turn! Is 1t true
that you love me-?
Eyes" he answered. cit is as true as
that heaven is above me-"
''Will you tell me how long you have
Bowed me?' she asked quietly.
Il will answer you quite truthfully, Hi
Ared," replied the earl. Il cannot tell
you. When first married you'll speak
freely-I did not like you; to me you were
simply an incumbranc6 that | was com
belled to put up with. l saw nothing in
Bou-neither beauty nor mind; yet we had
to live together; and in some kind OF way
Il was grateful to you. On the night of
the ball, when I saw what you had in
scribed OH your tablets-'My husband
INV heart beat faster than it had ever done
before, and I felt the greatest inclination
ito take you in my arms and kiss your face
q thousand times; but could not. After
that my love grew.
81 an sure" he continued, "that, when
O strong chain of circumstances led me to
believe you were guilty Of great crime,
the strongest feeling in my heart was dis
appointment that you were not the angel
Il had taken you to be. Then, when you
had gone. and I was left alone, left with
sut you, knew that l loved you. found
ny life a blank; my thoughts were always
with you; my heart had gone with you
Then knew that loved you with low
er's love, and that l should never be hap
DIV until 1 had won you"
4 glad light came into her dark eyes,
but she made no reply. He continued
Mildred, as earnestly as man can
sneak, ask you to forgive me. Forgive
the base selfishness that married you for
money without love and without any
Knowledge of your real worth. Forgive
the insolent neglect, the cruelty, the cold
lness, the pain l have caused you. For
give the last and greatest blunder of all
my unjust suspicion. l do not deserve
your pardon, but | ask it.
Il forgive you she replied. I'VE will
bury the past; we will talk Of it no more.
But, Lord Caraven, L am gong TO put
your love to the test"
.sHidred.'' he said, "do not call me Lord
.Caraven-try to say Uric.
She looked at him with sweet, shy eyes.
''Ulric," she said, Il am going to put
your love to the test"
st may say with safety that it will bear
f." he replied.
sour marriage was a mistake" she
said. softly-''perhaps we were not alto
rether to blame for that. We have made
great mistakes since, in which we have
both been to blame What l propose is
a year's absence. A cousin of mine, Mrs.
,Glenyil, is very i'll, and is ordered to Nice.
il ask you to let me go with her. She will
be away year-see what that year Will
effect, Ii love of me has sufficient lnt1u-
ence over you to keep you good, lndustrl-
Gus. active, for the benefit of others, as
Won are now, shall believe that you love
sae. If in Il years time you come to me
and tell me that you love me better than
ever, that time and absence have not
changed you. | will return with you, and
will make you most loving, devoted
wife. Do you accept my proposal!
He stood for a few moments IN thought
tsul S;1encn and then he Said
Eyes, | accept it shall be pleased to
uroye my sincerity to YOU
The earl returned to Ravensmere, to
show all needful politeness and respect for
Lady Hamilton. 1t was great relief to
him when the doctor pronounced her well
enough to return home, and he was lit
Tie surprised when he found that she re-
GREETED leaving Sir Raoul more than any
enc else. The noble, honest soldier had
made great impression on the fashiona-
Bile. beautiful coquette. HE is man
worth loving" she said to herself.
Then the earl returned to London to
zee his wife and Mrs. Glenvil off. He
went with them to Dover-they had de-
eided upon going to Paris first He stood
for a few minutes on the deck of the
steamer before it sailed; he looked with
young wife.
Mildred. how / wish that were going
with YOU" he said.
$50 do l." she replied, with frank
charming smile. But that would not do
you must stand the test. You will come
10 fetch me and the year will not seem so
bong"
He sighed as he looked at her.
II have a kind of fear that | shall be
IKE the naughty boy in the story book"
he said-'I shall meet with my just pun
Shment. Hildred, if anything should
happen to me before the year is out-?''
Il promise you to return at once if you
are III or in trouble" she replied, earn
estly
MY darling, give me one kiss" he
zsied, suddenly.
But the countess drew down her veil.