The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-03-04

you were as keen and shrewd az he
was. misjudged you'll beg your par
don for it,
She raised her pale face to his.
swear to you," she said, that /
would rather have died than have mar
rled you had known the truth"
Il believe it and respect you for It,
For some short time past / have fan
cleo that in thinking as 1 did / was
mistaken. Now know it, and am glad
TO know it. am sorry that you were
sacrificed to me-"
Did you-do you-pray do not be
angry with me-" she said, did you love
any one else?"
nave been amongst fair women
what butterfly is amongst flowers"
ne replied. Il have loved not one, but
hundred. I might say have had as
many loves as there are days in the
year"
But the one great love Of your life
the love that is given only once
have you given that?" she asked
Il understand. You ask ME, in fact,
II have ever loved any one sufficiently
to ask her to be my wife. No, had
not. My loves were for the day, not
1or all time. l have never asked any
one to marry me, for the simple, all
sufhclent reason that 1 have never seen
any one whom 1 should have cared to
marry"
h y
me?'' she asked gently.
What strange question! Unhappy.
Well, no, cannot quite say that. l am
as said before, grateful to you; and,
now that l find you have been victim
lied, l am sorry for YOU"
DO not be shocked if l ask you an
other question:" she said, with down
dropped eyes and flushed cheeks: ''Now
that our marriage is an accomplished
fact, dSyou think that we might make
the best of it-might try to forget this
wretched beginning? Could you never
care even ever so little for me?"
He looked at her thoughtfully.
Il might deceive you'll might say
Yes, and play you false? but l will
not You are too good for that. No,
not in the sense you mean-not to love
you as man should love his wife
never! You must forgive me if these
seem hard words-you have asked me
for them
1T is better to speak frankly; then
we shall both know what we are do
ing" She dropped the silvery veil that
shrouded her head and face. will you
tell me" she asked, meel1ly, Why you
cannot care for me? Am 1 not fair
enough to please your
yes, you are fair enough; but love
is not to be taught or bought-it comes
unperceived. 1 cannot express myself
we'll on the subject, but it seems to me
absurd for man to say to himself, 1T
is my duty to fall in love with such and
such woman, so I must do it,"
But if that women were his wife,"
she suggested, gently.
mo man can love against his will,
wife or no wife," was the hasty re-
ply.
Then, Lord Caraven, am I to live
in your house always as an unloved,
uncared for wife," she asked.
THE fault is not mine," he replied.
II believed that your father had ex-
planned to you that the whole affair
was-was distasteful to nee. Believing
that, 1 married you; now that have
found out my mistake, pity myself
and I pity you, Larry Caraven. 1 de-
spise myself now for what have done.
If I had to choose again should
choose disgrace or death"
Il am grateful to you," he continued.
IT will do all I can to show my graft
tude; you are and shall be mistress Of
the whole place. 1t is yours in so far
as your money has saved it; you shall
have every desire of your heart, every
wish gratified. Your position is one
OF the highest in the land; you shall
have everything to grace it. You shall
have entire liberty; you shall invite
whom you like; visit whom you like;
you shall go abroad when you will and
remain at home when you will. You
shall be your own mistress in every
respect 1 will always see that every
honor is paid YOU"
in short" she said, you will give
me everything but love-"
well, if you choose to put it in that
light, yes"
II accept the terms" she said gently
There are many women VINO have to
find the happiness Of their lives in the
fulfllment of duty; I must do the
same"
''You are a very sensible girl" COM
mented Lord Caraven; "anc 1 begin To-
think it is all for the best that we have
had this conversation"