The Portland daily press., 1898-11-04
CHAPTER XlI-Continued.


..Noy what distresses you. Liane?" he
asked at last, when again they were
standing against the parapet gazing over
fine sea. "Surely l may know5"
"No.' she murmured. NO, George,
you cannot.
'"lo YOU fear to trust me-the man who
loves your he asked in a reproaehtu-
tone, grasping. her hand. ..o !,
.sAh she cried with sudden motion, dc
rot make my burden heavier to bear,
George. Why have you come here to me
-now?"
"Why now? Are you not pleased that
should be beside you when you are IN
henPgyg' , mean no" she sobbed. ..Your
nresence here only adds to my torture
"Iorture?'' he echoed. "Mhat do you
mean, Liane?'
clutohing his arm ronyulsively, and rails
ing her fearful face to his with an i'm
ploring look. You will not think me
false, cruel and heartless-Wlii you! ou'
1 cannot marry you.
.HWhatI' he calculated starting and
regarding her in abjeot dismay. Why,
what is there to prevent 1t? surely you
cannot say that you no longer love meI''
ssAh! no." she answered, painting, her
gloved hand still clutching his arm. do
love you, George. l swear l love you at
this moment as no other woAan ever
can.
'sYet you cannot marry me?''
cit is impossible
"Ah don't say that, darling" he pro-
tested. sWe love each other too well even
to be parted"
"But we must part, she answered, in
blank, despairing voice. "Yon must no
longer think of ne, except as one who
has loved you, as one who will Still think
often very often. OF III. -
.sImpossible ~ he cried quickly. You
told me once that you loved me, that yot
would wait q year or SO if necessary. ano
that you would marry me"
81 know | know she walled, GOVERNS
her face with her hands. "And l told yOt
the truth"
'sThen you have met someone else whom
YOU love better" ne observed. in a toni
of poignant sorrow.
She did not reply. Her heart was tot
full for words Her breath came in shor
quick easps, and she laid one hand upol
the stone talustrade to steady herself
'sAh. George she murnlured, broken
", ssyou do not know the fatality that O
late has encompassed me, or you would
not reproach me. You would pity me. -
= He saw she was trembling. Her eye
were downcast, her chin had fallen upol
her breast.
~ II cannot sympathise with you, or ad
yise,you, if you will not tell me the caus
of your distress,'' he said in kind,
. tone. grasping or hand.
'5s They were In the eastern end of the gar
den. at spot Tut little frequented.
81 know you must hate me for havlnt
deceived you like this, but truly / coult
not avoid it. Many, many times, have
striven to write TO you and tell you th'
truth, but my words looked so cold, for
NAL, ana cruel on paper that l Away
tore up the letter. While you were in ig
norance 1 knew that you still loved me
"Weii, 1 am still in ignorance. he in
terrupted.
"And 1 have lost you!' she
cried. despairingly.
ttWhy? I still love you.
sBut ! must not dare not think @
love again!' she whispered hoarsely
"From today we must part. You mus
go away and let us both try and forget al
that has passed between US. If hav
acted cruelty, forgive me. 1t was becaus
have been SO weak-because loved 20,
SO we'll.
"No,' he answered. firmly, :" shall
not leave you, dearest. love you still
as fondly as in the old days when VI
stroIled together around Stratfeld; there
fore you shall not send me away Hk
this.
'sBut you must go" she cried. "Yo1
must go: I am betrothed."
"BetrothedP"
The colour died from his face. She hung
her head, and her breast rose and fel
quickly.
'Ah!" she cried. do not hate me
George DO not think that have beer
false to you 1t is not my fault, sweal
it is not. A fate, cruel and terrible, ha
overwhelmed me-"
For d moment he stood rigid, as ont
transfxed.
"What is the mans name?' he in
s. quired at last in hard strained tone.
She stood silent for several moments.
Then slowly, without raising her head
answered:
y 'Zsrtho"
"His surname, I mean," he demanded
Prince Zertho d'Augac," she replied
in low, faltering voice.
de snit his brows. The title was Il
him sufficient proof that the woman HI
loved so dearly had forsakeE him in ordel
to obtain wealth and position. She would
be Princess d 'Auzac. 1t was the way O.
the world.
"And why have you kept the truth from
nle?' he demanded, in harsh tone full
of reproach.
"Because I feared you-because-be
cause I loved you, George she sobbed
"Love!" he echoed. ''Surely you can
not love me if you prefer another?'
i'Ah no." she cried in protestation, 81
knew you would misjudge me; you whom
loved SO dearly and still love-
''Then why marry this man, whoever
he is?' be interrupted fercely. He saw
her words were uttered with an intense
earnestness. There still burned in hel
eyes the unmistakable light of fond pas
sion.
'' Because I must"
'fYou must? 1 don't understand.
Her cold lips moved, but no sound camt
from them. In vain she tried to suppress
the fierce tumult of feelings that ragee
within her breast He was endeavourine