Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-16
LOVES VICTORY
BY BERTHA N. CLAY.

could give his whole life 10 win her.
Let me pray my prayer he repeated
'let me tell how dearly | love you, Pauline
so dearly and so well that II you send me
from yo; my life will be = burden 10 me, and
shall be the most wretched Of men,
She did not look proud or angry, but mere
~ sorry. Her dark eyes dropped, her lips
even quiyered.
"Yor love me-" she alphabetically love
me, Captain Langton?'
lie Interrupted her.
Il loved you the first moment that | saw
you. have admired others, but | have seen
none like you. All the deep, passionate
love OF my heart has gone out 70 you; and, IL
you throw IL from you, Pauline, ! shall die"
II am very sorry" she murmured gently.
Nay, not sorry. Why should you be sor-
ryp You would not take q mans life, and
hold II In the hollow Of your hand, only TO
ding IL away. You may have richer lovers,
you may have titles and wealth offered 10
you, but you will never have q love truer or
deeper than mine"
There was a ring OF truth about his
words, and they haunted her.
II know am unworthy OF you. II were
serowned king, and you, my peerless Pau
line, tho humblcst peasant | should choose
you from the whole world 10 be my wife.
But am only a soldier-a poor soldier. l
have but one treasure, and that | offer TO you
the deepest, truest love OF my heart. I
would that were a king, and could WOO you
more worthlly."
She looked up quickly--his eyes were
drinking In the beauty of her face; but there
was something in them from which she
shrank without knowing why. She wOuld
have Snokpp lint ha want IN npinLIY.
only grant my prayer, Pauline-promise
~ be nv wife-prOmise TO love me-and |
will live only for YOU. I will give YOU my
heart, my thoughts, my life. will take you
10 bright sunny lands, and will show you all
that the earth holds beautiful and fair. You
shall be my queen, and | will be your hum
blest slave"
His voice died away in a great fearless sob
he loved her so dearly, and there was so
much AT stake. She looked at him with in
Quite pity In her dark eyes. He had said all
that he could think Of; he had wooed her "a
e~loc:cntly as he was able; he had dome his
best and now he waited for some word from
her.
There were tenderness, pity, and surprise
in her musical voice as she spoke to him.
II am 50 sorry, Captain Langton. never
thought you loved me SO well. | never
dreamed that you had placed all your heart
In your love-
Il have" he affirmed. Il have been reck-
less; / have thrown heart, love, manhood,
life, all at your feet together. II you trample
ruthleSsly on them, Pauline, you will drive
me TO desperation and despair"
II do not trample on them" she said, gen.
thy; II would not wrong you so. ! take
them up in my hands and restore them TO
you, thanking you for the gilt"
What do you NEAL, PaulineP' he asked.
while the flush died from his face.
Il mean" she replied, softly, that ] thank
you for the gift you have offered me, but that
cannot accept IL ! cannot be your wife,
FOR l do not love you"
lie stood for some minutes dazed by the
heavy blow: he had taken hope from her
gentle manner, and the disappointment was
almost greater than he could bear.
1t gives me much pain 10 say this" she
continued, ''as it gives you 10 hear IL; pray
believe that"
II cannot bear itI' he cried. II will not
bear Il! | Will not believe il! 1t Is my life
ask from you, P~auline-my life! You cam
not send me from you TO die in despair"
His anguish was real, not felgned. Love,
life, liberty. all were at stake. lie knelt at
her feet: he covered her white, jeweled
hands with kisses and with hot, passionate
tears. Her keen wonanly instinct told her
there was no feigning in the deep, broken
sob that rose 10 his lips.
1t Is my life p he repeated. IF you send
me from you, Pauline, | shall be a desperate,
wicked man."
You should not be So" she remarked,
gently; "a great love, even II il be unfortun-
ate, should cnnobie a man, not make him
wicked.'
Pauline" he entreated, you must unsay
those words. Think that you might learn TO
love me in time. / Will be patient-l will
wait long years for you'll Will do anything
10 win you; only give ~" some hope that IN
time 10 come you will / mine"
Il cannot" she said; 1t would be so false.
Icould never love you, Captain Langton."
lie raised his face TO hers.
win you tell me why? You do not reject
me because / am poor-you are too noble 10
care for wealth. Ii Is not because am a
soldier, with nothing TO offer you but q low
ing heart IL is not for these things. Why
do you reject me, Pauline?'
No, you are right; II Is not for any OF
those reasons; they would never prevent my
being your wife IL l loved you.
Then why can you not love me- be per-
sisted.
For many reasons. You are not at al. the
style OF man l'could love. How can you
doubt me? Here you are w0oing Inc, asking
me TO be your wife, offering me your love,
and my hand does not tremble, my heart
does not beat; your words give me no pleas
ure, only pain; / am conscious OF nothing
but a wish 10 END the interview. This IS not
love, is IL, Captain Langton?"
But in time" he pleaded could you not
learn to care FOR me in timer
NO, i ain quite sure. You must not hin
l speak 10 pain you, but indeed you are the
last man living with whom l could fail In
love, or whom i could marry. IL you were,
as you say. n king. and came 10 me with \
crown to offer, 1t would make no difference.
1t Is better, as l am sure you viii agree, TO
speak plainly"
Even In thu Moonlight she saw how white
his face had \ own, and what a sudden snld-
ow OF despair had conn into his eyes. he
stood silent for some minutes.
You have unnamed me" he said, slow
ly, hut, Pauline, there is something else Tor
you 10 hear. You must listen 10 me for your
own sake" he added; and then Aubrey
Langton's face flushed. his lips grew dry and
hot his breath came In short quick gasps-
he had played a manly part, but now he felt
that what he had to say would sound Ike a
threat.
lie did not know how 10 begin, and she
was looking at him with those dark, calm
eyes OF hers, with thai new light OF pity on
her face.
Pauline" he said. hoarsely, Sir Oswald
wwt.l... 80 All. - fA anea MA
love me-be mine. because Of the great love
/ bear your
Il cannot" she returned; "in my eyes IL Is
= crime TO marry without love. What you
have TO say of Sir Oswald say quickly"
but you will hate me for IL" Inc said.
NO, ! will not be 50 unjust as to blame
YIN, for gir 0.xv.lH,e fault