The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-20


possession of this place, for it is no
Ions ersmy home, he answered in low,
naineo tome. 81 shall go away to London
and try and exc out living at the Bar.
For a Young man without means the
legal profession is but poor one at best,
he sighed; therefore, marriage being
out of the question, am oompeAeo w yell
you the plain honest truth' anu feie"s0
you. .,, .sr 10
"Release me she echoed wildly. 40
not desire release. love you, George.
"Buu you do not love me suf11clenbly 20
wait through the long dark days tnab are
at hand?' he cried, surprised at ner pas
sionate declaration. "Remem Der, an
penniless, without hope, without prospec.s
without anything save my great aueo'loh
for you "
The slanting rays of the sunset stream
ing through the stained glass fell upon
her, gilded her hair, and illumined her
anxious face with a halo of light. She
looked lovely, with her dark eyelashes
trem bling, her soft eyes full of love, ana
the colour of clear sunrise mounting on
her cheeks and brow.
Wealthy or poor" she answered, In
low sweet tone; sit matters not, because
love you, George"
"And although we must part; although
must go to London and exchange this
free, open, happy life with you dai ly be-
side me for the dusty dinginess of cham.
bers wherein the SUE never penetrates, yet
you will still remain mine?' he cried, half
dou btingly. do you really mean 1t,
Liane?''
81 do, 'she answered, j n a voice tremb-
ling with emotion, and with look all
tenderness and benignity. 1T is no fault
of yours that you are poor, therefore be
of stout heart, and when you return to
London remember that one woman alone
fbirtyc M Vol haoanGa--NACan9a She
loves you.'
With the large tears in her beautiful
eyes-tears which seemed to him to rise
partly from her desire to love him with
the power of his love-she put her pure
bright lips, half .smiling, half-prone to
reply to tears, against his brow, lined
with doubt and eager longing.
dearest darling. love of my life" he
whispered through her clouds of silky
hair. 81 know 1, an Englishman. with
my blunt manners, must CRATE upon you
sometimes, with your delicate. high
strung feelings. We are as different as
the day is from the night. But, Liane, If
truth and honesty. and will to use my
life SO as to become of the real workers
and helpers in the world-a wish to be
manly and upright, strong of heart and
clean of conscience before God and man
If these can atone for lack of culture and
refinement, then hope you will not lind
me wanting. When l am absent there
will be plenty besides me to love you, but
l will not believe that any can love you
better than do, or few as truly"
She hesitated for a single infant rs he
spoke. She lifted her face from her
hands and looked up at him. He was not
much taller than she; 1t was not far.
But as she looked, another face came be-
tween them--a p le refined face; face
with more poetry, more romance, more
passion.
Its sight was to her as a spectre of the
past. 1t held her dumb in terror and dis
may.
George saw her hesitation, and the
strange Mortified look in her eyes. Puz-
zled, he uttered not word, but watched
her breathlessly.
Lame opened her pale lips, but they
closed and frightened upon each other;
from beneath her narrowed brows her
eyes sent short flashes out upon his, and
her breath came and went long and deep,
without sound.
"Why are GU silentp'' he whispered at
last.
Her lips relaxed, her form dropped, she
lifted her face to reply, but her mouth
twitched; she could not speak.
IF you truly love me and are prepared
to wait. I will do my best - he declared
passionately, surprised at her change of
manner, but little dreaming of Its cause.
Suddenly, however, as quickly as the
heavy preoccupied expression had settled
upon her countenance. 1t was succeeded
by smile. She was a strange, unique,
incompatible girl, for next second she
laughed at him in sweetest manner With
come and go of glances, saying in tone
of low, deep tenderness:
Eyes, George, you are the only man
love. If it is necessary that you should
60 to follow your profession, then go. and
take with you the blessing of the woman
who has promised to become your wife. +"
graceful form in fond embrace, while she
hid her forehead and wet eyelashes on his
shoulder, murmuring:
81 shall be yours always"
His burning kisses fell upon her hair,
but neither spoke for while. The SUM-
light faded, and the old brown room with
its shelves of dusty tones became dark
and gloomy. Each felt the others heart
beat; and the unlucky son of the STRAIT
fields drank that ecstacy of silent, delic'
ious bliss which comes to great hearts only
once in life.
Later that night. after he had walked
with her to her fathers door, she went to
her room and sat alone for long time in
silence. A noise aroused her. 1t was her
father retiring to rest. She listened in
tently. until. hearing his door closed, she
paced her room with fevered steps. Her
face was ashen pale, and from time to
time low strange words escaped her, as
lifting her hands, she pushed back her
hair whicn see med to press too heavily
upon her hot brow.
"I love himl" she gasped in low
strained whisper. "Yet, if he only knew
If he only knew!"
And she shuddered.
Thrice she moved slowly back wards and
forwards across her..room. Suddenly pull
ing aside the dimity curtains, she gazed
out into the brilliant night. The moon
was shining full upon her windows, re-
yealing the trees and stretch of undulat-
ing meadows beyond
For an instant she hesitated. Her
clenched hands trembIed; che held her
breath, listening Treasured, she crossed
noiselessly to her little dressing table,
opened one of the drawers, and took there
from a small jewel.case. Only few
cheap trinkets were revealed when she
unlocked it, but from 1t she drew forth a
small oblong box Of white cardboard
Then cautiously she crept from her room
downstairs, and out into the small ORCH
ard behind the house. Crossing it, still
in thu deep shadow of the apple trees, she
searched for some moments until she
eo,,d q cpada and maxine har WOW 70 n