Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-03-09
CHAPTER XIV.

Iue next ANAu <AA~Ae~
and Madaline met again in the woods.
my darling Madaline," said he rs iie
came up to where she sat at brookside,
'.your face is pale. and there are tears IN
your eyes. What is the matter? What
has brought you out here when you ought
to be indoors? What is the trouble that
hax taker away the roses and put Hlies
In their p,ace?"
II have no trouble, Lord Arleigh, she
replied, II came here only to think.
ITO think of what. sweetT'
81 cannot toll you," she answered. you
cannot expect that shall tell you every
thing"
Madame, my love. let me plead to
you." he said, "for the gift Of your love.
Give me that, and l shall be content. You
think am proud" he continued; Il am
not one-half so proud. sweet, as you. You
refuse to love newly? Because of your
pride. You have some foolish notions that
the difference in our positions should part
us. You are quite wrong-love knows no
such difference
But the world does" she interrupted.
".'he dearest thing in life to me Ia the
honor of my name, the honor Of my race.
said Lord A,r.eigh. 1T has never been
tarnished, end l pray heaven that no
stain may ever rest upon it. I will
be frank with you, Madaline, as you are
with me, though love you so dearly that
my very life is bound up in yours. l
would not ask you to be my wife il l
/ thought that in doing so l was bringing
shadow of dishonor on my race-if l
| thought that / was in even ever 80 slight
a degree furnishing my name; but do
not think so. l speak to you frankly. l
know the story of your misfortunes, and.
knowing II, do not deem 1t sufficient TO
part us. Listen and believe me. Madaline
if l stood with you. before the altar,
with your hand in mine, and the solemn
words of the marriage service on my lips.
and anything even then came to my
knowledge which thought prejudicial to
the fame and honor of my race, l should
without hesitation ask you to release me.
Do you believe me:'
Yes" she replied, slowly, Il believe
you. 1 wish you would let me tell you
all about it-how my mother, so gentle
and good, came to marry my father, and
| how he fell-how he was tempted and
fell. May tell you, Lord Arleigh?'
NO" he replied, after a short pause,
II would rather not hear it. The duchess
/ has told me all l care to know. 1t will
be better. believe me, for the whole story
to die away. If had wished to hear it,
should have asked you to tell it me-"
''It would make me happier" she said;
II should know then that there was no
mistake"
There is no mistake, my darling-the
/ duchess has told me; and it Is not likely
that she has made a mistake"
! Bending down, he kissed her face-and
4 inn ha No Sfa 10 q
sovereign will.
"Now," said Lord Arleigh, triumphant
| ly, you are my very own, nothing can
separate us-that kiss seals our betrothal;
you must forget all doubts, all fears, all
hesitation, and only say to yourself that
you are mine-all mine. Will you be
happy, Madaline"
| She raised her eyes to his, her face be-
dewed with happy tears.
- should be most ungrateful II l were
not happy" she replied; you are so good
to me, Lord Arleigh."
You must not call me Lord Arleigh'-
say Norman
Norman" she repeated, you are 20
good to me-"
81 love you so we'll, sweet" he returned.
The happy eyes were raised to his face.
! "Win you tell me-" she asked, "why
you love me. Norman? 1 cannot think
why it is. l wonder about it every day,
You see girls thousand times better suit
ed to you than l am. Why do you love
me soF'
What a question to answer, sweet
| How can tell why l love you? 1 cannot
] help it; my soul is attracted to your soul,
my heart to your heart, Madaline.
shall be unwilling to leave you again {;
when l go away from Verdun Royal. I
shall want TO take my wife with me-"
I She looked at him in alarm.
Il am quite Serious" he continued.
You are so sensitive, so full of hesita-
ton. that, if l leave you, you will come
to the conclusion that you have done
wrong. and will write me a pathetic little
letter, and go away"
NO, shall not do that" she observed.
Il shall not give you a chance, my own;
shall neither rest myself nor let any one
else rest until you are my wife. l will
not distress you now by talking about it.
shall go to the duchess to-day, and tell
her that you have relented in my favor at
last; then you will let us decide for you,
Madaline, will you not?'
Yes she replied, with a smile; "it
would be useless for me to rebel"
You have made some very fatal ad-
missions" he said, laughingly. You
have owned that you love me: after that,
denial, resistance, coyness, shyness, moth
ing will avail. Oh, Madaline, shall al
ways love this spot where l won you!
will have picture of this brookside paint
ed some day. We must go back to the
house now; but before We go, make me
happy; tell me of your own free will that
you love me-"
Norman" said Madaline, as they stood
befor the great Gothic porch, will you
wait until tomorrow before you tell the
1uchessT'
NO" he laughed, 81 shall tell her this
very day"