Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-07-13

how much ] nave iOYed you. rom
the first moment / saw your face you
have been the star Of my life. Leay-
ing you is bitter as death, for can
moi live without you"
Are you ounged to go?" she asked,
gently. as he for the first time clasped
her hands in his own.
Obliged? Yes" he replied; Eur
gent affairs call me there. Need |
say that / will let them all go-nay,
would give my very life itself for
one word from you, my beloved. One
word from those lips would more than
repay me for all Tell me, shall
20 or stay?"
He drew her to him, and kissed the
beautiful. girlish face that dropped
upon his shoulder,
Tell me" he whispered. Decide for
me Shall go or stay?"
The breath of the summer wind was
not more sweet than the voice that
murmured Stay
Then he told her how dearly he
loved her. Surely never did human
lips tell a more passionate or beauti
full love story than those of Count
Rinaldo how her face had haunted
him in his sleep by night and his
thoughts by day; she was always
there; dreaming or waking, the sound
Of her voice never left him. how he
would be contented TO throw away
title and position, all his hopes of
future fame, and live only In the sun
light Of her eyes.
Such a tale, so eloquently told, while
the soft south wind waited 10 them
rich fragrance, and the golden sun
seemed to smile upon them, would
have moved far harder heart than
that OF Inez Lynne All the poetry
and romance Of her gifted nature were
aroused. Who ever listened to a
first love story unmoved? Not the
beautiful lonely child who had longed
all her life for love. Her heart
thrilled with a new and delicious hap
piness, too vague and dreamy for
words She sat In silence, while he
poured out the story OF his love; and
when he had told IL, the dark love
lit eyes were raised to his face, and
little white hand was laid timidly in
his own.
"You will love me, despite all,
though We may have to conceal our
love and hide it from all human
eyes?' said the count "You will be
true to me- darling, while / live?"
." promise" she replied and In
after years the words OF that be-
trothal came back to her with strong
er force
Give me one more promise, Inez
he continued assure me that you
will tell no one the secret OF our love"
without the least hesitation she
pledged her word Torture and death
would never tempt her to break It;
and so she took the first step In the
thouy path she had to tread
II shall come earlier tomorrow"
said the count, "and stay longer,
have much to say to you, Inez, Think
OF me, beloved, until we meet again"
There was no need TO tell her that
When bad she ceased TO think Of him
since the evening she had seen him
first Now all her dreams were true,
her visions were realized; the hand
soonest the hravest, the noblest of
cavaliers loved her How true and
disinterested he must be. she thought.
to love a lonely child. whom an the
world had forgotten, She did not
see the other side OF the picture: Il
never entered her mind that there was
anything dishonoable in stealing the
heart and love OF a trusting. innocent
child in SO coloring and djstortlng
plain honest truths and facts. that
what was underhaud and deceitful
appeared simply romantic.-what was
wrong seemed right aud even praise
worthy There are men who can so
i0start truth-and Count Rlnaldo was
ono Of them
These things never struck Iuez. In
her passionate loyc-dream an was
beautiful aud true; her lover was a
hero such as she had read OF and
dreamed Of. but never hoped 20 see.
Gle loved her as knights of old loved
the ladies' who crowned them What
matter to her now the cold English
father who had given her away" or
.hr stern gloomy guardian who knew
and cared so l't.le for the longiugs Of
ID roun- Elrls heaTt9 She was indlf-
'eraut 20 al' now her life Yves fall OF
golden .igh.
81 uunu. think what has come over