Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-04-27
Chapter 4.
M'Aimez? All. ie t'aime!'

- ~ was tAt Oihs oiu NtolN w
whether told in foreign or native
tongue, under blue skies or within
the narrow limits Of four walls,
breathed in palace or in hut, lacks no
sweetness, feels nc want.
But this time the words would have
seemed TO find more fitting expression
in the simple English, You love me?
All, / love youi' for the scene was in
an old English garden, and the blue
skies above were English skies-fair
enough, ~perchance, to-day, to deceive
one into the belief that they had wan
dered into Southern France. n belief
which might be strengthened into al-
most certainty should their gaze riyet
itself upon. the man who had put the
question: face handsome enough to
have proved dangerous enough 10
many a w0man's heart-with eyes that
blazed an imprisoned ardor that
would brook neither confinement nor
obstruction; a nose straight and CHS
eled as from marble; a mouth of Won
drouS sweetness, with its weak lines
hidden beneath the long, dark mus
tacbe. through which shone the glist-
ening teeth; a hand, white and tirm-a
hand which was. indeed velvet to the
tou.sh but iron in its grip-a hand indi-
catiye of the man, soft, warm, careSs-
ing when it served his pufpose-a hand
to one moment caresS a woman'S cheek
the next to bury n stiletto in her heart.
But wiser, older women than Flor,
ence Vane had lived ia this mans
smile Intoxicated themselves by his
careSS, blinded themselves even to his
perjury and the ruth that it brought to
them, not to find some excuse for the
fact, that to her his hands were magic,
his smile sunshine, his presence heay-
an!
Wiser, older women, out none more
nay, no one, no single one of all the
many-so beautiful. Ii ever man might
plead palliation for temptation too
strong to be resisted, that palliatioh
might justly be accorded Louis Ger
yais.
Scarce was IL to be wondered that,
stepped though he was In evil. that
though all women had become 10 him
but the pastime of an idle hour, he Vet
should have paused. aNe-struck. be
fore the exquisite English flower just
budding into blossom in this quaint old
English garden.
"Ah, je t'aimel' She answered him.
I'm his own liquid tongue, and as she
spoke, she raised her eyes to his; eyes
of marvellous, glorious beauty they
~were-violet i'm their bhucness. ana
Swallowed by iashes black as night
lashes which swept q cheek of the
lily's purity, fiecked with the crimson
of the rose. Her mouth such a mouth
90, "a might fnt,.x. G,R,fJH .tf1iFffner fo.s
his NeEus-mother's kiSs-was parted
in a dazzling smile, fully disclosing the
small, even teeth OF exquisite white
ness. Her head, small. and covered
with ripping masses of chestnut hair,
which had barely escaped redness. and
through which the red cleaned like
strands of tinsel, was set proudly, al
most haughtily, upon her sloplng
Shoulders. The simple dress adapted
itself 10 every curve Of the lovely. girl
ish form; the foot which peeped from
beneath its hem was Il worthy appli-
cant for Cinderella's slipper. The
hands, all destitute OF ornament, We're
of equal beauty.
She was faultlessly. peerlessly beau
tiful, with a beauty which might bring
a world to her feet: but she neither
knew nor dreamed of "A world beyond
that which Louis Gervaise's love nigh
bound. Yes, 1t has come 10 that-"Ah,
je taime"'
No one could have heard the simple
words. and doubted that they sprung
from her very soul, as the incense
which permeates the church emanates
from the sacred vessel swinging from
the altar.
With this girl, love was no common
thing, no toy to be played with to-day
and cast away tomorrow. 1t was the
lever which swayed her soul to good or
evil. as the hand which held the bal
ance might ordain.
All, wretched Fate which put that
balance in Louis Gervaise's keeping.
Hers was a character which might be
softened into infinite tenderness, or
hardened into desperate heartiessiIess.
She must be either wax or flint, this
girl-there was no midway land on
which her feet might rest.
"Give me your hands," exclaimed the
man, almost fiercely, still speaking in
his wi tongue, which she understood,
and in which she answered almost as.
IL 1t were her own.
She swayed forward a little as she
spoke, n Obediently placed within
the grasp which closed upon them. the
little. rose-tipped fingers.
"Now. swear 10 me, Je t'aime,' he
said.
"Ah. Louis. what oath could make
my love more true. more lastlngy"
swear" he repeated.
u swearf' she whispered. then: "hut
] Swear it on your love and mine.
whicii makes It's foundation"
Swear that you will be mine.' he
contiLued--"that you viii let no oiista-
Gle come between usl That you wiz,
if need be, give UP father, home.
friends, and follow me, your husiand..'
The lovely face had pa.ed. but ut
these latter words a m%oinentary bright
ness illumined it with IA passing radi-
ance. But She sadly shook her head.
papa Will never give his consent,
Louis. know it'll am sure of it.
And | am so youngl How could mar
ry you. IL he forbade ity II you viii
wait until ! am Of age. / will be your
wife then; aud not even my father can
have the right 10 make me miserable
always and. oh. my love. ray love, |
XA