Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-27

wait three years. during which time l
must meet you, as l do now, secretly.
>urrcptitiously, living on the memory
of Il kiss or the echo of your voice until
my soul Starves. No! l have hungered
until l can hunger no more. Make
your choice, Florence--bid me leave
YOU. to put an end to the life which is
uncomfortable without you. or come to
lny arms. my love, my queen. my Wife!
-Ah, my little English flower. have l
willing even to let the altar witness
our bans. so that YOU may belong to
me. and me alone?'
Louis. I cannot murmured the
girl. in tones so low he strained his ear
to catch them. Remember papa's
wrath when he came into the room
and found you with your arm around
my waist. He ordered you from the
house. He forbade me ever to see or
speak to you again. But | told him
then l should not obey him-'I love
him. father. and one day | intend to
marry him. Oh. Louis, he grew so
white when he heard me. and his voice
shook With passion when he answered
me that when that day dawned. l was
Eenceforth no daughter of his-that L
might starve. but he would not throw
me the crust from his table-that to
marry YOU would diShonor my sister
and break his heart. Louis, my love,
give me time to soften him. When. as
the months roll into years, he sees that
Ely love never wavers-when he knows
that. when | am my own mistress, my
resolve is irrevocablc-hc can but ap-
preciatc my struggle and my waiting,
and in the end give his consent. All.
Louis. [ should be so happy. so happy.
if papa himself would marry us in the
dear old church whose pastor he has
been for so many years"
a scornful smile played for an in
slant about the mans lips.
This is your love- he murmured;
then, in bitterest derision-''this the eN
tent CT your sacrifice! l am to UNDER
go torture, agony and suspense for
three long years, that in the end your
father may murmur over us the few
words which bind us together as man
and Wife. Yes; | remember we'll the
days of which YOU speak. | am not
likely to forget it,
And any ear less dulled in love than
til" girls would have detected the NEIL
ace. almost the threat, which vibrated
i'll his tones, though it rose no single
key above its usual musical note.
Il YVES tempted for a moment to tell
him the trutll-that Louis Gervase was
TO drawing master: that it was not for
the pittance he doled out to me that l
had played the role of 4 wandering art
list: but that had been tempted to as
sumo that role for love of girls beau
tiful face, which had seen one day in
idly wandering through the wood, as
she sat at her easel sketching. The
plan worked we'll. mon angel, did it
not! | brought that little talent pos
sesscd into good use. and for it l was
turned from his doors. was French
man. and he hated F'renchmen, for
sOoth, that was enough
NO. no, Louis" interrupted the girl.
you forget. dear. He said that not
thus should any honorable man WOO an
honorable girl in secret. and beneath
her fathers roof. He had some right
10 be angry-doubtless we We're wrong,
but until that day did not dream that
YOU loved me. and l.
And you-all. you we'll may pause.
you never loved me. o, Florence. you
have taken my heart into those little,
white hands Of yours, only to torture
and to break it. 1t is your father
whom you love better than me. Well,
stay with him. 1 am going. You shall
hear OF me nevermore. You will soon
forget me; but II cannot live to re-
MEMBER will kill myself
He sprang up as if to depart, but,
with the exquisite face blanched to
marble. Florence clasped two OBTAINING
hands up on his arm.
Louis" she gasped. chow can you
say such cruel things? All, for my
sake, be brave. be PATIENT
He made an effort to break from her.
but she clung to him with the tenacity
Of despair.
''rhen. decide!' he said. turning to
face her. land decide forever! On your
next words hang my fate. my life!
For 1 swear to you that if you refuse
to become my wife Within the next
forty-eight hours. shall not so long be
living man. Why should this ola
man divide and separate us? Why
should he make our young hearts grow
cold and hard like his: When you are
y
will relent; or. if not-ah. my darling,
can you not even then trust your hap
piness to me: Speak. my love-speak
Quickly, But remember al that trem-
bles Oh your words
For an instant silence answered him
an instant when the scale that was
to determine all of Florence Eae's flu
tura for good or evil. quivered in the
balance. She raised her eyes to his,
then buried her head upon his breast.
and he knew that to him belonged the
"ctory.
Again the same subtle smile lurked
about his lips: but he stroied the
beautiful hair with a touch as gentle
as Il womanS, mllrmuring low words
the while in her ear. which for the mo-
neut made earth heaven. and brought
her fOryetfulnCsS of all that save
hencpfortll her pillow. by night or day,
and through eternity. should be the
heart on which she then leaned.
CHAPTER II.
In one of the most beautiful apart