Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-27
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FrozeQ Heart,
y A THRILLING LOVE STORY.
~ WARNER
A THRILLING LOVE STORY
BY FRANCES WARNER WALKER.
Chapter I.

1t was the old. old story, which.
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 no want.
But this time the words would have
seemed to find more fitting expression
in the simple English, You love me-:
All. love you" for the scene was in
an old English garden. and the blue
skies above were English skics-fail
enough, pcrrlance, to-day, to deceive
one into the belief that they had wan
dered into Southern France, Il belief
which might be strengthened into al
most certainty should their gaze riHet
itself upon the man who had put the
Question: face handsome enough to
have proved dangerous enough to
many Il wonlan's hrart-with eyes that
blaZed an impasSioned ardor that
would brook neither confinement nor
Instructions; Il nose straight and CHS
elrd as from marble: a mouth Of won-
drouS sweetness. With its weak lines
hidden beneath the long. dark mus
tacbc. through which Shone the gllst-
ening teeth; Il hand. white and tirm-a
hand which was, indeed velvet to the
touch but iron in its grip-a hand lndl-
cative OF the man. soft, warm. cAreSS-
ing when it served his purposp-a hand
to one moment careSS Il wOmanS cheek
the ucXt to bury stiletto in her heart.
But Wiser. older women than Flor,
cncn Nanr had lived in this mans
smile. intoxicated themselves by his
cares, blinded themselves even to his
perjury and the ruin 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 hrav-
en-.
Wiser. older women, but none moro
nay. no one. no single one OF all the
tlany-so beautiful. If ever man might
plead paliation for temptation too
strong to be resisted, that palliatioh
might justly lie accorded Louis Ger
vas
Scarce was it to he wondered that,
STEPPED though he was in evil. that
though all women had become to him
but the pa>time of an idle hour, he Yer
should have paused aWe-strUck. be-
fore tile exquisite English flower Just
budding into blossom in this quaint old
English garden.
".\l. jr l'aima"' She answered him,
in his own liquid tongue. and aS she
spoke. she raised her eyes to his: eyes
OF marvellous. glorious beauty they
yvere.-violet in their blucneSs. ANA
shadowrl by lasheS black as night
laShes which swept a cheek Of the
lily'S purity. hecked with the crimson
of the rose. Her mouth-such mouth
as one might fancy Cupid uplifting for
his NeEus-mothers kiSs-waS parted
in 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 slopins
shoulders. The simple dress adapted
itself to every curve Of tine lovely, girl
ish form: the foot which peeped from
beneath it's hem was worthy appii-
can't for Cinderella's slipper. The
hands. all destitute of ornament, were
of equal beauty.
Size was faultlesSly. peerlessly beau
tiful. with a beauty which might bring
knew nor dreamed of world beyond
that which Louis t,ervaise's love might
bound. Yes. it has come to that-"Ah,
je taime.
No one could have heard the simple
words. and doubted that they sprung
from her very soul. as tile 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 heartlessness.
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 tiercely. still speaking in
his own tongue, which she understood.
and il which she answered almost as
il it We're her own.
She swayed forward a little as she
spoke and obediently placed within
the grasp which closed upon thrm the
little. rose-tipped fingers.
Now, swear to me. .Je tain"." he
said.
''Ah, Louis, what oath could make
my love mere true. more lasting:
"Swearr' he repeated.
81 swear" she whispered. then: but
I swear it on your love and mine,
which makes its foundation.
Swear that you will b" mine he
contiLued-''that you will let no ob>th
Gle come between us. That you Will,
if need be. give up father. home.
friends, and follow me. your hushand.
The lovely face had paled. but at
these latter words mOnentary bright
ness illumined it with a passing radi-
ance. But she sadly shook her head.
'papa will never give his consent
Louis. ! know i'll am sure Of it,
And am so young. How could mar
ry you, if he forbade it: If you will
wait Until lam OF age. | will be your
wife thea; and not even my father can
have tho r;ujlt RI make me miSpra hi o