Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-08-24

Jcnted the thoughtless words. Her
whole face seemed on fire with a
burning blush. She turned proudly
away from him.
"You have no right to ask me such
a question" she said. "You are cruel
to me, Lord Chandos."
The red blush died away, and The
sweet eyes filled with tears.
That was the coup de grace; perhaps
II that little incident had never hap
pened, this story had never been writ
ten; out the tears in those sweet eyes,
and the culver Of pain in that beauti-
ful face, was more than he could bear.
The next moment he was by her side,
and had taken her white hands in his.
"Cruel! how could be cruel to you,
Lady Marion? Nothing could be fur
cher from my thoughts. How am !
cruel?"
Never mind" she said, gently.
"But do mind very much indeed.
What did ] say that could make you
think me cruel? VIII you not tell me-"
Il will not tell you"
"But | must know Was 1t because
! asked YOU IT you ever loved any one
very much?' Was that cruel?"
IL cannot deny, but | will not ainrm
It," che said. 1--WE are very foolish 10
talk about such things as love and jeal-
ousy; they are much better left alone. ="
There was the wtchery Of the hour
and the scene TO excuse him; there was
the fair Iovcincss of her face, the love
In her eyes that lurcd him, the
trembling lips that seemed made to he
kissed; there was the glamor that Il
young and beautiful woman always
throws over man; there was the
music that came from the throats of a
thousand birds, the fragrance that
came from thousand flowers to OK
cuse him. He lost his head, as many
n wiser man has done; his brain reeled,
his heart beat; the warm white hand
lay SO trustinEly In his own, and he
read on her fair, pure face the story OF
her love. lie never knew what mad
ness possessed him; he who had called
himself the husband Of another; but
he drew her face to his and kissed her
lips, while he whispered to her how
fair and how sweet she was. The
next moment he remembered him
self, and wished the deed undone. 1t
was too lato--to one like Lady Marion
kiss meant bctrothal, and he knew
It, lie saw tears fall from her eyes; he
kissed them away. and then she whis-
percd to him In low, sweet voice:
"How did you guess my secret?"
Your secret" he repeated, and
Kissed her again because he did not
know what to say.
yes; how did you find out that
loved your she asked, simply. II am
sure have always tried to hide It."
"Your beautiful eyes told It." he
said; and then a sudden shock OF hor-
ror camo to him Great Heaven,
what was he doing? whore was Leone?
blushing face to his,
"Ah we'll" Rhc said, sweetly, at is
no secret since You have found 1t out.
Vt Is true, do love Won, and my eyes
have not told you falsely"
Perhaps she wondered that he
listened so calmly, that he did not
draw her with passionate words and
carcssos to his heart, that he did not
speak with the rapturos lovers used
lie looked pale and troublcd, yet he
claspcd her hand more closely.
"You nro very good to me- he said,
II do not deserve II, | do nor merit It.
You you shame me, Marion"
She looked at him with warm
glow of happiness on her face.
at would not be possible to be too
good to Won; but must not tell you of
all think of you, or You will grow
vain. | think" she continued, with n
smile that made her look like an
angel, 81 think now that know how
much YOU do lovo mo | shall be the
happest woman ON the face of The
earth"
Tie did not remember to have said
how much he loved her, or to have
spoken OF his love at all. but evidently
she thought he had and It came to the
Same thing
"llow pleased Lady Lanswell will
be-" said tho young heircss. after a
! time You will think me very vain
! to say SO, hut | believe she loves me.
81 am sure of It, who could help to-
he said, abscntly.
lie knew that he had don, wong, he
repcnted It, and madc one desperate
effort to save himself
'lauy Marion." hc said hurrodly
"lct me ask You ono question. Nur
have heard OF course the sto"y Of my
early love-"
He fell the trembling of her Who'll,
figure ms she answered in low voice
YES | know II, and that makes M,
understand ieaAousy | AIN very weak
know. but II YOU had gone 70 Eng
land should have died OF pain,
lio kissed her again, wouderini