Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-06-08


dream come true, for we can refuse
to be separated-Go help me! think
l am mad! How dare say this to you?
And vet it is true. Hove you-loye you
with my whole heart and soul. And
now it is out, and think shall pres
entity be the 1niserablest man in the
world"
The last atom of my courage left me,
and l turned my face from her and
! stared through the open port.
1t seemed an age before she an
swere(. With a mechanical sort of
hearing I followed the low wash of
the water along the sides Of the ship,
the straining Of the timbers and bulk
heads, and the clicking of the gear in
| the blocks.
At last her chair moved. and to my
amaze felt the weight of her hand on
my arm. l swclled in a great breath
| coward it may be I was-and all
u-tremble turned to her. She was fix
ing grave and shining eyes on me.
Carlos" she began-oh, the sweet
ness of the Spanish tongue!-"is this
indeed how it is with you? Holy
Mother forgive me if I am indiscreet,
but it is thus with me also. l shall be
the most wrrtched creature in the
world if l have to part from you'll"
l have cast about for words where
with to explain what felt on hearing
this, but to no purpose. l am per-
suaded there are no such, either in this
or in any other language. But, in short.
l could have cried out with rapture and
what l could not be restrained from
doing was to seize the hand that lay on
my arm and between affection and
pure alteration bow over it and hold it
to my lips. She drew it away at last.
perhaps fearing that some chance
passer might see us, but flashed the
sweetest smile back as ransom for it,.
What I said next l cannot tell, for
all was in a whirl with me. and war
rant l was scarce intelligible. There
were inurmurs to and fro, and at last
i am not clear howl recovered
some measure of my senses.
well, dearest" said, with sigh,
81 suppose there are practical matters
|
plan am to make you mine, now that
have won you? What will avail to re-
move the obstacles, including the chief
one, which must be the opposition of
your uncle? Not that he shall prevail
against my love-" I added, sternly.
'Nay, not 40 uncles nor the world! So
much is settled, please God!"
| In 10 f,.isr I ban RI
at my earnestness, and yet could see
that my desperateness OF resolve
pleased her.
"Why, Carlos nio." she answered,
with charming frown of thought. 81
am not clear as to the way. fear that
my uncle would never consent, and
though I love you-si. Carlos, with all
my heart would not, save in a thing
Of extremity, disobey him.
"But you would not let him part us ~
I cried, trembling with fear and jeal-
Gus dread.
"Not if with right and honorit can be
comprised otherwise" she answered,
gently. Nay, dear heart, mitigate
your fears. At least | will never con-
sent to wed anyone but you, and am
sure that my uncle is no such man as %
compel me. That will give us time, and
with time who can say what may not
be done?"
"Angel:" I cried, rapturously, and
was scarce able to keep back from
snatching her into my arms. Per-
| haps the passing by of one of the sail
| ~ 4 10 IL,
that prevented me.
"But Carlos, there is yet another
way" she went on. "Say you should
boldly seek my uncle and ask him? You
could do no more than fall
"But l SHOULD do that" I said. de-
spondently. "Ah, well, nevertheless,
I will try it: will urge him. l will
plead my cause. will ask but for time
to prove my worthiness and Il mcte
| place in the world. Content you. So
he comes on deck I will have my an
swer this night"
She heard me gravely and as one
troubled with doubts, but yet of my
mind. Indeed, this was but the put.
| ting into words of her own thought.
Content, then" she replied at last,
"Ah," she added, turning her head and
starting, "here he comes! Our Blessed
Mother and every saint prosper you'll
She was up and moving across the
deck before I had my surprise we'll
mastered. Truly enough, Mr.. Hope was
coming toward us, having just stepped
out of the companion.
7
had shown but a moment before won
derfully diminished now that the mo-
ment of action was at hand. Carmen
gone and Mr.. Hope present was quite
another thing from the reverse.
STILL l had, of course, no thought OF
hesitating, and l summoned my reso-
luton afresh and made toward him.
"a fine night" he observed, not
quite heartily, as I thought. guessed
that he was not overpleased at finding
Dona Carmen and me together. 1t
was the first time it had fallen out
in just this way-that is, that we had
been by ourselves of an evening.
at could not we'll be finer" I an.
swered. By this time my courage had
a bit revived.
He came up to me, and with an all
grave and sober I went on:
with your permission have some
thing to say to you. Have you leisure
to give me a few minutes of you,
time?"
That was a business sort of propo-
sition that at once changed his bear.
ing. He answered with urbanity that
he was quite at my service, and led the
~ ha wi ~ ho la,1- 7 l,1 ipct