Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-08-24
CHAPTER VI.

''Let me look at you," he said; land
see if you are what my dreams pictured
you far away"
She did not raise her head, as she
would once have done, with proud, petu-
liant grace and a sharp repartee; her
beautiful head dropped from him, and she
spoke no word.
Yes he said, 'you are more beauti-
full, Lenore, even more beautiful than my
dreams had pictured you. But there is
something new in your face-something
have never seen there before"
Il do not think l have changed at all"
she answered. ''You have been so accus-
toned to the Welsh faces lately, that
you have forgotten what the English ones
are like. Are the Welsh faces very hand
some, Sir Cyril?'
Yes; but, Lenore, did not leave Cling
fad, all in confusion, to talk about Welsh
faces-that l am quite sure"
probably not" she replied.
''Lenore- do not look at the river,
look at me. All, my darling, what words
have to tell you what brought me here?
l have come to tell you, and l stand
abashed before your innocence and good
ness, before your grace and beauty abash-
ed and SILENT want to tell you that
love you. You have turned your face
from me, and I want to say how much
love you, how dear you are to mellow
every hope that have in the wide world
is centered in the one longing to make you
my wife,"
Each word thrilled her with keen
sense Of delight which half frightened
her, with keen despair that dismayed
hNr hot Il k,,,> I.
brain mean? What had come over her?
She, who never in all her life had feared
the looks or words of man or woman, now
would have given the world to have es-
capped from herself She was frightened
at herself. She was powerless to inter-
rupt him. She knew that she must do so.
that she must tell him she was to be mar
r;ed in a few weeks time; but this tor
rent of passionate words was like sweet
est poison, as soothing and as sweet; like
deadliest poison. for it absorbed her
senses. 1t seemed to her that she could
sit there and listen forever to the pas
sionate words. They lulled her into OBJ
livion. He went on, never needing the
trance in which she had lost herself.
II loved you, Lenore, from the moment
I saw you, and my love will be as warm
and vivid on the day of my death as it is
now; it can never alter or change, it can
never grow less, or grow cold"
Her lips parted in a great fearless Sob
He went on:
$50 / take your hands in mine Nay,
you must not shrink from my touch. nv
darling. | pledge you my faith; men love
according to their nature, some warmly,
Will
impetuosity and passion that is how
love you, my hearts darling. l could not
pretend to say that I submit to your
wishes, that you can take me or reject
me as you please. l say you must take
me, you must give me your heart, your
love, your life; you must be mine by the
sweetest of claims, the dearest of ties,
but mine you must be. l could brook
no denial; my love is my life
She flung herself on the ground on her
face, with sudden, passionate cry. The
truth had suddenly dawned across her
she had mistaken pity for love; she had
promised to marry Austin, while she
loved Sir Cyril with her whole heart
He raised her in his arms; that one
passionate despairing cry rang in his ears
forever afterward.
My darling Lenore, what is it?' he
asked. What is the matter?"
II should have told you at first she
said, "but could not l have promised
to marry Austin in few weeks from
now"
He stood quite still for one moment
as she moved away from him, with a
look on his face that she never forgot,
a look that, in the after years, she re-
membered against him.
mo man shall take you from me-" he
cried. You arc mine by right OF my
great love. No man shall take you from
me. You are mine. Lenore; mine be-
cause / love you-neither Austin's nor
another's. How can you marry Austin
when you lore me. am sure you love
me-"