The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-24

face very close to his. "While you
were rich and happy could not have
told you. And you love me? Tell me
so, RaOul. l want to hear it said"
II love you, dear one" he said sim
ply. Then a great terror fell upon
him, for he remembered.
But she did not see his face, for she
had slipped down on to a low foOtstoOl
beside him, and was holding one of his
hands against her wet face.
My husband" she said softly, "yOu
will not go from me now. No, do not
draw your hand away; listen. In the
beautiful Loire country near BOs is
the old chateau where my childhood
was passed. 1t lies in great woods,
with here and there d glimpse of the
river, and there is an old stone terrace
with roses climbing everywhere, and
peacocks flauting in the hot sun. 1t is
mine; let us go there, Raoul. And
my father shall speak to the king. and
ask that you shall be made governor
| Of the province. Could you be happy
| there. | wonder-with me
| Her voice sank to a low whisper at
| the last two words. and her husband
| pressed his lips fondly on her brow for
| answer.
In truth he dared not speak. He
| knew that her dream could never come
| true, that this new love of theirs, so
| ineXpressibly precious, so cruelty
sweet, was already, withering under
| the cold touch of death. But, because
| it could only be so short, he resolved
| that for the brief hour or two that re-
mained she at least should enjoy it un-
! alloyed; that her just-opened hoard of
| love should not be snatched from her
! before she had realized its possession.
| He would do this if he could hiding
| in his own breast the haunting knOwl-
| edge that each half hour as the silver
| chimes of the clock beside them rang
| out marked another stage accomplish
ed in the swift approach of the Grim
Separator who was soon to come be-
| tween them.
Hand in hand they sat IN the gre at
brightly lit room while Paris surged on
it's noisy way outside the windows.
In the heart of Aglae de st. Ibars
there were no conflicting emotions. She
was loved, and that sufticed her; she
felt herself clothed with love as with
a garment, plunged in it as in a stream
| Dtuelldlcu anu ClldilStu ny IL III every
| fibre of hetr nature. Now she would
| sit in silent happiness too great for
| words, then she would speak in low, vi
brating tones Of the future and her
hopes, then her happiness would well
| over with the innocent merriment of a
| child. And each change of mood add
ed fresh fuel to the furnace flame in
which the heart of her silent husband
was withering.
Suddenly she spoke again OF the old
chateau. Could they not start tomor'
| row? And when he shook his head and
tried to stop her mouth with kiss
she still insisted.
Then the next day, Raoul. Surely
the next day."
The time when he must tell her was
very near now, but he clung like the
condemned criminal he felt himself tC
the last strand of life.
| 1T cannot be tomorrow, dear one,
he said gently, land when tomorrow
comes it may be that you will no
wish to 60"
She rose and stood looking at hin
with a provoking pout on her lips.
Tomorrow" she persisted, "or a
latest the day after. Give me thos
dice we will throw for it. If l throw
highest. tomorrow: If you the da
after. Quick. Raoul!"
His hand closed on the dicebox ant