Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-04-20

fend you, Leone; you will excuse nue.
for speaking plainly"
1T does not offend me-" she said,
simply; although 90 not think hat
you are right. Why should not a lord,
great and rich as this one, marry a
girl who has no drawback but power
ty? l do not see such great diffrr-
ence."
II cannot tell you, mS lady lass.
either the why or the wherefore" he
replied. Il know that rich men dc
not marry poor and obscure girls; anG
If they 40, there is sure to be some
thing wrong with the marriage. We
will not talk about it, only if he seems
to admire you at all, do you keep out
of that young mans way"
She made him no answer; his care
for her touched her. but then there was
no need. Lord Chandos was unlike
other men; besides which he loved her
so we'll he could not live without her
So, when the sun was setting in the
western sky, she went down to the
mill-stream, where her lover awaited
| her.
The crimson clouds were reflected in
the ripping water, the birds were sing
ing in the trees the flowers were all
falling asleep; the fair, fragrant world
was getting ready for its time of res: :.
Leone" he cried, seizing her hands
and drawing her toward him, my dar-
| ling, | thought today would never
come. How many hours did yester-
day hold?"
"Twenty-four," she replied.
only twenty-four? Why, it seemed
to me 1t was day as long as year,
and l asked myself one question,
sweet"
What was it, Lancer"
This: that If one day seemed so ter
ribly long, what would become of me
| If l had to pass week without you?"
What would become of you?" she
said, laughingly.
Il should die of my own Impotence,
he said, his handsome young face
| flushing. Fate may try me as it
WILL" he added, but it must never
separate me from you. IT is because
have found this out that l have
asked you to meet me here tonight. I
understand that the hours are long and
dark; life seems all ended, cannot
feel interest or energy; l am longing
for you all the time, just as thirsty
flowers are longing for dew. Leone,
| should long until the fever of my own
longing killed me-for you"
He drew the beautiful face to his
own, and kissed 1t with a passion
words could never tell.
why should l not be happy in my
] own way?" he said. IF / want the
one only thing on earth that could
bring me my happiness, why should
not have it? or what use is money,
wealth, position, rank, anything else
on earth to me, unless / have you. !
would rather lose all / have in the
world than lose you.
1T is sweet to be loved so WE'LL" she
said, with sigh.
II have had letters from home to-
day." he said, land II am half afraid
to tell you lest you should say no.
! am to leave Rashleigh in one month
! from now, and to go to my fathers
house-Cawdor, it is called. Leone,
cannot go alone"
She looked at him with wondering
eyes; the ardent young lover who be-
| ~ hn or
generous, yet who, in reality, loved
himself best, even in his love.
Darling, I want you to consent 70
be my wife before leave Rashleigh, >
he continued Il know it will be the
best and easiest plan If can but win
your consent"
Her loving heart seemed almost 10
stand still; the crimson clouds and the
ripping waters seemed to meet; even
in her dreams she had never imagined
herself his wife.
LORD Chandos continued:
II know my parents well; my father
is intiexible on some points, but easily
influenced; my mother is, l believe,
the proudest woman in the wide world.
/ know that she expects something
wonderful from me in the way OF mar
riage; I hardly think there is a peer
ess In England that my mother would
deem too good for me, and 1t would
wound her to the heart should mar
ry a woman beneath me in rank. In
deed | know she would never forgive
me-"
| She uttered a little, low cry.
Then why have you loved me?" she
asked.
/ Her lover laughed.
How could | help 1t. my darling?
In you | have found the other half OF
my own soul. ! could no more help
| loving you than bird can help sing
| ing. But listen, Leone; 1t is as ] say,
| II were 10 go home and pray all day
TO them 1t would be useless. | have
another plan. Marry me, and can
take you to them and say: This is
my wife, They could not help receiy-
ing you then, because the marriage
e a n