The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-24

has asked me to be his wife! l can
hardly realize it yet. Only when close
my eyes and again see his gazing into
mine can hear his words, almost
whispered in their intensity. 4 love
you, he said. l worship you. have
loved you from the moment saw you'll
avoided You because felt was not
worthy to touch the ground ON which
you walked. But surely my love has
raised me so that dare plead with you
to let me try to teach you to love me
little. l could not find words, and he
thought did not care His voice was
full of pain as he released my hand.
Forgive me my presumption. am not
worthy of you. have been roughened
by my life, by hardship and travel For
give me for daring to tell my love. but
could not keep silent any longer. His
face was white and set, but still had
no words. held out my hands to him,
and none were needed. | am happy,
wildly happy He loves me, and, oh, l
love him sol Tomorrow Arthur sees
papa-in Difference omy wishes, he
says, for he is sure it is useless. l know
papa is proud, but he can have no fault
to find with him. Still, l am nervous,
and Arthur is certain it is useless.
"Jan. 2S.-Arthur had an interview
with papa this morning met him in
the archery ground afterward. 1t was
as he feared-papa would not hear him
to the end and forbade him to speak to
me on the subject He silenced him in
stantly and dismissed him with con-
tempt. Arthur vows that nothing shall
separate us and begs me to fly with
him. He says that we will be married
by special license in London; that we
shall go abroad and stay there till
rapa's wrath has cooled Then we can
come home, and all will be we'll again.
Arthur little knows papa's implacable
nature. He is colder than ice, knows no
yielding, and will never pardon. He
uever forgave Robert, and never will
forgive him. though his faults, poor
toy, We're small enough No, l could
rot run away. 1t would not be right.
Jan. 20. To-day papa sent for me
the library and showed me letter
rom Aunt Amelia. She wrote that.
wing to her recent bad health-she
ife-her doctor orders her to go to
1entone for two months. She will be
pleased if Florence will accompany her,
in which case she must be in London
on Friday. l know this is papa S doing.
told him candidly that did not wish
to go and would not accept the invita-
ton. He said icily: You will 60 Flor
cc,o
wishes, on Friday was determined
he should not brighten me, and an
swered with calmness that equaled
his: No, papa. You know do not like
Aunt Amelia, and nothing will make
me spend two months with her / will
not go. His only answer was to open
the door and say, with singing polite
ness: ! have accepted the invitation for
you. You will make arrangements to
join your aunt on Friday. You leave
by the 11:17 train / meet Arthur at
the coppice at o'clock. Yesterday his
persuasion nearly overcame me- Today
he shall not call me obdurate and cold.
Poor Arthur! How sad he looked when
he thought his pleading vain! He little
knows how my heart is on fire with
love for him.
Wednesday Night, Jan. 3O.-Arthur
was waiting at the coppice and again
poured out the passionate entreaty that
would fly with him. told him about
Mentone. Then he held my hand in a
. clasp that hurt me and breathed hard
the words seemed wrung from him
My darling, listenl You will go to
London on Friday, but will meet-you
there, and we will be married at once.
Then was sobbing in his arms, and he
: was comforting me.
Jan. Tomorrow am to become
Arthur's wife. What joy that should
mean to me! And yet my heart is
heavy. ought not to take this STEP It
is the first thing have ever done un-
derhand-and yet-and yeti love him
Il love him, and all the world is as
nothing to me against my love for him.
Had papa shown me the slightest affec-
tion could not have left him in this
:. way, but have never known what it
was to be loved by him. How can re-
ject the true love of the man worship:
Tomorrow. Arthur, shall be yours
yours foreveri
"Feb. 8.-We have been married a
week today and are now staying at a
, little Bedfordshire village but Arthur
has been most Of the time at Abiding.
2 hall to show himself there and allay
any suspicion. There is great scandal
! in the county over my disappearance.
! but his remaining on the spot has re-
( moved all suspicion from his shoulders
"Feb. Ill am lonely and restless
1t must be because Arthur is away
again. l wish this vague unrest, this
underlined something, did not creep il
+ SO often. This presentiment of evil
r haunts me- Why can not rest and be
absolutely content, as was at first?
= "Feb. l5.-My nerves are all wrong
l am always dreading some frightfu
: calamity will shake this feeling of
and ask Arthur when we shall &C
/, abroad, as we talked of doing
, .'Feb l6.-Arthuf says he cannot