Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-27
81 SQgz553 SSsSs8aes8@gzssI9s
: rozeD Heart,
4 THRILLIHG LOVE STORY.
BY FRANCES WARNER WALKER.

but eighteen now, and you ask me to
wait three years. during which time I
must meet you, as | do now, secretly
surreptitiously, living on the memory
of a kiss or the echo Of your voice unit.
my soul starves. No l have hungered
until can hunger no more. Make
your choice, FloTence--bid me leave
you. to put an end to the life which Is
uncomfortable without you, or come 10
Iny arms, my love. my queen, my wife.
{ All. my little English flower have
not yielded 10 your scrupiesr Am not
| willing even to let the altar witness
4 our bans, so that you may belong to
me. and me abneT'
| Louis, cannot!' mnrmured the
/ girl, in tones so low he strained his ear
to catch them. Remember papa's
wrath when he came into the room
and found you with your arm around
my waist. He ordered you from the
house. He forbade NE ever to see or
| speak to you again. But l told him
| then 4 should not obey hint love
him, father. and one day | intend TO
| marry him. Oh. Louis, he grew so
white when he heard me, and his voice
shook with passion when he answered
me that when that day dawned, | was
! Lenceforth no daughter of his-that
might starye. but he would not throw
! me the crust from his table--that to
marry you would dishonor my sister
and break his heart. Louis, my love.
give me time TO soften him. When, as
the months roll into years, he sees that
| nly love never wavers- when he knows
| that, when am my own mistress. my
resolve Is irrev0cabie--he can but ap-
| preciatc my struggle and my waiting.
and In the end give his consent. All,
Louis, should be so happy, so happy.
| If papa himself would marry us in the
4 dear old church whose pastor he has
| been for so many years
| A scornful smile played for an In
| stant about the mans bps.
This is your love- he murmured;
| then, in bitterest derision--''tbis the ex-
4 tent OF your sacrifice. l am TO under.
go torture. agony and suspense for
three long years, that In the end your
father may murmur over us the few
words which bind us together as man
and wife. Yes: l remember well the
days of which you speak. | am not
likely to forget it,
And any ear less dulled in love than
the girls would have detected the NEIL
dee, almost the threat, which yibrated
in his tones, though 1t rose no single
key above its usual musical note.
II WAS tempted for a moment to tell
him the truth--that Louis Gervase was
TO drawing master; that it was not for
the pittance he doled out to me that
had played the role Of a wandering art
ist; but that had been tempted to as
sumo that role for love Of girls beau
tiful face. which had seen one day in
idly wandering through the wood, as
she sat at her easel sketehing. The
plan worked WELL mon angel, did it
not? brought that little talent pos
sessed into good use, and for it l was
turned from his doors. l was French
man. and he hated F'renchmen, for
sooth, that was enough"
'No, no. Louis" interrupted the girl.
"You forget, dear. He said that not
thus should any honorable man WOO an
honorable girl in secret, and beneath
her fathers roof. He had some right
to be angry-doubtless we were wrong.
but until that day did not dream that
you loved me. and T.
"And you--ah. you well may pause.
you never loved me. ., Florence, you
have taken my heart into those little,
white hands Of yours, only TO torture
and to break 1t. 1t is your father
whom you love better than me. Well,
stay with him. am going. You shall
hear of me nevermore! You will soon
forget me; but IL cannot live to re-
member-I will kill myself"'
He sprang up as il to depart, but,
with the exquisite face blanched to
marble. Florence clasped two OBTAINING
hands up on his arm.
"Louisr' she gasped. ''how can you
!. say such cruel things? All, for my
sake be brave. be PATIENT
He made an effort to break from her
} but she clung to him with the tenacity
, of despair
''rhen. decider he said, turning tc
face her. '.and decide forever! On your
next words hang my rate. my life
, For swear to you that il you refuse
i to become my wife within the nex'
forty eight hours, shall not so long bt
, a living man! Why should this ole
| man divide and separate us? Why
| cbould he make our young hearts grow
, cold and hard like his? When you arr
my wife. my very own, Florence, h'
VIII reIent, OF, III nOt-an, my uaTHuy
| can you not even then trust your hap
J piness to me? Speak, my love-speal
quickly! But remember all that trem
, bles on your words.'
For an instant silence aswered hin
. An instant when the scale that wa
to determine all OF Florence Vae's fu
ture for good or evil, quivered in th'
/ balance. She raised her eyes to his
then buried her head upon his breast
and he knew that to him belonged TIT
; | ~ietory.
Again the same subtle smile lurke,
about his lips: but he stroked th'
beautiful hair with touch as genti'
as woman's. murmuring low words
| the while In her ear. which for the mo
: ment made earth heaven, and brough
her forgetfulness Of all that save
henceforth her pillow, by night or day
and through eternity, should be tn,
| heart on which she then leaned.
II