Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-10-13

murder. the gentle, patient lady died, and
her last words were:
Now. Lcnore, l shall know who killed
my Snrc.
Cu.AprEH MI
my son.

Ell MI.
III was IL year and II half since .Austin's
death now: the snow lay on the ground,
and thu pretty robin ledbrensts were
heating their wings in despair mt not find
ing Dread crumbs everywhere: cold north
elh winds were blowing. and the great
trees stood gaunt aud bare: the hoar-
ii"st hung white and bright on the
hedges. For many days Sir Cyril had
been saying to himself that surely now
he might speak: he had waited long
enough: he could not content himself
much longer; llc must speak to IGNORE,
must tell her that he loved her mndly as
ever and ask her TO marry him.
He wrote to her through the post and
told her that he wanted very particularly
I" see her; would she fin IL time for seq
ing him? IGNORES face flushed and her
hands trcmblcd as she read that little
note. so sweet in IFS Very impcriousncss.
That which l have to say To you, Lc-
more. is Important" he had written. land
must he said. do not drive me mad by
arranging II time to- sce mo in which |
shall find myself confronted with Miss
Beaton. Ii is you l want to seq. I.enorc
only YOU"
So she took sweet compassion on him.
An invitation came for her and Glade TO
dine with Lady Mostyn. and meet some
officers. Lenore declined. and Glade ac-
ccptcd.
Then Lcncrc sent Sir Cyril a note. say
ing she should be at home on such an
evening. and would see him il he came.
He wondered afterward how he lived un-
til that evening came. Lcnore was vcXcd
with herself. Why should her face flush
and ~slow?-why did the white. jcwelcd
hands tremble?-why did something like
music rise every moment from her heart
to her lips?-why had the world changed
again for her?
She rose when his name was ANNOUNCE
ed, but it was lest he should see the
trembling that she could not control. He
went straight up to her and took both
her hands in his.
MY darling!.' lie said, lat last-at
last"
Who shall blame him that Il great sob
rose to his lips as lie claspcd his arms
around her? He had loved her so pas
%sionately and so long.
AT last.' he repeated: '.and, oh, my
darling. with no barrier between us. free
to love and live for ZACH other. At last.
swcet.'
Then he looked Mt the beautiful face.
'ss'"Ah HbiA AiOolStuS IIOIl uIS.
MY darling!!' he cried. II have been
longing for weeks past to speak to you:
but l dare not, lest I should speak too
soon. have suffered for my silence, but
l have kept it. DO YOU remember our
I! parting, my hearts love!-that cruel mo-
ment in which 1 did not dare to hope you
would ever be given back to mo? DO you
remember it? Tell me-, do Won love me M
much now as YOU did them"
II believe that l love you a great deal
more" she answered. with that straight
forward simplicity which always charac-
tcrizcd her. I'VE have both suffered so
much since then"
He shuddercd at the words.
YES" he said. in a low voice. Heaven
knows that we have suffered, both of us.
But. Lcnorc, do you really love me:-
will you really be my wifc?"
II do not like the word wife, Cyril..,
She said. quietly: ito me it has only been
another word for SORROW"
1--WE will soon change all that. Lcnore.
l think the word wife is the sweetest in
amy tongue. Will YOU he my wife,"
"Ycs." she answered: ''but-not vet,
Cyril-not quite yet
He did not wait for the conclusion of
the sentence. hut folded her in his arms
and held her there as though only death
should part them. Then, releasing her.
he said:
'Thcrc are some moments in life which
pay for all. Lcnore. l world have suffer-
ed IL thousand years to be happy as l
am now. And. oh. my darling. in Your
innocent sorrow and sadness. how little
You know the horrors | have endured. SO
you will take me, but it must not be yet.
lovc-not yet?"
She shook her beautiful head %gravcly.
"Yom see. Cyril. it is hut eighteen
months. and poor Austin-well. it was a
not know how it really was-does not
know that l married him loving you; let
me show all respect to his memory. DO
not ask me the same question again until
quite two years have passed. Come to
me next July, and l wi. have IL kinder
answer than this"
He stood looking at her with tender.
loving reproach in his dark eyes.
II have waited SO long" he said. gent
ly. $50 long. my darling, and now you
send me back again."
1T is only for Austin's sake" she said.
mot for yours or for mine. You will be
better pleased in the after years." &
ut is six months-six whole months,
Lcnorc.' he said. She smiled.
They will soon pass, Cyril" she an
swercd.
And am to stay away from you all
that timcy' he asked. Must I never
visit you. or be received as your lover?
What "a task you set me. Lenore."
She folded her white hands and laid
them on his broad breast; she raised her
most fair face to his.
Darling, you will not be angry with
me-" she said. do yon know ! cannot
help it. l I'M frightened even tt think
of our happiness, because it grows out of
a grave. If Austin had not died, we
could never have been happy, and it
seems to me that II happiness is pur-
chased by his DEATH"
He kissed her face in a passion of
love.
MY darling he cried. ''hav. I not