Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-05-18


They sat thus for long time, speak
ing in broken tones of that time which
had been fraught with such bitterness
TO both. She loved him for the periis
he had passed through. and he loved
her that she did pity them
My dearest" said Don at last.
there is only one thing | can ask
you to DO now to insure your happi-
ness and-and your safety. Give me
the right at once 10 shield you from
harm. and TO care fer you as only your
husband can.
You reaG-?" She faltered while
a faint color futtered to her wan
cheek
Il mean let us be married without
delay. darling Don finished the SEN
tence for her Il cannot bear to think
of your going home to England when
Mrs. Franklin gees. nor yet of your be-
ing left here alone: and | may have
orders to leave Pindi at any moment. ="
Oh. Don. | could not marry you
just yet she said. her voice breaking
in a tremulCus sob 1t would be too
cruel to my poor father
Would il not be more cruel to me
than to the dead. to live in constant
fear Of-Of someone annoying you. or
something happening to you. when |
was not at hand to protect you?" he
asked. And his voice quivered.
Yes. yes" she sighed And invol
UNFAIRLY a memory OF Prince Clement
Sing flashed through her overweight
brain. How might not he take oppor-
tunity Of harassing her now her father
was gone especially as he claimed to
have the dead mans sanction to adj
dress her. And impulsively she told
Don of the Princes visit.
But he went away in quite a
friendly mood, saying if | ever want
ed help | might count on him. 1t was
a great relief l was terribly afraid
he might go away angry He is so
passionate and so powerful. / imagined
all sorts Of harm he might do.
Yet her tender heart recoiled from
thinking of her own welfare. whilst
her fathers grave LAY so freshly dug"
Dear Don" she said. putting her
little hard tenderly in his. perhaps
you cannot understand my feeling: but
/ seem to feel his presence still. as if
his spirit stood quite near me now. and
l think it would hurt him to know |
wanted 10 be happy without him so
soon"
9 The hand she touched trembled.
No; | don't understand that" he
said, almost roughly. 4 am afraid |
can only think of the dead as dead and
buried in their graves"
No, no. don't say that" she said.
and she drew his hand to her lips and
her hot tears fell upon it. You who
have proved so strong and true through
all your trials. won't you take the So
lace Of ny belief that there is eternity
to reward IL for all our grief and par.-
ing? Dear Don. how else could we say.
%, death. whe-e is thy sting? o, grave.
where is thy -ictory'?"
He arose Gni paced the length of the
room twice before he came back AMI
stood once more by her side.
Lille" he said ao1 she knew by
The tone of his voice he aad been strug-
Cling with some stroi emotion. come
10 ne now. and t.ac.. RE how to be-
lieve these things, waile my heart is
still fresh to your SORROW. Promise
me, Lille"
He resumed his sea, by her side anil
put out his hand TO her appealingly
She met his eyes. her own all shin
ing with unshed tears
Don, dearest, if | went home to Eng
land with Mrs. Franklin for a few
mon ns. We dn't YOU come and fetch
me there? But to marry you Low
Oh. Don, cannot"
Then heaven help me-" he an
swered bitterly.
Again he rose, and she saw by The
workings OF his face how the indomi
table Will of the strong man. which
had never before bTooked rebuff. strug
gled for supremacy, even over his
love.
He came back to her. and when he
spoke his voice was low and tense.
Then its all been in vain Lille
You love me. you say; but you can
not love me so much as love YOU for
if you had asked me to DO what | have
asked you | would not have forsaken
you"
She rose and flung herself in his
arms.
'Oh. Don. my love. why do you
speak so? What makes you so wild and
strange? Don. Don, have not for
saken you, You are all now have in
the whole world"
His jealousy could not be but STAYED
by her passionate fervor: and. sud
denly, at touch of those clinging arms.
some of the old calm imperiousness of
the Don of old came to his aid.
My darling" he answered. drawing
her nearer, Il want you. need YOU
You do not know how much, Why
would you defraud me OF what is mine ?
If We part now, God knows how next
We may ever meet"
F'ateful words to haunt her i'm the
long. long days to CON-
But now, overcome by his mastery
and pleading. she resisted no longer:
and as she spoke the words of yielding
he sought. he kissed the lips which had
uttered them with a fierce, consuming
10y.
CHAPTER VII
The wedding was over 1t had been
a very simple. very quiet affair. In
deed ii had quite taken the little com