Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-04-05


this fashion but that ! see so plainly
there will be nothing but mistakes I'M
less we understand each other. Be-
lieve me, | have had no other love but
you, and never shall have. 1t may be
an unhappy loyeI cannot tell, but II
will be the only one of my life.
went away because could not bear to
see you the wife Of another man.
have come back, knowing that you
were free, to tell you that ! will try
my best to win You; but not yet-not
yet, DolOres | have too much respect
for this" and he too touched the
black crepe gently. 4 shall he near
YOU to befriend you; but | will not OBJ
trude my love on you until ! have
paid all the respect that even you
Of your husband ! say this" he went
on "at an inopportune time; but 7
peak because ! am afraid Of misun-
derstandings You are not angry with
me, Dolores"
NO Why should | be-" she re-
piled, Since you have spoken frankly
to me- will do the same to you Are
You sure in saying this you know your
own mlnd?"
In what way" he asked wonder
ingly.
II do not wish to speak Of myself or
Iof love" answered Lady Rhysworth.
Il want you to be sure that you know
your own mind You imagine that you
like me better than any one else are
Iyou certain Of it,"
Quite he answered earnestly II
could not be more certain. | know my
own heart If any one ever did, and
have suffered most grievously from the
knowledge | understand 1t perfectly
Dolores Would to Heaven had I'M
derstood it years ago! You think that
have hestated between you and Lola
de Ferras? | will tell you the plain
truth. When You were both compare
tive strangers to me, ! did hesitate as
to which was the more beautiful of the
two and which liked the best--even
as you, knowing two men of a different
type. might wonder which you pre-
ferred; but, when ! came to know my
own heart and understood myself, /
found that j loved you with the love
that comes only once in lifetime
Before | had time to tell you so, how
ever, | heard that you were engaged
to Lord Rhysworth; then it was too
late. Dolores, let there be no more
mistakes; no more playing at cross
purposes. Believe, me | love no other
woman but you"
The time was not far distant when
every word Of this interview was to
come back to her with sharpest pain,
when she remembered how earnestly
each word was spoken; how the very
ring of sincerity and truth was in his
voice
Il know" he said, of whom you are
thinking, 1t is Lola de Fcrras. You
believe that am hesitating between
you, my beautiful queen, and her. !
Lola is nothing to me but a pleasant
friend"
lady Rhysworth thought of W. en-
phasls Lola had laid ON the word
mine and felt puzzled.
II am almost ashamed TO speak as
do, he continued but in such case
las this there is something like frank
ness, even that friendship was more Of
her seeking than my giving. She Is
very beautiful and accomplishing she
clever beyond the generality Of wo- |
men; ! have spent some pleasant hours |
with her; but she is the very last per-
son IN the world should ever fan in |
love with or marry Now promise me.
Dolores that there shall never. dur
ing the whole course of our lives, be |
any further misunderstanding between |
us concerning Lola
She promised; and in after years |
she remembered that promise in an
agony OF grt"t that was neXpro Ssible |
It is true went to Beaulicu last
evening" he said; bat my heart was |
with you all the time Dolores. have
promised out OF respect to your dead |
husband and your own sorrow, not to
ntrude my love on YOU have waited
fifteen months before | would return at
all. will wait three months longer
before try to persuade you 10 share
your life with me. | will leave the flu
ture entirely in Your hands II YOU
wish me to wait for one year or two. II
viii do so to please you; but promise
me that during that time / may come
over 10 see YOU or write 10 you My eX-
| lie has been hard enough, and il was
the harder because 1t seemed to be
without hope And now, he added. in
a lighter tone, let me see your little
IGirl have brought some wonderful
! dolls for her
TO BE Continued
DIES IN ROME