Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-05

maps IL NOuIu nave ud4 ueHCh hOA
heart against him. and she would
have said No." but the hour
of night had it's own witchery, its own
! glamour; the air was so fragrant with
rich perfume, the light OF the stars SO
tender and so pure, the whisper of the
western wind so sweet and low, the
silence Of the summer night so beauti-
full, that the place and it's surrounding
mastered her She did not resist when
he clasped his arm round her, and,
bending down, kissed her fair face, his
heart beating as he thought that the
proud young beauty would so soon be
all his own.
you are willing, Ethel?" he whis-
pered; and she replied:
Yes, am willing, Laurie
You have chosen wisely, and, be-
lieve me, my darling, you will never
repent your choice You can imagine
what life you would have had if your
father had returned and married Miss
Digby. There would have been no love
to spare for you. She would have made
herself complete mistress Of your
fathers house, and you would have
been compelled to submit to her as a
little child. You would have found
such life intolerable Now you will
have freedom, liberty, brightness-all
that you value most"
Yet, even as he spoke, he knew that
he had bound her in heaviest chains.
Il ought to go in now said Ethel
Suppose that [ should be missed?"
Nay, no happier hour will come to
us, Ethel, than this. The grand shore
of the golden land is shining before
US. We may not be happier when we
reach it than standing, as we do now,
gazing upon it. Stay just a little
longer. Oh, Ethel-my beautiful,
proud Ethel If I could linger here
with you while life lasted!''
There was somewhat of pain, of re-
greet, of remorse, of unhappiness in his
voice which touched her generous
heart more than all his love had done.
Are you not happy, now, Laurie?"
she asked; and he thought her voice
had never been SO sweet.
Happy, my darling? I am frighten-
ed at my own happiness. I find myself
wishing that i were richer than a mil
lionaire, SO that I might surround you
with everything most precious and
bright. l find myself wishing that I
had the goodness of a saint, that [
might be more worthy of you. Happy?
All. Ethel, j wonder if you will ever
know the keen rapture of such joy as
mine"
AS they walked beneath the fragrant
lines, and he told her, in the most
tender and eloquent words he could
command, over and over again. the
story of his love, she saw how mighty
it was-how it filled his heart, filled
his soul; and she was touched by the
strength of such mighty affection.
She was nearer loving him in that
hour than she had ever been, and. for
the time, she almost forgot her desire
for revenge.
The silence of the summer night
deepened; one by one the lights in the
windows Of the hotel were extin-
guished, and Ethel suddenly remem-
bered how late it was.
Il must go, Laurie" she said.
He dared not ask her to remain He
must be prudent for few hours long
or, and then she would be his own
ne could take her away over the wide
seas, where there would be no more
need for prudence or restraint. He
had deceived her; for, in his own mind,
he knew perfectly well that he had no
idea of taking her to Vienna, or of ever
allowing her to see her father again
he best knew why. He knew, too. that
The imaginary incident he had amused
her with-the interview between Miss
Digby and herself-would never take
place.
He meant to marry her on Tuesday.
They would be Obliged to part for a
few hours. While those few hours
lasted he intended to bind her over %
secrecy, and for the rest he trusted to
his own ready wit. Let him once make
sure of her-once marry her-and he
would ask no more.
ETHEL, before you go, will YOU listen
10 my arrangements for you?"
She stopped, and he never forgot her
as he saw her then, the starlight. fall
ing on her appraised face. showing
every exquisite feature in the soft
light. the dainty head held proudly up.
the shining folds of her dress falling
around her, and her white hands
clasped. He could not quite under
stand the expression of her face: he
read on it the simple faith of child,
mingled with the dawn of tenderness;
no anxiety, no fear.
Tomorrow will be Wednesday, and
I will devote the whole of it to making
arrangements. You have heard of the
pretty little town of Holmleigh, not
far, not above two miles from St. Ina's.
1t has an old church called st. AIMS:
and I thought Ethel, my darling. we
would be married there"
She made no reply. The marriage
itself did not interest her so much as
the interview with Miss Digby which
was 90 follow it.
Z will procure a special license. so
that we shall have no difficulty; and I
will, with your consent, my darling.
arrange the time for half-past eight on
Tuesday morning. You can rise as
early as you generally do; and it is no
unusual thing for you to take an early
morning rambIe Suppose you do so.