The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-26

a dellDefate lie. ana hate lies. tell
them if Unjust, but they hurt me-"
We'll. you do not tell lies to yourself
at all events You are candid so far"
She interrupted him.
You got my short letter?'
"Yes: that is why come. You sent
very foolish reply. You must take it
back Who is this fellow you talk of
marrying?'' ~
"a young farmer"
Lives here?"
Eyes: he has gone to town to get
things for our wedding"
what kind of fellow is he?"
"a fool"
than meg"
Yes, because you are not one"
''That is a novel reason for refus-
ing to marry man." he said, lean
ing his elbow on the table and watch
ing her keenly.
sit is wise one,". she said shortly.
"If marry him, shall shake him of
my hand when it suits me. If re-
NAMED with him for IL months, he
would never have dared to kiss my
hand. AS far as wish he should come
he comes and no further. Would you
ask me what you might and what you
might not do?"
Her companion raised his mustache
with a caressing movement from his
lip and smiled. 1t was not question
that stood in need of any answer.
"Why do you wish to enter on this
semblance of marriages.?
Because there is only one point on
Which have conscience l have told
you So"
Then why not marry me?"
Because If once you have me you
would hold me fast. shall never be
free again." She drew long, low
breath.
"What have you done with the ring
l gave you?" he said.
Sometimes wear it. Then take
1t off and wish to throw it into the fire.
The next day put it on again, and
sometimes kiss it,
so you do love me a littleY
'If you were not something more to
me than any other man in the world,
do you think She paused II love you
when l see you, but when you are
away from me hate you"
"Then l fear must be singularly In
visible at the present moment" he
said. Possibly if you were to look
less fxedly into the fire you might per-
ceive me-
He moved bis chair slightly so as to
come between her and the freight.
She raised her eyes to his face.
'.1f you do love me-" he asked her,
''why will you not marry me?"
Because IL had been married to
you for year should have come to
my senses and seen that your hands
and your voice are like the hands and
the voice of any other man. cannot
quite see that now. But it is all mad
ness. You call into activity one part OF
my nature. There is higher part that
you know nothing of, that you never
touch. If married you, afterward it
would arise and assert itself, and l
should hate you always, as do now
sometimes"
Il like you when you grow meta
physical and analytical" he said, lean
ing his face upon his hand. go lit
tie further in your analysis. Say. Il
love you with the right ventricle of my
heart, but not the left, and with the
left auricle of my heart, but not the
right, and, this being the case, my af-
lection for you is not of duly elevat-
ed, intellectual and spiritual nature l
like you when you get philosophical"
She looked quietly at him. He was
trying to turn her own weapons against
her.
"You are acting foolishly, Lyndall,"
he said, suddenly changing his manner
and speaking earnestly, "most foolish
ly. You are acting Hike little child
am surprised at you. 1t is all very well
to have ideals and theories, but you
know as well as any one can that they
must not be carried into the practical
world. love you. l do not pretend
that it is in any high, superhuman
sense. do not say that should like
you as well If you were ugly and de-
formed, or that should continue to
prize you whatever your treatment of
me might be, or to love you though you
were spirit without any body at all.
That is sentimentality for beardless
boys. Every one not a mere child land
you are not child, except in years.
knows what love between man and a
woman means. love you with that
love. should not have believed it pos
sible that could have brought myself
twice to ask of any woman to be my
wife, more especially one without
wealth, without position and who
eyes; go on. Do not grow sorry for
me. Say what you were going to-
who has put herself into my power
and who has lost the right of meeting
me on equal terms Say what you
think. At least we two may speak
the truth to one another"
Then she added, after pause:
II believe you do love me, as much as
you possibly could love anything, and
l believe that when you ask me to
marry you you are performing the
most generous act you ever have per-