Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-24


color change and her head droep. But
instead CT this she looked at him stead
lily for q rioneat. then slipped her
hand down his arm till she reached his
palm. which she pressed. with sudden
warmth. drawing him into the room as
she did so and shutting the door behind
them. He was speechless, for she new
er had looked SO handsome or SO glow
ing. Instead Of showing depression or
humiliation even she confronted him
with smile more dangerous than any
display of grief could have been, for It
contained what 1t had hitherto lacked.
positive and Irresistible admiration.
Her words were equally dangerous.
II kiss your hand. as the Spaniards
say" And she almost did so, with
bend of her head which just allowed
him to catch glimpse of two startling
dimples.
He was astounded. He thought he
knew this woman well, but at this mo-
ment she was as incomprehensible to
him as II lie had never made n study OF
her capriccs and ever shifting express
sions.
II am sensible Of the honor" said lie.
'but hardly understand how l have
earned it,
Still that incomprehensible look Of
admiration continued to illumine her
face.
II did not know could ever think SO
we'll Of you," she declared. "If you do
not take care, shall end by loving you
some day."
"Ah," he calculated, his face con-
tracing with sudden pain. your love.
then, is but a potentiality! Very well,
Amabel, keep 1t 90 and you will be
spared much misery. AS for me, WHO
have not been as wise as you
"Frederickw She had come SO near
he did not have the strength to finish.
Her face. with its indefinable charm.
was raised to his. as she dropped these
words one by one from her lips In lin
gering cadence, "Frederick-do you
love me, then, SO very much?"
He was angry; possibly because he
felt his resolution failing him. you
know" he holly began. stepping back.
Then with sudden burst of feeling
that was almost like prayer he re-
sumed: do not tempt me, Amabel.
have trouble enough without lament
ing the failure of my first steadfast
purpose"
"Ah," she said, stopping where she
was, but drawing him toward her by
every witchery of which her mobile
features were capable, "your generous
impulse has strengthened into pur-
pose. has 1t? Well, I'm not worth 1t,
Frederick"
More and more astounded. under
standing her less than ever, but charm.
ed by looks that would have moved an
anchorite. he turned his head away in
vain attempt to escape an Influence
that was SO rapidly undermining his
determination.
She saw the movement, recognized
the weakness 1t bespoke. and in the
triumph or her heart allowed low
laugh to escape her.
Her voice, as have before said was
unmusical though effective. but her
laugh was deliciously sweet, especially
when It was restrained to a mere rip.
pie. as now.
W. NHA SShhS " luSuG1u SOOl,
she avowed, slipping from before him
so as to leave the way to the door
open.
"Amabel" His voice was strangely
husky. and the Involuntary opening
| and shutting of his hands revealed the
emotion under which he was laboring.
DO you love me? You have acknowl.
edged 1t now and then. but always as
| II you did not mean 1t. Now you &C.
knowledge that you may some day and
this time as IL you did mean it. What
Is the truth? Tell me without coquet-
ry or assembling, for ! am In dead ear
nest. and He paused, choked and
turned toward the window, where but
few minutes before he had taken
that solemn oath. The remembrance
of 1t seemed to come back with the
movement. Flushing with new agi-
tation, he wheeled upon her sharply.
NO. no" he prayed; SAY nothing. II
you swore you did not love me,
should not believe 1t, and If you swore
that you did should only find 1t hard
er to repeat what must again be said,
that union between us can never take
place. l have given my solemn prom
Use to-
well, WELT Why do you stop? Am
SO hard to talk to that the words will
not leave your lips?"
II have promised my father will
never marry you. He feels that he has
grounds of complaint against you. and
as owe him everything
He stopped, amazed. She was look
ing at him intently, that same low
laugh still on her lips.
r'Tell the truth" she whispered. II
know to what extent you consider your
fathers wishss. You think you ought
not to marry after what took place last
night. Frederick, like you for this
evidence Of consideration on your part,
but do not struggle too relentiessly
with your conscience. l can forgive
much more in you than you think. and
II you really love me-
"Stop! Let us understand each 9TH
err" he had turned mortnlly pale and
met her eyes with something akin to
alarm. what DO you allude to in
speaking of last night? l did not know
there was anything said by US in our
To be continued.
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