Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-10-04
CHAPTER ".
"LongIng for a Change"

the girl who was 10 give MN HIc VI
death.
She was silent so long he grew a
frald.
"sybn," he said. gently, "only one
little word"
a cannot say IT," she cried. Il do
not know"
"You do not know II you love me-"
he said bending his dark handsome
face over her, his eyes all alame as
hers dropped from them.
NO" she replied simply you nave
taken me so completely by surprise, !
do not know whether | love you or not.
have never thought about being any
ones wife yet, Rupert"
He smiled at her words.
"You do not love any one eIBo?" he
asked anXiOuSly.
"Oh no. was tho quick reply. Il
have not thought much Of love"
and you do not send me from you?'
he continued. you do not refuse TO
caro- for me, and tell me that you VIII
never be my wife?'
NO" she replied, thoughtfuIy; 81
cannot IOit you IHtJ lNNDNll - ! an wv
sure. DO forget 1t all, and let us 80
down to the lake"
81 cannot forget 1t, Sybil," he said,
quietly. "You do not refuse me, you
do not accept me- my darling, viii you
do another thing will you give me
tmo to try and win your"
She mudo no answer, ana he con-
tinued:
'I.ot me love you, and WOO you until
these doar hands shall rest in mine,
and you say yourself you VIII be my
wife. win wait long years for It,
Sybn. ! Will never tease or imp0rtuno
you You viii try to love me? If you
succeed, ah my darling, you shall not
repent It, If you caunot, | win resign
you praying Heaven viii bless You
wherever You go, Arc you willing for
this, Sybil?"
Eyes" she was willing. Il am en-
gagged, you know, Rupert" she said
"You are free as tho wind" he re-
piled. 81 will wait for you twenty
years If you Ike, and at the end Of
that time, If you send me from You, !
The great generosity Of his love did
not strlko her; she only tromblod
sllgndy Mt tho passion in his face.
"You are cold" he said. Lot us 80
down to the lake; | viii row you a
cross"
She rose, ana for one moment they
Rtoc Jldo by site, he dark, handsome,
and stately, she SO fair and sweet
Sir Rupert bent over her,
Let mo kiss you, Sybil," he said
once"
tic remembered how she blushed aud
halr Mrnod her face away, and how he
claspcd her in his arms, and pressed
on her lips warm, passionate kisses,
murmuring sweet words the while;
then put her away from him, and stood
reycrcntly before her.
81 do not want to 20 to the Lake,
said Sybn. Il Will 30 homo. Papa
will be there, perhaps
And. satisfied with what he had won,
Sir Rupert walked by her side, talking
TO her about different things, untl
Sybll ceased to tromblo. and by the.
tlmo they reached homo she was her
own brIght self again
So for many long months mattcra
stood Sir Rupert told the squire what
had passed. the squire conndod in his
head counselor, Irene, and the trio
watched nnxiously for signs botokeniug
their dar)Ing's frame of mind.
They watched IN vain; she was but
n hnppv. careless child. Sho promised
to try To care for him. and lool,ing
down A long vista OF years she saw
somc remote probability of doing so.
No love warmed or uuickcned into
life Ilcr thoughts of Sir Rupert were
somcthiug oultc different to the sweet.
rirIisn dreams that camo TO her IN
tho Fnring-timo
Fn, some few DAVIS, remcmbcring
those p,ssionato kisses. she was SHY
and reserved with him; but she soon
forgot them. and was her own laugh