Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-08-16
CHAPTER Xiv.
A Diving Mans Request.

ElHel udppelleu 10 ne Win l,duy Leigh
ton when the visitor arrived; she could
lot hasten away without drawing more
attention to herself than she desired.
She saw Sir Oscar before he had time
to nouce her; she stilled the terrible
beating of her heart, the trembling Of
her limbs.
1T has to be borne" she said to her
self; "let me bear it bravely.'
While he spoke to Lady Leighton,
she looked earnestly at him He was
remembered as so bright and hopeful
was careworn and sad. He looked like
man who had passed through great
and bitter trouble.
She was still gazing earnestly, visit
fully at him, when, turning suddenly,
he saw her.
She never forgot the startled shock
of pain that came over his face; he
was like a man who had ecelved a
sudden blow and could har1iy recover
from it. With grave courtesy he held
out his hand in greeting to her.
She made her escape as soon as
possible The pain of meeting him
again, of meeting him SO coldly, so
soberly, was greater almost than the
pain Of parting had been; she wept
bitter tears over it. OF course she
knew it could not be otherwise; they
had parted years ago; they we're to be
only as strangers. But she could not
endure it; it seemed harder to her than
any sorrow she had borne She said to
herself that she would ask Lord st.
Norman to leave Holmedala. re would
not refuse her, he must not refuse her,
for she could not bear her present trial.
She saw but little OF Sir Oscar that
day. They met at the d.nner-table
but he was next to Clarice Leighton,
who was trying to make a conquest of
the man whom all other men honored.
After dinner he talked again to
| Clarice; and Ethel, with an aching
heart, sat and watched him.
they were parted. Never, while life
lasted, could they be anything to each
other. They wereto be strangers. Yet
she could not bear it. She sat for a
short time, and then went 10 her own
room. Perhaps that night was the
longest and saddest that Ethel ever
passed,
1t was two days before she saw Sir
Oscar to speak to him, and then she
was in the conservatory alone. When
he entered and saw her, his face light
ed up for a few moments and then the
| careworn expression returned. He
went over to her.
ethel" he said, gently. u have been
LONGING to see you alone. | want to
speak to you. Will you. listen to me
fo- ? brief while?'
she replied
q want to Ten gu that I'll had
known you were here, | would not
have come. ! would not have given
you or myself the pain of meeting
again; it Is too hard to bear. came
for some weeks, but l shall not re-
main. shall so away in a few days
she bowed her head, but made no
answer
Ethel" he continued, harriedly,
tell me one thing / am unchanged.
Ny love for you has increased, not
/ lessened; it is the greatest happiness,
yet the greatest torment OF my lie.
If l repeated my question. II I prayed
you again to be my wife, what would
your answer be2"
She was silent for some short time,
and then she raised her eyes to his
face.
1T must be the same as before, she
replied. 1T is not more possible for
me now than it was then TO be your
wife"
II feared It," he said, sadly. "Ah,
me, how full Of sorrow life Is, Ethel
I cannot remain here and bear the
torture of seeing you, knowing that
you can never be mine. / must go.
There can be no pretext OF friendship
for us. ! hardly dared to hope, yet my
second disappointment is harder than
the first
Il am very sorry" she said gently.
4 know. Ethel, | know. Would to
Heaven things could have been other
wise, ! should have"
But he never finished the sentence,
Lady Leighton came in, and he could
say no more,
ethel dld not 60 down stairs again
that day II she could have had her
own way She would have seen him
again. It was only useless pain.
"He will be gone soon thought the
iesolate girl; and then ! shall suffer
no more.
sir Oscar made a desperate attempt
to leave Holmedale. bur Lord Leighton
would not hear OF it. In vain the
baronet pleaded pressure Of business.
"Yon promised % remain several
weeks said Lord Leighton, YOU
must at least. stay for one.
Reluctantly enough he complied
.it VIII soon pass. he thought and
I Will take care that I 10 not see her
again
Three days elapsed. ana then Ethel