Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-07-19

you VIII love me, Ethel?"
She said something's few gentle
words that were full of music. He
could not hear them, but he was con-
tent.
And l." he said-"I will love you
forever, my beautiful queen!"
How cruel it was, How the words
stabbed her with sharpest paint So
hard, so bitter was the pain, that a
cry she never forgot came from her
lips.
My beautiful queenl" Who had
said those words to her before?
The lake, the cedar, the noble face
OF her lover disappeared. She was
standing in the dewy freshness of a
summer morning by a gate that led to
stretch of wood, and her young,
newly-made husband was by her side.
He was covering her hands with
kisses and tears. She saw the hand
some face; she heard the long-silent
voice saying: For l love you so dear
ly, my beautiful queeni"
All! dear Heaven, that even for one
happy moment she could forget, She
stood up with a Departing cry; her
beautiful young face grew ghast'y in
pallor.
Il had forgotten!" she moaned. "Ah,
Heaven pardon me, l had forgotten!"
Then the anguish of her pain became
too strong for her, and, turning from
him, with a cry she fell on her face
on the long, cool grass.
He was frightened for her-nct for
himself. He felt sure that she loved
him-that he should win her-that she
would be his wife; but he fancied that
he had startled her-that he had been
too abrupt Yet why should she look
so despalring? What had she forgot
ten?
He went to her and raised her. AS
he turned her face to the sunlight, he
was startled by its look of pale, set
tied despair. He held her in his arms;
he kissed her white lips.
My darling" he said, forgive me.
have startled you, Ethel. | shall
never pardon myself if have fright
ened you"
His voice seemed to recall her to her
self-a deadly shudder passed over
her frame. Sir Oscar grew alarmed.
Ethel, my darling, what is the mat
ter? did not think l should startle
you so greatly"
1T is not that" she said, in a low
voice; Il had forgotten
How was she to tell him? She grew
faint and sick with despair. How was
she to tell him th0t che, so young, was
married slfeady, and that the husband
she had welded in such secrecy and
haste was a common fclon? Twice her
white lips opened, but all sound died
upon them.
When she was sufficiently composed,
she said, sadly:
Sir Oscar, l am grateful for your
love, for your kindens1, but can never
be your wife"
Her voice was so altered that he
hardly recognized it; all the music
seemed to have died out of it.
my dearest Ethel, that is q neat
little speech-one that you have evil
IDENTIFY learned by heart; but l refuse
for one moment to believe that you
mean it, or that you intend to be so
cruel to me-you could not
Il am sorry" che faltered; "blt in
Iced it is true; l cannot marry you,
Sir Oscar"
"Oh, Ethel, you are saying it to try
ne! You cannot be in earnecs, my |
beautiful love!"
1T is true" said the girl. "Sir |
Oscar, love you, but l can never be
'our wife, because have a secret in
ny life"
"A secret, Ethel" he repeated. He |
ooked at the pale, beautiful face, with |
IS sad, sweet lips and tender eyes. 81
Mould not care my darling, if you had |
I've hundred. Oh, Ethel, trust me; you
ire young and inexperienced, and what
'ou deem Of moment may be nothing,
Ifter all. l am quite sure of one thing
there can be nothing in your beauti-
III, pure young life to unfit you to be
ny wife,"
Thank you for your generous trust
n me-" she responded; but my secret
viii prevent my marrying you"
will you trust me with it?" he
Icked, anxiously. mot that l would
know 1t from idle curiosity, but that I
night help you, Ethel"
You cannot help me. l must bear
ny sorrow alone until l die cling
% your esteem. l cannot tell you my
secret. Be generous, and do not ask
ne to do So"
II would stake my existence on your
goodness. Ethel. If you yourself told |
ne, would not believe that you had
lone wrong. l would never believe but
that you are the purest and best, even
rs you are the most beautiful, of wo-
men,"
That depends on what you call |
wrong. l cannot tell you what | did. |
win not tell you my secret. did not |
10 wrong willingly. l was young, |
foolish, blind"
Ethel. my darling. If you would |