The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-07

love Of mine, but it will not be hidden,
1t will not be crushed, it will not be
stifled. Now the flood has risen, it has
burst its bonds and washed away all
Thought Of prudence. You have learned
my secret. Allie, is there no hope at all
for me? / know. am not worthy of
you, but ] am an honest man, and
love you with my whole heart and soul. !"
"Dr. De Normanville, she said slow.
~, turning her tear stained face toward
me, 81 am sorry, more sorry than you
will ever guess, that you should have
told me this. Many men have let me
know their love before now, and was
able to tell them without pain to myself
that it could not be. Now, you love me,
| you who have been SO true and SO brave,
and / have to make you see that what
you wish can never be possible. Do not
think am insensible of the honor you
have done me, for it would honor any
woman to be asked to be your wife Do
not think that it does not pain me to
hurt You SO. But, oh, DIR. De Norman
vile, cannot you see that can be no
mans wife, much less yours?''
And why, in heavens name, not?"
| All this time she had not attempted
to Withdraw her hand from mine.
Because, according to your lights, I
am not worthy. You have this moment
called yourself an honest man. Well,
then, Judged by your ideas of honesty,
am not an honest woman Look at
your own career; look at the name you
have already created for yourself; think
OF your future; then how can Ia wom-
an hunted by every nation, woman on
whose head price is set, who dares not
show her face in civilized country
allow herself to share that name and
that future with you Ask yourself that
| question and answer it before you think
of making me your wife. .
can have no future without you. -
That is no answer to my question.
No, DIR. De Normanville, am sorry,
more sorry than you will ever know,
that this trouble should have come upon
you. But when you have time to reflect
you will see as clearly as do that
what you ask is impossible. It can new
or DO.
Zone question before You say it can
not be!'' cried. II will not insult you
by imploring You to tell me the truth.
You will do that without my asking.
But we will suppose for the moment
that you were not the outlaw you de-
clare yourself to be and asked you the
same question. Will you tell me if you
would give me the same answer them"
1t is unfair of you to put it in that
way, " she said, toying with leaf.
But since you do ask will tell you
truthfully. If l were in the position you
describe and you asked me to share your
life with you, would give you this
answer-that would be your wife or.
the wife of no other man.
You love me, then, Alie?''
My heart seemed to stop beating
while waited for her answer When it
did pass her lips, it was so soft that
could hardly Lear it.
Yes, l do love you. ~
Before she could prevent me 1 had
taken her in my arms and rained kisses
upon her beautiful face. For moment
she did not resist Then she withdrew
herself, painting, from my arms.
Let me go!'' she gasped. "You must
not do this. No, no, no! What am 1
telling you? Oh. why cannot you see
that what you wish is impossible?''
As I live, cried in return, sit is
not impossible, and it never shall be!
Since you own yourself that you love
me I will not live without you. love
you as verify believe man never loved
woman before. If were poet instead
OF prosaic doctor, should tell you,
Ale, that to me your smile is like
Gods sunshine. would tell you that
the wind only blows to carry to the
world the story of my love for you. I
would tell you all this and nore-yes,
thousand times more. But / am no
poet am only man who loves you
for your own beautiful self, for your
sweetness, your loneliness, your tender
ness to those about you. What does
fame mean for me? want only YOU.
Let me have you for my companion
through life, and will go with you
where you wish, stay here with you if
you please or go away, just as you may
decide. have but one ambition. and
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