Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-03-29

make love TO, bu- whom none care to
make wives of"
And Maurice was a coward, and spoke
no word in her defense; he did not dare;
but young Denis Wilde drew himself up
proudly.
Mrs. Kynaston,'' he said, sternly, Il
must ask you not to speak sliGhtlngly of
Miss Nevill.'
why not? suppose we are all free
to use our tongues and our eyes in this
world! Why should you become the
woman's champion?"
Because" answered Denis, gravely,
81 hope to make her my wife"
Maurice was man enough to hold out
his hand to him in the darkness.
II am glad Of it," he said, rather
hoarsely; make her happy, Denis, If you
cam
Thanks. I shall go on to see her
now.''
Helen murmured an unintelligible apol-
ogy, and Denis Wilde passed onward to-
ward the vicarage.
He had taken her good name into his
keeping, he had shielded her from that
other woman's slandering tongue; but he
had done so in his despair. He had spok-
en- no lie in saying that he hoped to make
her his wife; but it was no doubt fact
that Helen and her husband would now
believe him to be engaged to her. Would
Vera be induced to verify his words?
Denis could not tell.
Ten minutes later he stood alone with
her in the vicarage dining room; he had
sent in his card with penciled line upon
it to ask for few minutes conversation
with her.
Denis made it plain to her how it was
he had come, and what he had said Of
her. Her name, he told her, had been
lightly spoken of; to have defended 1t
without authority would have been to do
her more harm than good; to take it UNI
der his lawful protection had been in
stinctively suggested to him by his long
ing to shield her. Would she forgive
him?
MY darling, give me the right to de-
fend you now and always" he pleaded;
'do not refuse me the happiness of pro-
tecting your dear name from such wom-
en- [ know you don't love me, dear, not
as love you, but will not mind that;
I will ask you for nothing that you will
not give me freely; only try mel think
I could make you happy, love-
"Oh, am very tired" was all she said,
moaningly and YEARLY, passing her hand
across her aching brow like a WORKOUT
child
1t was life or death to him. TO her it
was such little matter. What were all
his words and his prayers beside that
heartache that was driving her into her
grave! He could do her no good. Why
could he not leave her in peace?
There arose sentiment Of pity in her
heart, and vague wonder as to his
grief. Did he suffer, she asked herself,
as she herself suffered?
''Vera, Vera, I only ask you to be my
wife. do not ask you for your heart;
only give me your dear self. Only let me
be always with you to brighten your life
and to take care of YOU"
How was she to resist such absolute
unsefishness?
''Oh, Denis, how good you are to me-"
burst from her lips. "How can l take
you at your word? Do you not know
that my heart is gone from me? l have
no love to give YOU
Eyes, yes, darling" he said, quickly,
pressing her hand to his lips. DO not
pain yourself by speaking of it. l have
guessed it. 1 have always seemed to
know it. But it is hopeless, is it not :?
And II would so gladly take you away
and comfort you if could"
And so, in the end, she half yielded to
him. What else was she to do? She
gave him a sort of promise.
IF l can it shall be as you WISH" she
said, 'but give me till tomorrow night.
l will think of it all day, and if you will
come here again tomorrow evening I will
answer you. Give me one more day
only one," she repeated, with a dull reit-
Grafton, out of her utter WEAKNESS.
Zone day will soon be gone,'' he said,
joyfully as he babe her goodnight
Alas, how little he knew what that
day was to bring forth.
Go be continued.)