Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-25
Continued

are my sweetheart, ana you love me
after your own fashion. You will love
me better some day. You can guess
Violet, why / have wanted SO much to
see you this morning?"
No" she replied; q could never
guess"
Dear one" he said earnestly, st
is a great happiness to have you for
my sweetheart, greater than I can tell,
but | want to be something nearer
and dearer. l want you to be my
wife"
You are never satisfied, Randolph, >
she answered. IF l were to be your
wife, you would still want something
more"
There can be nothing nearer, moth
in dearer than a wife" he replied
with a half smile 4 should be more
than content if you would promise
that"
ct is so much to promise, Ran
dolph,' she said-"so much"
IF you are going to refuse me this,
it would have been better never to be
kind to me at ala thousand times
better" he declared passionately. q
could not lose you now. A month
since | might have borne it, and have
lived Think Of it, Violet. If you will
marry me you shall have your hearts
desire. will take you to see the fair
est lands on which the sun shines; you
shall see earth's noblest cities. Italya
art treasures, SWitzerland's snow-cap-
ped mountains. all the beauties and
marvels of creation; you shall have
every wish gratifed"
You talk like a prince, Randolph"
she answered. calmly How could
you do all this? 1t would take a for
tune"
7 would spend a hundred fortunes
for you" he answered, eagerly.
But you must have them first"
she rejoined, laughingly: "and you
have not"
Il will make them" he said 'Vio-
let, you told me once that you would
not marry an aristocrat."
and | mean it" she cried.
If one stood here before you now
with the most ancient and honorable
of titles. with a fortune that would
make you a queen Of fashion, would
you not marry him?"
NO she replied" with sovereign con-
tempt, 81 would never be false to the
opinions of my life. | will marry a
man who makes his own name by his
own industry and talent | shall new
er make you understand how l dislike
the aristOcracy You would have no
chance at ali if you were an aristocrat,
Randolph" she added, Iaughingly;
but it is greatly in your favor that you
are an artist. OF all professions, Il
like that of en- artist best"
How glad I am" he said.
Ever since I met an artist sketch
ing in Sr. BynO's woods. [ have liked
men of his profession. They seem to
me gentlemen, all of them. I am glad
you are an artist, Randolph" she add
ed musingly, I cannot imagine a bad
tempered artist"
That is not the question. Violet.
The manners of artists might interest
me at any other time but not just now.
You forget the question | have asked
you-will you be my wife? Think
how much | love you, how happy you
might make me; think of the pleasant
life that | would plan for you, and
think though your Warwickshire
home is beautiful, how monotonous
the life is. Listen to me, sweet Violet.
Just now all is bright and glad You
are young and beautiful, you are sol
full Of vitality that the yeriest trifla
is pleasure to you, and you find all
existence bright and fair. But, my
darling, the years will roll on, and
Time, most ruthless of enemies. will
como and seal your youth, your bright
ness, the roses from your face, aad the
light from your eyes. Oh, my darling,
can YOU think Of spending all your
fresh bright life in that solitary house.
of having no one to love you but that
stern, querulous aunt of yours? Oh,
my darling, have pity upon Yourself
For the first time he saw tears in
her eyes
You have to choose between sun,
light and darkness" he urged.
Give me time to think" she replied.
Il will give you time Take two
days. This is Tuesday morning; on
Thursday let me see you; even if l
cannot speak to you. Let me see you
standing by the great chestnut-tree:
and if you will marry me. wear a
bunch of scarlet geraniums in your
blue dress. If see it there, shall
thank Heaven indeed"
Two whole days passed in terrible
suspense, Lord RIVERS forgot all
about his difficulties; he forgot his
stately mothers proud aspirations. the
hopes she had built up as to his fu-
tire; he could think only of one thing,
whether, when those days had passed.
he should see the scarlet bloom of the
geraniums worn by the woman he low
ed. If he saw her standing beneath
the chestnut-tree with no scarlet flow
ers on her bosom, he should give up
title and estates, should never care for
aught again in this world Thinking
of all this, he fretted at the delay.
why did say I would wait two
days for her to answer" he asked
himself. She could have decided in
one. Perhaps the more time she has
to think, the less chance there will be
for me-"
He could do one thing that would
help to pass few hours away. He
went over the next day to Warwick
and there purchased a bouquet of the
finest scarlet geraniums. Quite early