North Park union., 1900-05-11

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had been fraught with such bitterness
to both. She loved him for the periif
he had passed through. and he loved
her that she did pity them"
"My dearest" said Don at last
there is only one thing I can ask
you to do now to insure your happi-
ness and-and your safety. Give me
lhe right at once to shield you from
harm, and to care for you as only your
husband can"
You mean" She faltered. while
{. faint color futtered to her wan
cheek.
II mean let us be married without
Gelay. darling" Don finished the SEN
tence for her. II cannot bear to think
Of your going home to England when
Mrs. Franklin goes, nor yet Of your be-
ing left here alone; and I may have
orders to leave Pindi Mt any moment"
"Oh. Don, could not marry you
Just yet" she said. her voice breaking
in tremulous sob. "1t would be too
cruel to my poor father!"
Would 1t not be more cruel to me
than to the dead, to live in constant
fear of-of someone annoying you, or
something happening to you, when I
was not at hand to protect your" he
asked. And his voice quivered.
"Yes. yes!" she sighed And invol-
unfairly a memory Of Prince Clement
Sing flashed through her overwrought
brain. How might not he take oppor-
tunity Of harassing her now her father
was gone, especially as he claimed to
have the dead mans sanction to ad-
dress her. And impulsiyely she told
Don of the Princes visit.
But he went away in quite a
friendly mood. saying IL l ever want
ed help might count on him. 1t was
a great relief. was terribly afraid
he might go away angry. He is SO
passionate and SO powerful, imagined
all sorts Of harm he might do.'
Yet her tender heart recoiled from
thinking Of her own welfare. whilst
her fathers grave LAY so freshly dug. +"
Dear Don," she said, putting her
little hand tenderly in his. perhaps
you cannot understand my feeling; but
l seem to feel his presence still. as II
his spirit stood quite near me now, and
l think 1t would hurt him to know /
wanted to be happy without him 30
soon"
The hand she touched trembled.
mo; l don't understand that" he
said, almost roughly. II am afraid
can only think of the dead as dead and
buried in their graves"
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and she drew his hand to her lips and
her hot tears fell upon 1t. You who
have proved SO strong and true through
all your trials, won't you take the So
lace Of my belief that there Is eternity
to reward us for all our grief and part
ing? Dear Don. how else could we say.
o. death, where is thy sting? o, grave.
where is thy victory'?"
He arose and paced the length of the
room twice before he came back and
stood once more by her side.
Lille" he said. and she knew by
the tone OF his voice he had been strug-
Cling with some strong emotion, come
to me now. and teach me how to be-
lieve these things. while my heart is
still fresh to your sorrow. Promise
me. Lillie!"
He resumed his seat by her side and
put out his hand to her appealingly.
She met his eyes. her own all shin
Ing with unshed tears.
Don. dearest. il went home to Eng
Ian with Mrs. Franklin for a few
mo 'ths. wouldn't you come and fetch
me there? But to marry you now
oh. Don, l cannot!"
Then heaven help me-" he an
swered bitterly.
Again he rose. and she saw by the
workings Of his face how the indomi-
table will Of the strong man. which
had never before brooked rebuff. strug-
Sled for supremacy. even over his
love.
He came back to her. and when he
spoke his voice was low and tense.
Then It's all been in vain. Lille
You love me. you say; but you can
not love me SO much as love you, for
il you had asked me to do what have
asked you I would not have forsaken
you."
She rose and flung herself in his
arms.
"oh. Don, my love. why do you
speak so? What makes you so wild and
strange? Don, Don, have not for
saken you! You are all now have in
the whole world!"
His jealousy could not be but stayed
by her passionate fervor; and, sud-
denly. at touch Of those clinging arms,
some of the old calm imperiousness Of
the Don of old came to his aid.
My darling" he answered, drawing
her nearer, II want you, need you
you do not know how much! Why
would you defraud me Of what is mine?
II we part now, God knows how next
we may ever meet"
Fateful words to haunt her in the
long, long days to come.
But now, overcome by his mastery
and pleading, she resisted no longer;
and as she spoke the words of yielding
he sought, he kissed the lips which had
uttered them with a fierce. consuming
joy.
CHAPTER VII.
The wedding was over. 1t had been
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