Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-22
Continued

looking at her, Laurie Nugent Won
dered if she loved him-if ever he
should win her, or if he should have 20
leave her at last.
81 have not displeased you, trust?''
he said, looking at the beautiful, down
cast face. You asked me the question
so suddenly, | was taken by surprise.
If all the poetry in the world were
compressed into a single song, it could
not describe my affection for you; if all
the love that has ever been felt by
mortal man could be placed in heart,
it would still fall far short of the love
| feel for you"
She glanced at him quietly.
You love me, them" she queried, in
a voice that breathed sweetest music.
II love you" he repeated, and the
sound of his words startled him even
more than it did Ethel Gordon.
They sat for some minutes in silence
while the Ginning of the bells foated
around them.
81 love you" repeated Laurie Nugent.
Il have summoned courage at last to
say So I loved you the first moment
| saw you, and | shall love you until j
die. | know it is presumption. You
are as far above me as the blue sky or
the golden sun; but I love you, and by
the ladder of love | hope to climb to
your side"
He caught her white hands in a pas
sionate grasp, so tightly as almost to
cause her to cry aloud.
What the men of old did to win the
women they loved, | would do, Ethel.
d would serve for you twice seven
years, content if | might win you at
last | would love you all my life, and
be content to win one word, one smile,
out and fight for you as did the heroes
of old; for love you, Ethel, as no man
has ever loved woman before"
His voice died away in a passionate
murmur, and he buried his face in the
silken, shining folds of her dress.
She sat silent and motionless, for his
words had fallen upon her with a
blank surprise; she had not expected
them.
Ethel" he continued, Il have moth
ing to offer you that is worthy of you
What would be worthy? If | had all
the worlds wealth and could lay it at
your feet, it would be unworthy of you
If | were an emperor, and could raise
you to the throne by my side, and
could give you the crown from my
brow it would still be unworthy of you
l can give you nothing but the deep
passionate love of my heart, my faith
my truth, my life"
He paused again, with the last word
trembling on his lips.
Her proud, frank eyes were shining
down upon him, but there was no con-
fusion in her face, no hesitation in her
manner
why do you love me so much?" she
asked, with the simple wonder of a
child. Il do not understand it.
Il cannot tell you, Ethel. Why do
love you? / cannot help it. | loved
you before | knew your name, or had
heard you speak. My heart went from
me in the first glimpse l had of your
beautiful face Ask the birds why they
sing, the flowers why they bloom, the
sun why it shines. 1t would be easier
for those to answer than for me to say
why | love you. | cannot help it, II
rs my destiny, and no fairer one was
ever given to man"
He raised his handsome head, and
looked up into the calm, proud, severe
face
Il am almost frightened at my own
presumption" he continued; lit is as
il slave had dared raise his eyes to
the fairest, the proudest, and brightest
of queens. Ethel, say you are not
angry with me-
Il am not angry" she replied.
You will think l grow courageous
with kindness. Say even more than
that-what will you give me in return
for my great lover" -.
Il do not know" she answered; and
there was grace so childlike, so limo
cent, so pure, in her looks and words,
that once more the impulse was strong
upon him to save her from himself
Only for one moment did ii last, and
then the selfish, passionate love rose
in his heart, and he was kneeling at
her feet.
Ethel, pray you give me something
in return for my love-give me liking
that will in time become love. Bid me
do something that can prove how dear
ly l love you. Do not send me from
you to despair and death. | am strong
and proud man; my pride and strength
with my love and my life, are lying al
your feet-stoop and raise them
ethel"
He could not have spoken more eff
fectively; one of Ethers weakest points
was this love Of power to which he now
appealed.
1t was something to find that this
strong, handsome, powerful man laid
his life in her hands, knelt at her feet
praying for one kind word from her
1t fiattered her; she had fancied her
self so neglected, she had been deposed
from her natural sovereignty, and il
was pleasant to find that in one mans
heart she reigned a most triumphant
queen.
1T was not love that caused her tc
leave her white hands in his passionate
grasp; it was not love that caused heI
to droop her beautiful face over him;
and trembled on her lips. 1t was only