Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-04-12
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI
Sir Karl wanted Dolores To marry
! him at Christmas He told her that
| her period of mourning had been
long enough to satisfy the most scrup-
ulous and eNaCtiug He urged, plead
ed; he even brought down little kath-
leen and told her to ask mamma"
to be kind to him. Al Christmas Lord
| Rhysworth was coming to take pos
session Of Decping Hurst. If she
would but say Yes" he would at
once commence making the necessary
| preparations at SCarsdale, and If she
| did not care to have their engage
ment announced if should be kept Il
profound secret until two or three
! weeks before the wedding took place
| There was no resisting his pleading,
especially when he raised little Kath-
! lcen in his arms and told her not to
cease kissing mama until she had
said Yes"
You love me, Kathleen do you
not?" he cricd
The little rosebud face nestled ON
Yes"
Your own little daughter gives
YOU to me Dolores You must ot be
cruel 1t is not as though ! had only
| iiIat lnarnnl IN lNNN No
my years Of faithful hopeless love
Say Yes.
She was whispering something to
him, with her arms round his neck
and her beautiful face hidden on his
breast.
What is it YOU are saying" he
cried, in utter establishment You
are frightened because of Lola? My
darling, what nonsense Even should
She take umbragc at my marriage,
should she be angry with you? What
could she do to you? Dolores, You arc
a fanciful nervous woman, ! believe!
| What could she do to YOU"
4 cannot tell why | am afraid of
her, but do know that, as | am sit
ting here quite happy with you, the
thought Of her frightens me When
/ look forward to tho time when | shall
be with you tn" thought cf Lola
| darkens it"
How strange" he murmureG
IT rs not 50 strange" said Lady
| Rhysworth in voice full OF e,aotion
| DO not think me wanting in delicacy
! if say that ! am quite sure that she
! loves you" Her sweet face flushed
holly as though she had been confess
ing some great transgression Of her
! own
The more think Of it, she con
tinued, the more ! am sure that am
right While you were away from
home she had many offers Of mar
riage all Of the kind that the world
calls good but she would not accept
any of them ! remember how people
wondered am sure now that 1t was
for your sake Karl She was quite
different girl when she heard that
you were coming home Whether
She had any suspicion that you cared
for me cannot tell; but she has al
ways spoken Of you 10 me as though
! YOU belonged to her
You did not believe .t?" he said.
quickly
No. | did not, because you had told
me the truth about it; but | am very
sorry for her, and am frightened.
You need not fear he replied
But he could not help owning to
himself that the situation was awk-
ward. He ought not to feel angry
with any one for showing him great
affection, but he wished with all his
heart that Lola was married and safe
his darling's face clouded ever by this
shadow
You must cheer up Dolores. All
will be well be said there is no
cause for fear AS for deferring our
wedding for that IL would be utter
noasense Our marriage will at once
pu. an end 20 all unpleasantness
Say Christmas, like darling. and for
gat Lola
Tn sweet eyes looked up with trust
an confidence into his face
Did you ever, when you first be-
ran. acquainted With her, fiirt with
her ~!thout any thought Of love-"
sic asked.
To Be Continued.