Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-03-15
|RENE'S vow
1y CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME.
Dy CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME.

It's expression-sc thoughtful, so gentle,
the passion and tragedy seemed to die
from 1t.
Miss Darcy" he began. 81 told you the
smaller favor YOU granted me would give
me courage to ask for a greater; may l
do so now"
ASK what you WILL" said Irene.
The stately old nobleman had fash
ION, quite his own. of making every at
tention he paid to her seem like a favor
that she had granted him. She was
startled from her calm when he said. in
a tone of deep emotion:
II can ask. and you can grant no great
or favor, Miss Darcy. II loved you
the first moment saw you, and l want
you to he my wife,"
Even In the moonlight he saw how pale
her face grew, and how her lips trcm-
blcd.
"Your wife" she repcated-"your
wife"
YES, pardon me If have spoken alb
ruptly; my most dear and honOred wife.
Will you listen to me one minute, Miss
Darcy. before you decide? know there
is n great disparity between us. l am
older than your father. have not the
hot-hcaded love of youth to offer you. l
have the deepest and most reverential af-
lection. that will make you as happy, per-
haps. as the most passionate love. For
heavens sake he cried, earnestly. do
not say that you are going to refuse me.
IL could not bear It; did not think
that | cared 80 much for you--think be-
fore you refuse me-"
II am very sorry" she began.
But he interrupted her.
Think of the power you would have
of the good you might do"
lie had touched the right spring at
last. The good she might do. the power
she would have--ah, that was what she
wanted-power. All at once a whole vista
seemed to open out to her; she had won
,lcrcd 80 much how, In their divided lives
she would ever be able to influence the
fate Of Sir Hubert Estmere. Quite sud.
denly a whole vista OF ideas were opened
out to hcr--if she were Duchess Of Bay
! ard. holding a position second to none,
queen Of the world Of fashion. II would be
comparatively easy--she would be his ST.
perior then.
The duke wondered why all at once a
strange, luminous smile seemed to creep
from her eyes to her lips. why her white
hands clinchcd themselves. as though
.ne! ns'u something oetweeh tnem. Oh'
.nat SUE so"'u tear 'ron' ner heart 'ne
"emor! OF mat dark' handsome FACE she
had loved with such passionate love. She
s"." ",,;, =, VI" ' ""ns' '"e eNP'ess''" Vi her
..v.i,, Wv, .""s" ,, q,
os..J ~" w " '"'"" '"'''""''' "e
"s
les ! 'hink l may promise that she
answered.
lie Kissed the white hand that lay on
me marble stone OF the Fountain.
You make me very happy he said,
Simply.
''er that u was Impossible to tax "
more commonplace matters. irene shud'
'icred as IL she were cold. and the duke.
WIN MS nsnh' politehess' immediately Of
i'red 10 y" indoors.
irene w'nt "t once 10 ner rathers room.
cue ope"eu the uoor anu went III without
"muihg.
fann' , know you want to bc alone.
SUE saul anu ! KNOW tnat you VIII feel
nnn"!eu win me. ! sh",l disturb you.
W." p',".ps sPoI your inspiration. l
., ""n'' "..p II. mus. .en you. some
,n'ns so "ohuerrui nus happened TO me.
Inpn' .hc ""ke-the LUX. o, haSard mas
.' "s !" .,nrr' MN, she saiu; ana
mem 'na''. .he hr''st "'u spring 10 ms