Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-06-26
IRENE'S vow
BY CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME.
BY CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME.

Will you come into the gardens. and Lot
us see how the water looks under the
light of the moonY'
II will 20 with pleasure, II you wish. y
she said.
1t was grand old fountain; many n
; handsome Roman prince had stood there
in the moonlight. and many lovely face
had been reflected in the shining wat.
! crs.
II like this better than the Coliseum.
II believe" said Irene. 81 can breathe
/ here; there ! was lost in wonder; what n
night this ISL
! The duke was smiling to himself. Her
! face. as the light fell on il. was marvel.
Gus to behold--it was like beautiful
white cameo; the duke took courage from
its expression--so thoughtful, so gentle,
the passion and tragedy seemed to die
/ from H.
Miss Darcy" he began, 81 told you the
smaller favor you granted me would give
me courage to ask for n greater: may
do so nowY"
ASK what you will" said Irene.
The stately old nobleman had a fash
ion. quite his own, of making every at
tention he paid to her seem like favor
that she had granted him. She was
startled from her calm when he said, in
tone of deep emotion:
~ can ask, and you can grant no great
er favor, Miss Darcy. IL loved you
the first moment saw You, and | want
you to be my wife"
Even in the moonlight he saw how pale
her face grew, and how her lips trem
bled
Your wife" she repeated your
wife"
Yes, pardon me IL | have spoken ali.
ruptly; my most dear and honored wife
VIII you listen to me one minute. Miss
Darcy, before you decidey know there
is great disparity between us. | am
older than your father. | have not the
hot-headed love Of youth to offer you
have the deepest and most reverential at
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.
II could not bear 1t; | did not think
that | cared 80 much for you--think be-
fore you refuse me-"
II am very sorry" she began.
i'u'
Think of the power you would have
of the good you might do"
He had touched the right spring at
, last. The good she might do, the power
she would hnve-ah, that was what she
wanted-power. All at once n whole vista
seemed TO open out TO her; she had won
dered so much how, in their divided lives
she would over be able to influence the
fate of Sir Hubert Estmere. Quite sud
denly whole vista of ideas were Dened
out TO her-if she were Duchess Of Bay
ard holding "A position second to none,
/ queen of the world OF fashion, 1t would he
/ comparatively easy--she would he his SUI
perior then.
/ The duke wondered why all at once a
strange. luminous smile seemed to Green
from her eyes to her lips, why her white
hands clinched themselves. as though
| they held something between them. Oh,
| that she could tear from her heart the
memory Of that dark. handsome face she
had loved with such passionate love. She
turned to the duke, the expression of her
i face quite changed
| "Will you try to think favorablyT' he
asked.
! yes. think may promise that" she
, answered.
He kissed the white hand tina, lay on
the marble stone OF the fountain
4 You make me very happy" he said
simply.
After that II was impossible to talk OF
4 more commonplace matters. Irene shud,
dered as II she were cold, and the duke
with his usual polteuess. Immediately of.
fered to go indoors.
Irene went at once to her fathers room
She opened the door and went in without
bidding.
Papa. | know you want to he alone.
she said, "aud know that YOU will fee
annoyed with me. | shall disturb you
aud perhaps spoil your inspiration,
cannot help it'll must tell you. Some
thing so wonderful has happened to me
Papa, the duke-the Duke of Bayard ha
asked me to- marry him." she said; an,
then, indeed, the artist did spring TO hi
feet. and gave one cry OF unutterabl
surprise.
''rhe duke has asked you to marry him
: lrenei | can hardly believe it,
sit is perfectly true, papa" she said.
What answer hive you given him
, Irene?"
2 "Noue at all, papa. have told hir
that | win think it over; and so | will
Oh, father" she cried, with passionat
T tears; lis it really true that | am n
wife,"
My dear child" he said, sadly. "yo
know that there is no use in going ov,
n that most miserable story agaip--yo
Il know it.
what answer shall | make himf" 81
y asked; shall | say Yes or Mop
y "Hou must say just what your hea
1, dictates, Irene" he replied,
|, My heart" cried the girl, scornfull
n what mockery OF words-my heart.
10 is broken, Oh heaven" she continue
1t with a cry; 81 would give all--wealt
he fortune, title, honors, all--my hearts co
even, for one true word from the man
T. loved"
There Is one thing certain, Irene" sa
n. the artist; III you marry the duke y
70 must tell him your story first"
he CHAPTER XIV.
e, The following morning Irene sent
ed note to the duke by one OF the after