Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-25

argue with her, mt in the far distance
he already saw his triumph.
Not right. my darling. ] have never
heard that secret marriage was not
right. 1t may not always be wise; but ]
will not persuade you; it shall be as You
will; will not urge you to consent TO
anything in the world you thought not
right
She looked at him through a mist Of
tears.
You know. Sir Hubert" she said
gently, "that | have not been brought up
quite as other girls. Ny father has held
but one idea up to me, and it is that one
day | must go to my mother in heaven.
She loved me so much. yet she hardly
saw me befoTa she died Now, Sir Hal
bert, you are so much wiser, so much
better than l. will you tell me if could
go to my mother if | should consent to
a secret marriage? Her face, they tell
me, is full Of light, but she would turn
it from me. | fear she would say, This
is not my baby girl, whom | left so
young; this is girl with great, dark
secret over her soul; and she would not
love me, would she now, Sir Hultert?"
For shame and for PHYS sake he should
have fallen on the long grass and buried
his face there. He should have trembled
as he stood there, bold, defiant and hand
some. AS it was, the question startled
him with a keen, sharp pain. This dead
mother in heaven was like an enemy to
him. He did not dare, reckless as he
was, to answer her. The girl went on
in a low, plaintive voice.
1T is not long since someone said to
me that where there is secrecy there is
guilt If that be true of ordinary mar
riage, what must it be of a secret mar
riage!
"You are too much Of philosopher.
Irene, to love very much,' he said in a
tone Of bitter disappointment. How
foolish l was to think you would do any
thing in the world for me-"
She answered him only by bitter tears
and sobs. He might have had mercy ON
her, she was so young and so fair.
Irene" he said, gently, do not weep
so bitterly. One word at any time will
bring me to your side again; you have
but to say come and | will fly to you.
Perhaps when you have thought it well
over, secret marriage may not appear
so dreadful to you"
She answered him only by bitter tears,
and something like remorse did come over
him when he saw the beautiful face all
wet with tears; still he said to himself
if he were to conquer in the end he must
be firm now.
Irene" said Sir Hubert ''let us try,
before we decide, let US try if we can
live without each other. We need moi
part just yet | can remain at Lord
ArundaIe's. 1t is Tuesday now! take a
whole week to think it over, and let US
meet here next Tuesday, just one week
from to-day, to decide whether we shall
part forever or never part more. What
do you say, my darling"
Il will do anything you wish, she said,
glad of any pretext that delayed the fatal
parting.
Then it shall be So he said. Next
week shall decide our fate-next Tues
day. We shall meet here, and it shall
be for veal or for woe. Forever to love
each other, or forever to part. Next
Tuesday. Irene, how shall l live until
the day comes?"
He kissed the tears from her eyes and
left her the most miserable and desolate
girl under the summer sun.
The following Tuesday she was at the
trusting place, fully determined to tell
him that while she could not bear to part
with him, neither could she consent to a
secret marriage.
My darling" he cried, how could we
fancy we could ever part?
She chung to him weeping and sobbing.
The pretty, coquettish hat had fallen on
the grass, the golden hair lay in rich,
shining waves over her shoulders, her
| little white hands chung to him.
Il do not know how | have lived" she
said, with shudder. ''Sir Hubert. an
other such week would kill me-"
How did we ever dream that we could
live away from each other, Irene?' he
said. This one week has been like a
long year to me-"
And then, looking into her face, he
said:
Il was to come for my answer to-day,
Irene. What is it?'
He kissed the silent lips.
/ You have no words for me. You know
the old proverb, darling, that silence
gives consent. May | take your silence
for the sweetest consent ever givenW
Then she found courage to speak.
81 cannot bear the parting" she said,
hurriedly, land | cannot bear a secret
marriage. You, who are so clever, you
must find some other course for u.s.
Gro be continued.l