Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-01
IRENE'S vow
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.
By CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAEME.

her face grew. and how her lips trem-
bled
"Yeur wife"t she repeated-"your
wife.g
'Yas, pardon inc if I have spoken alb
ruptly; my most dear and honored wife
VIII you listen to me one minute, Miss
Darcy, before you decide? | know there
IS great disparity between US. l am
older than your father. l have not the
hot-headed love of youth TO offer you. 1
have the deepest and most reverential af-
fection, 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.
FL could not lear it; l did not think
that cared so much for you-think be-
fore you refuse me-
Il am very sorry she began.
But he interrupted her.
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 haye--ah, that was what she
wanted-power. All at once whole vista
seemed TO open CUT to her; she had won
dered so much how, in their divided lives
she would ever BE able to influence the
fate Of Sir Hubert Estmere Quite sud
denly whole vista of ideas were opened
out to her-if she were Duchess of Bay
ard, holding a position second to none,
queen ci the world of fashion, it would be
comparatively easy-she would be his SUI
perior then.
The duke wondered why all at once
strange, luminous smile seemed to creep
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
face quite changed.
viii you try 10 think fayorablyy" he
asked
Yes, think Imay promise that" she
answered.
lie kissed the white hand that lay on
the marble stone of the fountain.
You make mel very happy he said,
simply.
After that it was impossible to talk of
more commonplace matters. Irene shud-
dered as if she were cold. and the duke.
with his usual poiteness, 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 be alone"
She said, 'and know that you viii feel
annoyed with me. | shall disturb you,
and perhaps spell your Inspiration. /
cannot help i'll must tell you. Some
thing so wonderful has happened to me.
Papa, the duke-Ihe Duke of Bayard has
asked me to marry him." she said; and
then, indeed. the artist did spring to his
feet and gave one cry of unutterable
surprise.
The duke has asked you to marry him,
Irene? | can Ea.dly believe it,"
1T is perfectly true, papa" she said.
What answer have you given him,
IreneG"
None at all, rapa. l have told him
that | win think it over; and 60 | will.
Oh. father she. cried, with passionate
tears; lis it really true thas / am no
wife,"
My dear child" he said. sadly, ''you
know that there is no use in going over
that most miserable story again-you
know it."
What answer shall make him. she
asked; "shal | say Yes or 'No'?'
You must say just what your heart |
Irene" lie replied
My heart" crjed the girl. scornfully; |
what a mDekery of words-my heart. 1t |
is broken. Oh. heaven" she continued |
with a cry; Il would give all-wenlth, !
fortune. title, hon0rs, all-my hearts core
even, for one true word from the man L |
loyed.'
There is one thing certain. Irene" said |
the artist; ''if you marry the dEke you |
must tell him your story Rrst."