Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-11-19

al was strange bewilderment about her.
Still his eyes were hxed upon her; still
he watched eagerly. But over hia lips
stole the paior OF death; bis fne brow
grew cold and white az marble itseff,
and on II stood the very dew Of agony.
"You yield, thenT' he said, In q voice
choked with emotion.
"Yieldw She rose slowly from her
seat; she unclasped bis fingers from hers
with despairing strength. "Ah, mol You
mistakel ! love him; viii be true to
hlm."
Louis stood with one hand supporting
himself by the table, the other pressed
hard against his side, and his face avert
ed. 50 that she did not see Its expression.
lie did not speak; but the hand resting
upon the table was withdrawn In q mo-
ment and II trembled.
Louis, l have hurt-wounded you;
have been too harshl Will you not for
give mel" Rose said, gently, and In a
tone that quiyered with agitation. She
| drew near to him, and laid her hand I'M
ploringly upon his arm. "You can but
see that my promise must be kept. and II
panied me that you should urge me to
break 1t. All, 1t IL sacred. Louis! help
me to keep 1t So"
There was no reply. But he turned
towards her; he held out his arms; he
gathered her to his breast and held her
there, while his lips were pressed calmly,
silently. tenderly to hers. Then releasing
her, he went out from her presence. The
door closed behind him. A step is heard
without-that Of the marquis.
We'll, my Rose, you are waiting for
me-" he said, cheerily, as he approached
her; "and have been waiting some time,
am afraid, too. What shall say for
myself ehT" and he seated himself be-
side her. But, what ails you, my childY'
he added, with evident concern; you are
mr.
"No-Rol am not m. sir; but l am un-
happy" returned Rose, lifting her beau
titul eyes, swimming with tears, to his
earnest face.
Unhappy? you are young for that,
Rose. Some girllsh whim it Ii, I'll war
rant me-nothing more, and you are max
Ing yourself extremely miserable about
it." And he stroked her bright hair gent
ly. as he spoke these words In an enliv-
ening tone.
"It Is 40 whim, slr,' answered Rose.
sadly. II have been doing wrong all this
time" She could proceed no further
for her tears.
Doing wrong, poor little mouse? and
to make a confessionT smiled the good
old man. kindly. "Why, Rose, think,
then, that must grant absolution before
hand, and refuse to listen to your story.
| won't hear any tales against my little
girl"
"Ah. monsieur. you treat 1t lightly! You
do not know how-how-"
II don't know, / suppose you would
say, how serious an affair 1t isis that 1t,
little Rose, ehT'
eyes, monsieur" answered the young
girl.
Exactly. WELL then, suppose / try
to guessf'
"You could not guess! Monsieur, you
must read this" And she drew from her
pocket a letter, which she was about 20
give him; but he put it away, smilingly,
with his hand.
"You will not allow me to guess, RoseI
then | will not look at your letter. am
harder than stone, my bird. And now,
Rose, don't interrupt me, for, as told
you, | mean to guess; and Ill wager q
IA wedding dress shall 1t be, petite?"
His good-natured, comical manner and
lively tone, together with q certain sig
nifcance which he threw into his last
words caused her first to smile, and then
to blush, despite her sorrow and agita-
tion. He waited an instant, and then
went on:
"What-silence? then you consent,
Rose ?-well, y wedding dress It shall be-.
then. As l said, will wager wedding
dress, lace, jewels and all"
II shall want neither lace nor Jewels,
monsieur" said Rose, half sadly.
"Do not interrupt me, my child!
Against-let me ses-against a pair Of
diamond buckles. You see l mean to
make you pay well, Rose-that shall
guess rightly"
~ do not understand you, monsieur"
said the young girl, wondering, perplexed
and diverted at his manner.
"You don't? what a pityw There was
mischief in his eyes, that brought the
smile to hers. what pity" he repeat
ed. "Well, at all events, will COM
mence, and probably, by the time I shall
have finished, you will comprehend my
meaning more fully. In the first place,
then, there Is certain young girl--you
see mention no names, Rosa certain
young girl, / say, who has lover. You
are listening, / presume, my child?"
II am listening, monsieur"
"Good! This young girl, then, is be-
trothed. Very we'll; that is not at all to
be wondered at, as young girls very fire.
Quently find themselves in this position.
She Is betrothed to poor young mana
workman: we will say he is--a gardener.
Well, these two--ths girl and her lover
cannot marry yet, because they are by
no means in suitable circumstances; for
she Is quite as poor as he. All, they
must be content to waitw
He paused, and regarded her with
curious smile. She looked up, her eyes
sparkling with tresh-streaming tears.
"Ah, monsieur! you are telling me
my"
The good marquis kissed her.
II am telling you about two people
whom once knew, my child. Twill pro-
ceed, Our young gardener, we will say,
goes away; and the girl, who meets with
some slight change Of circumstances dur
ing his absence, continues to remember
him. But for some reason, which is,
doubtless, in this case, an extremely nat
ural one, she neglects to inform certain
friend, or friends, of hers, that she has
promised to marry this young man. For
this neglect she presently begins to re-
proach herself Now, listen again, Rose"
and he grew quite serious; IF this young
girl-if you, Rose, had been really about
TO bestow your hand upou poor low