The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-05-29

had been fraught with such bitterness
to both. She loved him for the peril
he had passed through, and he love-
her that she did pity them"
My Dearest" said Don at last
there is only one thing 1 can ash
you to do now to insure your happi
ness and-and your safety. Give me-
the right at once to shield you from
harm, and to care for you as only your
husband can"
You mean" She faltered, while
a faint color futtered to her wan
cheek.
Il mean let US be married without
celay, darling" Don finished the SEN
tence for her. II cannot bear to think
OF your going home to England when
Mrs. Franklin goes, nor yet Of your be-
Ing left here alone; and l may have
orders to leave Pindi at any moment"
oh, Don, l could not marry you
Just yet" she said, her voice breaking
IN a tremulous sob. at would be too
crueH to my poor father"
Would it not be more cruel to me
than to the dead, to live in constant
rear of-of someone annoying you. or
something happening to you, when I
was not at hand to protect you?" he
asked. And his voice quivered.
Yes, yes!" she sighed. And invol-
UNFAIRLY a memory of Prince Clement
Sing flashed through her overwrought
brain. How might not he take oppor-
tunity OF harassing her now her father
was gone, especially as he claimed to
nave the dead mans sanction to ad-
dress her. And impulsively she told
Don OF the Princes visit.
But he went away in quite a
friendly mood, saying if l ever want
ed help I might count on him. It was
a great relief. 1 was terribly afraid
ne might go away angry. He is so
passionate and SO powerful, l imagined
all sorts OF harm he might do"
Yet her tender heart 'recoiled from
thinking of her own welfare. whilst
ner fathers grave clay so freshly dug"
Dear Don," she said, putting her
little hand tenderly in his, "perhaps
you cannot understand my feeling; but
| seem to feel his presence still. as if
his spirit stood quite near me now. and
l think it would hurt him to know I
wanted to be happy without him SO
Eoon."
The hand she touched tremble5.
mo; l don't understand that" he
sa1d, almost roughly. 81 am afraid |
can only think of the dead as dead and
buried in their graves"
NO. no! don't say that" she said.
and she drew his hand to her lips and
her hot tears fell upon it. "You who
nave proved SO strong and true through
Ill your trials, won't you take the So
lace OF my belief that there is eternity
to reward us for all our grief and part
ing? Dear Don, how else could we saw.
U, death, where is thy sting? o, grave.
where is thy v~ictory'?"
He arose and paced the length of the
'oom twice before he came pack AMI
once more by her side.
"Lillie," he said, and she knew bv
he tone of his voice he had been strug-
'llng with some strong emotion, come
% me now. and teach me how to be-
these things, while my heart is
till fresh to your sorrow. Promise
ne, Lillie."
He resumed his seat by her side and
nut out his hand to her appealinglv.
d met his eyes, her own all shin
ag with unshed tears.
Don, dearest, if l went home to Eng
ind with Mrs. Franklin for a few
1onths, wouldn't you come and fetch
there? But to marry you now
b, Don, l cannot!" !
Then heaven help mel" he an
wered bitterly. /
Again he rose, and she saw by the s
'orklngs OF his face how the indomi- I
die Will OF the strong man, which |
never before brooked rebuff, strug-
ed for supremacy, ever over his q
we.
He came back to her, and when he
'oke his voice was low and tense. b
Then it's all been in vain. Lille. r
love me, you say; but you can f
love me SO much as I love you, for
you had asked me to do what have t
'ked you l would not have forsaken a
f
She rose and nung herself in his a
ms. II
"Oh, Don, my love, why do you S
eak so? What makes you so wild and "
Don, Don, I have not for s.
ken you! You are all I now have in
e whole world" P
His Jealousy could not be but STAYED y
her passionate fervor; and, sud- N
My, at touch OF those clinging arms. n
me OF the old calm imperiousness of
e Don OF old came to his aid. u
MY darling" he answered, drawing h
r nearer, II want You, I need you o.
u do not know how much! Why CT
'uld you defraud me OF what is mine?
We part now. God knows how next So
may eve meet"
Fateful words to haunt her in the ci
lg, long days to come. hi
But now, overcome by his mastery W
d pleading, she resisted no longer: BIZ
d as she spoke the words Of yielding XXI
sought, he kissed the lips which had