Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-06-12
CHAPTER XVI.

An amused smile outlines itself around
the corners of his handsome mouth.
so you think it is solely my own fault
that | have missed you-haye not seen
you, Well, perhaps it is-yet--
Yet whatT
~'Oh, nothing--it does not matter"
"No, l suppose not" she responds,
little acornfully. Nothing seems to mat
ter much to you, Mr.. Conway. | believe
you have found the tabled Lotos.
"Whew! since when has my little
Brownie learned to be sarcastic| he
queries, in genuine establishment, trying
to look into her face, but 1t is turned
away from him, and she is idly stripping
the thorns from the stem of rose she
has just broken. All! if she could only
as easily eradicate the thorns that rankle
in her gentle heart!
"Why don't you talk to me?" he says,
pettishly Are you weary of meV
She stoops suddenly and breaks off "a
half-dozca great purplish velvet pansies
from a bed on the side of the patch, and
puts them into his hands.
"'Thcre's panses - that's for
thoughts she says, gayly. Think what
you will"
May l think that you love me?' he
queries, audaciously, as only Bruce Con
way can do.
Il have said think what you WILL" she
answers. growing suddenly crimson. But
why are you throwing my pansies
away
a faint flush crimsons his fair fore
head. too. Their eyes look at each other
as he answers:
II do not like pansies; they are too
sad. Sometimes when ! stroll down this
path, Lu. they look up at me bathed in
glittcring dew, and-I am not romantic,
child, but they always remind me of blue
eyes swimming in tears"
''Thcy always remind me of the velvet
darkness of Grace Winans' eyes," she
says. mcditatively. Il wonder"-stirring
up little drift of pink blossoms on the
path with the tip of her small slipperedA
foot wonder if all our life-path is
to be flower strewnr'
A light flashes into his handsome dark
eyes as he clasps in his the small hand
lying within his arm.
Lulu, dearest" he murmurs, "if you
will promise to walk hand in hand with
me through life, your path shall be
Strewn with all the flowers loves sun
shine can warm into life"
ANtotf
the blue heavens darken above her head;
the warm and fragrant air that rushes
down the myrtle avenue sckens her al
most to fainting. Passionate bliss is al
ways closely allied to passionate pain.
She is silent, leaning more heavily on his
arm, her face growing white and mourn
full.
Dear. am | to take silence for con-
sent he persists, as though talking to
q pctuIant child who is going to yield,
he knows You do love me--you will
be my wife?'
Il cannot"
He stops still under tall myrtle and
puts his arm around her slim, girlsh
waist.
brownie. willfuI. teasing little fairy
shat YOU are-you cannot, you will not
deny that you love me-can you, hon
.estly. now"
Il have not denied it-have II" her
gaze falling before him. IF l loved you
L would still refuse"
Brownie, why?"
love me-"
Lulu. silly child, why should 1 ask
you to he my wife, then? l do love You
as love goes nowadayS-fondly and
truly"
All. that is it." she cries. bitterly. ''as
love goes nowadays-and l do not want
such Iove-my heart, where it loves. re-
signs its whole ardent being, and it
will not take less in return"
And l have offered You less?'-re-
proachfully this. Lulu. dear. unreason-
able child that you are-why do you
think that | do not love you? Be candid
with me. and let us understand one an
other l will not be offended ia anything
you say to me-
Il know you love me Il little" she
returns, trying hard to speak lightly and
calmly, but l also know, dear Bruce,
that Your heart. it may be unconsciouSly
to yourself still retains too much of its
old feeling for one | need not name, for
you 70 love me as l should like to be
loved. Understand that / am not blam-
ing YOU for this but you know in your
heart. Bruce, that were she free, and
would listen 10 your suit you would not
look twice ut poor me-"
NONSENSE" he answers. brusquely,
'let all that pasS--I do love you,
Brownie. not as | loved her, | own it.
But YOU are so sweet and lovable that
IL VIII De easy Tor you TO MI up my
heart, to the exclusion of all other past
love Try ii and see, dear. Promise me
that you will give yourself to me-"
Il cannot"
lis that tinal?"
"Final.' she gasped, as white as her
dress, and leaning unwillingly against his
shoulder
why, Brownie. child. dearest, look
up-heavcns, she is fainting." cried
Bruce, aud taking her in his arms, he
ran into a little pavilion near by, and
laying her down on the low. rustic bench
wthlA' opened the old-stoppered bottle
of salts that swung by golden chain to
her belt, and applied it to her nostrils.
She struggled up to sitting posture
and drew 4 long breath. while tears roll
ed over her cheeks. Both lily white
hands were uplifted to prevent another
:. application of the pungent salts.