The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-12-12

ed to SEQ no more until tonight !
met your reproaohful glance. and my
resolution faltered.> In 4 moment OF
impulse wrote you the note bidding
you come here. Already l repent!'
Repent" he cried, springing to his
feet and crossing to her side. Miss
Observation-Disclosures again use a
word so foreign to your nature. Lis
ten! Ere ever looked upon your face,
l said, gazing upon it's pictured SEM
blance, that l would stake my life upon
Its purity. In my heart I vowed to
know you, win you. You say you
know of me nothing but my name:
Let me tell you more. l am the last
representative of a noble race-I can
give you a kingdom worthy of my
queen, with no more loyal subject
than myself My name is unsullied,
Miss Breton. Will you accept it,"
One instant's glance of triumph
flashed in the azure-tinted eyes, then
the long lashcs yelled them, as the
beautiful head dropped low
How can I answer you? You offer
me an old and noble name? Can I,
think you, accept it? You open to me
the gates of heaven, and with my own
hands I must close them against N.Y.
self. For in return for all this, what
have I to give you in exchange?
What has my life been? Mems ad.
miration or insult, as it pleased them;
a serpent lurking in every flower,
sting in every honeyed word. What
would your friends, your father say?"
my father would, perhaps at first
rebel, until once he saw the woman
of my choice, then l fear not his YER
dict. AS for my friends, envy only
could dictate malice, and such would
treat it as it deserved. But, dearest, we
have not to deal with these. l will
write my father, will get his consent
at once; until then, you must forego
your engagement. To see your lowell
ness, now, feast for the eyes of other
men, would be too cruel. My own, my
darling, give me the right to shield
it, to protect it as it deserves-aye, at
the cost of my life!"
The cnivalrous words OF the young
heart thrilled the woman like memory
of some forgotten dream. For NOM
ent something like remorse awakened
within her, as she thought how differ
ent life might have been, had such
been uttered long years before. Then
the dazzling allurin3 present rose once
more bcfcc.'e s'.:r, and she gently laid
her hand l., his 7:sA
"Give me until tomorrow to think
of this. 1t is for your sake ask de-
lay. rather than for mine"
tell nc I may hope-tell me my
passion hcs awakened some re.
e~~cnsc?' .x.5
A III. illert:s pause, then slowly the
long lashcs lifted, the red lips qulv-
cred. the bosom neaved, the eyes melt
ed in the fullness of their glance. If
this were acting, richly did the actress
deserve her nightly plaudits.
Can YOU doubt it?'
Tie low rich, musical voice quiv-
cred.
"Then YOU are mine-mine only,
ri" o:'!ccc."
And drawing her to him, close to
his beating heart, he rained hot, burn
ing kisses upon check, lip and brow.
With tremulous sigh she Olsen"
gagcd herself from his embrace. AS
if with q mighty effort she rose to her
feet. supporting herself on the arm of
her chair.
"Mr. Meredith she said, with dig
nifty. this must not be! | canr/t bear
it. Go to your friend, Milton Lennox,
and ask him of my past. Then come
to me, if you still care to come, and |
will give you my answer
From under her long lashes she
watched the effect of her words. She
understood but too we'll the character
of the man who stood beside her.
Go to Milton Lennox to question
him concerning the past of the woman
I would make my wife? l would hurl
back the first lying word he might
dare utter down his throat! Barbara,
a truce to this. In the first moment
my eyes met yours my fate was sealed.
My darling, do not keep me longer in
this torturing suspense"