Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-02-19
Continued.


mo honorable man would ask a
woman to marry him unless he loved
her"
She spoke very earnestly, her face
slightly flushed, holding the old.
fashioned weddingring in her hand.
Something in her words struck him
with pain; yet she did not doubt him.
He thanked heaven at that moment
that she would never know her her
uncle'B affection for her had caused
him to interfere In her behalf
IF this ring could speak, she said,
"if 1t could tell the history Of all the
wives who have worn 1.-THE happy
and the unhappy the loved and the
unloyed-It would fiji volume,
Basil. And some day--it may be
soon or many years may pass first
when lie dead, it Will be drawn
from my finger If you, Basil should
be the one to remove it, you will
think of the hour when you first gave
IT 10 me-"
She raised her face for him TO
caress her, and he kissed the Eeautl-
ful lips He drew her to his breast
and said
My darling, | hope it Will be many
long years before that time, and /
hope ! shall die first"
He knew how much she loved him
then, for she chung to him with pas
sionate words and bitter tears.
An. MOI" she cried. "Ir ever you
offer up q prayer for me, Basil, let it
be that when Heaven calls you,
may 80 with you, l-ah me, you
know, Basil. ! could not live without
you! | could not even try
Because you love me SO, my
Lcah?" he asked, tcndorly
Yes, because | love you 30 DO
you not feel so as regards myself? If
died, could you live? Would not
the world become a dreary blank to
you? An, Basil, | am sure that II
you died / should never eat, never
sleep never smile again."
He was greatly touched by her
words.
you love me so much?" he said
again, D, n
yes, love you so dearly" she
replied -"you will never know how
dearly. There are times when
think that men never appreciate or
never understand the great love Of
women"
II Will try TO understand yours,
Leah" he said, gently. u hope" he
added, with genuine earncstncss, 81
shall make you happy Leah
Happy she repeated, MS though
the word surprised happy,
You love me, Basil, do you uot?'
yes" he replied.
Then how can help being happy?
could not he anything else, Many
people live with divided loves; they
share their affections; they have
mothers, brothers | have only you,
mean that all my love Is ConCen-
trated on you. The other lesser loves
are absorbed by it, as the river
abHorhB the waters of It's tributary
brooSIcts An, Basil, | shall always
I've so pleased that you brought this
wedding-ring to me! It seems to
have made II easier for me to taDE
to YOU about my love"
Has 1t not always boon So Leah?
he asked
She had half hidden her face
against his breast She raised It
now, bright with unuttcrable tender
ness,
NO. not always" she replied.
Sometimes my heart Is quite fun,
and try to tell you, but ! cannot
Sometimes, when You are away from
me, think of all that shall say
when see You next; a thousand
thoughts come to me, thousand
words that | long to speak And
then, when you come am mute; my
fanCics leave me- in tho sweet
reality of your presence YOU know
what Shakespeare says, Basil?
oh, sweet love, | always write to
you,
And YOU and love ale still my argu
mcut!
So all my best is dressing old words
new,
Spending again what is always
spent
For, rs the sun is now and old,
SO Is my love stnl telling what Is
toldi
Are they not noble lines Basic
yes, very. How we'll YOU under
stand all this wonderful science OF
love, Leah"
And YOU" she said, looking up at
him. DO you not understand 1t
too"
Il have had the sweetest teacher
the world ever saw" cried Sir Basil
Il can understand men losing tn,
whole world for the love of ON,
woman"
would you lose It, dear for mo-
she asked. putting her arms aroun,
his neck
'Ncs." he answered unthiukingly,
II shall feel doubly married wheI
wear this" she said still holding
no lttt1n r{n,, IN, hnr hunI az Nil