The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-06-18

ed to see no more, until tonight
met your reproachful glance. and my
resolution faltered. In moment OF
impulse | wrote you the note bidding
you come here, Already repent"
"Repent?" he cried, springing to his
feet and crossing TO her side. miss
-Barbara--neyer again use q
word so foreign TO your nature Lis
ten! Ere I ever looked upon your face,
| said, gazing upon its pictured sem.
blance, that l would stake my life upon
its purity. In my heart ! vowed 70
know you, win you. You say you
know of me nothing but my name!
Let me tell you more. | am the last
representative of 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 lushos yelled them, as the
beautiful head drooped low.
r How can answer you? You offer
me an old and noble name? Can /.
think you, accept II? You open to me
the gates of heaven, and with my'own
hands must close them against my
self. For in return for all this, what
have to give you in exchanged
What has my life been? Mems ad.
miration or insult, as 1t pleased them;
a serpent lurking in every flower, q
sting in every houeyed 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 fear not his YER
dict. AS for my friends, envy only
could dictate malice add such would
treat 1t as 1t deserved. But, dearest, we
have not to deal with these. / win
write my father, viii 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
II. to protect it as IL deserves-aye, at
the cost of my life"
The chivalrous 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 alluring present rose once
more before her, and she gently laid
her hand In his.
Give me until tomorrow to think
of this. 1t is for your sake ] ask de-
lay, rather than for mine"
"Tell me | may hope-tell me my
passion has awakened some re-
sponse?"
A moments pause, then slowly the
long lashes lifted, the red lips quiv'
cred. the bosom neaved, the eyes melt.
ed in the fullness of their glance. II
this were acting, richly did the actress
deserve her nighbly plaudits.
Can you doubt it,
The low rich, musical voice quiy.
cred
Then you are mine-mine only,
mine alone"
And drawing her to him, close to
kis beating heart, he rained hot. burn
ing kiss IS upon check. lip and brow.
with a tremulous sigh she olsen
gagged herself from his embrace. As
il with a 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 l
will give you my answer"
From under her long lashes she
watched the effect of her words. She
understood but too well the character
of the man who stood beside her.
go TO Milton Lennox to question
him concerning the past of the woman
| would make my wife? I 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"
n