Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-24

yond endurance! IT'S no dream. |
love you. ] adore you, my king. my
KING! What are country, and grand
father. and friends. and all the world
to me beside you!"
She bent her glorious head once
more and kissed him as she had kissed
him in the moonlight two nights be-
fore. Had he won? This time he did
not lose control Of himself She was
living that moment in the present. he
could still, while sharing her emo
ton, think Of the future. He would
strike At once.
But de Vitre?" he exclaimed.
She drew herself away from him
slowly, rose tremblingly to her feet,
and looked down upon him again.
you remind me-" she said broken
ly. "of my word, my duty. know
not how IL is" she continued. why I
am so weak before you Is It the
strength of your love or the strength
Of mine? But | will be mistress of
myself | cannot break my word. I
cannot break my old grandfather's
heart. I cannot dishonor the name of
my family. am de Rohan though
but woman. | will not
Hear me. Anne" cried Grafton,
stretching out his hand to Heaven,
before God swear you shall! You
shall break your word with de Wire!
You shall put aside your country.
You shall cross the will Of your peO-
pie! You are mine by prior right. I
will make you do It, You shall be my
wife."
How, monsieur. will you bring
about these things she cried boldly
every nerve in her body thrilling and
quivering in passionate response to
the imperiOus affection in his words
What power have you? What is it
that will give you strength"
"The power OF love Anne" an
swered Philip. When two love each
other as We love nothing can come
between them"
She looked long and earnestly at
him. He spoke the truth and she
knew it, yet with The stubbOrnness Of
a man and the devotion Of woman
she chung TO her negation. Present
ly. as he said nothing further, she
turned to leave the room.
Wait" he cried rom where ne lay
exhausted by his own feelings. Be
fore You go. promise me that YOU viii!
come again? That each day you will
let me see you Al least once"
Il promise you. Sir Philip" she an
swered, but ! must have no more of
this Indeed cannot stand H. tbs
not right, it compcrts not with my
honor. You mus; p'omisc me, too. I
am pledged 9th 20 Monsieur dc
Wire
She was almost humble in her petit
ton, as if TO say "You have the
power, you know il. oh. abuse It not.
II you indeed love the woman who has
given you her heart" Her appeal
met with All immediate and generous
response from him.
God bless you, Anne. for tho saving
grace of that word 'still," ne cried
II promise you. shall ask no kiss OF
you. expect no caress from YOU beg no
further word of love. until your en-
gagement with de Nifre is broken"
That will nevcr ha monsieur" she
said sadly, yet aNing heart and
cherishing hope fr.r his bold assur-
ance. "Au revoir.
With reluctant fee, the girl turned
and left TIE chamber. She sank down
before the prie-dieu in he rDom which
she had occupied since Cation came
and poured out her SOU o. tie mother
Of sorrows in appeals 'or ply and
help. He loved her o Blessed Virgin
and she loved him How masterful he
was, He had sworn sic would he his
wife. His wife. yet ing Heaven.
that other woman who's face he wore
over his heart She tore the lace at
her breast in wild and ealous pain at
the thought. Was it Pc Bic for a girl
to be at the same tim so happy and
miserable?
Poor Denis de Wire,