Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-11-12

| a humiliation to the wrong winch Iate
had decreed she should work upon him.
She brearhed sigh of relief and said:
"What guise? Pm afraid l do not
understand"
"You see, hitherto we have been
shielded by pass. Its wording was
such that little inquiry was made about
either of us. Now, for the first time,
we have no protection, and what we
say to those who accost us must prove
our safeguard. l shall be asked who
you are. told your brother that 1
would treat you as if you were my own
sister, but cannot call you my sister
at Oxford"
"Why notY'
"For one reason, because you go to
meet friends who know that am not
your brother, and if inquiry is made
we are at disadvantage"
"True, true! l had forgotten
Another reason is that if we claimed
such relationship no one would believe
us, for your hair is as black as the
ravens wing and mine Is like the vel
low corn"
II had not thought of that" she
said.
"But l thought of it, and also Of
way to circumvent it. If they ask
who the lady is I shall tell them she
Is my betrothed."
mo, no, mop gasped the girl.
He was now close by her side and
endeavored to take her hand, but she
held it from him.
"You say no because you will not
act a lie, and l honor you for your
truth. You are robed in truth, my be-
loved, as all angel is
"Oh, cease, cease beg Of your
"Frances, this is the song that bub-
bles in my heart, and if my lips could
worthily fulfill their prompting would
put it to such words and such music
as woman never listened to before
But, lacking eloquence, can only say,
My lady, I love you"
"And l can only say 1 am sorry if
this be So"
eff! Why do you say if? Do you
not know it to be true?
II know it now that you tell it to
me-"
"You do not love meT
'No."
"And cannot?''
"And cannot"
"YOu would even rob me Of all hope,
the lovers guiding star?'
IF you call it robbing to take from
you what should never have been pos
'essed.'
"Why should I not have possessed
hat hope? Is it because am untitled,
while you are the daughter Of the man
who was the proudest peer in Eng
and?"
Titles have naught to do with it,"
"Titles are but a breath-still, men
lave intrigued for them, have sold
heir souls for them, as others have
,artered for gold. That shall 1 do
bought never to beg from any man,
ct for this king I stake my life, and
is but fair he should cover my wager
will say to him, go to Scotland on
our behest, through an enemy's coun-
~. Death or treachery dog every
ootstep take. I may win or lose,
ut if l win then 1 demand the stakes,
7hich will not take silver penny
rom your depleted treasury Make me
iarl Of the Southern Marches"
you ask just reward, but 'twould
e useless as assistant to the quest you
ow pursue"
Frances, no lover truly entitled to-
ear that dear name thinks himself
'orthy of her on whom his heart is
1T, and do not plead my own WORTH
ess when l sue for your favor. But
am buoyed up by the thought that
very day we live some woman mar
es some man, therefore are women to-
e persuaded, and there are none on
arth but US to persuade them. Why
lould my fortune be worse than that
my fellows?
"Sir, you forget or ignore that every
~ Of our lives some woman refuses
'me man and never marries him.
Thy should your fortune differ from
lat of so many of your fellows?'
"You have pierced the armor there,
y girl, so l own my smile defective
Id fall back on my own unworthi-
,ss, to beseech your pity on it and
lint the way to that amendment
hich will make me deserving in your
es."
Sir, you force me unduly. You drive
e toward confession. Plying God
my witness that l hold naught
ainst you. You must accept my a."
swer as final and let us have an
d of this fruitless and embarrassing
nversation. can never marry you"
There is but one circumstance to
event it"
Then believe that circumstance ex-
s."
You love another?"
4 do not"
The young man laughed joyously,
It no corresponding smile disturbed
e set lips OF the girl. When he ac-
sed her of loving another she glanced
at him for one brief moment and
Swered before she thought wishing