Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-11-22


would come. All she needed in that
moment to bring her to him was time
He was wise enough not to be hasty
He put equal constraint upon himself;
indeed, his love was no less than her
own.
81 have only the warrant of my love
for you to plead my cause" he an
swered at last.
"Have you loved me all the timer"
she cried, coming step nearer.
81 know not" he answered honestly
before her truth-compelling gaze, "but
at least have loved no one else, and
since the night in the tower there
has not been a day in which I have
not thought Of you. But never in my
widest visions did you appear 80 beau
tiful as you are to-day, Anne, sweet
Anne! Dear Little France! My heart
knew you, even though my false eyes
told no story to my bewildered mind.
Twas God that brought us together
again. We cannot be separated, my
sweet. my own!"
But Monsieur de Vitre, my engage
ment-"
81 ask you again why 1t was you en-
tered upon 1t so suddenly"
81 saw that locket you wear over
your heart, Sir Philip, whose secret
you guard so jealously, from which you
will not be parted. You did not know
me. You had forgotten me. There
was some one else." she murmured.
81 cannot marry the enemy Of my
country. I should be an outcast, de-
spised You tainted in the hall Of the
chateau. Monsieur de Vitre was there
When knelt beside you I-I-looked
at you, monsieur. forgot myself-a
little. l betrayed myself unsought-
unknown even. Monsieur de Vitre
cried out before them all that I loved
you. The thought stung me-my
pride, you know. could not bear 1t.
There was but one way. He had be-
sought me for my hand. dared not
trust myself before you unpledged.
They looked at me so earnestly. 1t
was foretaste Of what I should meet.
stopped every gossiping tongue,
stifled every suspicion by saying Yes
to my brave countryman. IL do not
regret It,"
She forced herself to lift her head
and look at him white-faced and trem-
bling. His bold, burning glances
plunged through her defenses like q
sword-blade.
"This from the truthful de Rohan!"
he murmured coldly, but with break
ing heart. "If you looked at me dying
then-and perhaps dying now after
that word-if you looked at me then
as you look at me this moment, there
were no ground for de Wires suspi-
cion. Is this your fidelity! Go! You
have not-you do not love me-"
She buried her face in her hands
beneath his stern accusing gaze-his
reproaches scared her heart. She had
not told the truth to him.
Go, mademoiselle!" he continued,
pitllessly, ruthlessly turning the
weapon he had thrust into her heart.
"The other night-does my imagina-
ton mock mo, or did ] dream of
Heaven, Of your kisses? Were the lips
| that now betray those that met my
own? Was 1t that sweet head that lay
upon my breast? Was Il all a vision
Did I ever live for an hour with you
in that old dark tower by the sea?
Was l indeed the knight Of that gen.
tie child who wrapped herself around
my hearth. You weep, mademoiselle.
Why? Happiness opens before you.
You are the betrothed Of de Wire
mo more!" she cried, tearing her
hands from her face and springing to-
ward him. She seized his arm and
unwounded shoulder with a grasp that
was painful in its intensity. mo
more! No more! You torture me be-
yond endurance! IT'S no dream.
love you, 1 adore you, my king, my
king! What are country, and grand
father, and friends, and all the world
to me beside you'll"
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 it is" she continued. "why /
am so weak before you. Is 1t the
strength of your Love or the strength
of mine? But I will be mistress OF
myself. I cannot break my word.
cannot break my old grandfather's
heart. cannot dishonor the name OF
my family. I am de Rohan though
but a woman. will not"
Hear me, Anne!" cried Grafton,
stretching out his hand to Heaven,
before God 1 swear you shall! You
shall break your word with de Vitre!
You shall put aside your country!
You shall cross the will Of your peo-
pie! You are mine by prior right. |
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 1t
that will give you strength"
1.-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 a woman
she clung to her negation. Present.
ly, as he said nothing further, she
turned to leave the room.
"WaitI" he cried from where he lay