The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-10-12


locations and annoying attentions!"
MY choice is not made" the young
girl protested. ut would be, if you had |
not come"
This was almost confession. Raoul
smiled proudly, believing himself the
victor.
"Then l am not wholly uncongenial
to you? You do not wish to repulse
me? Do you give me hope?"
'Hope nothing before the hour re-
piled Mile. de Kergariel eagerly. 81
know that no one except Georges will
devote himself exclusively to my hap
piness. That is why l hesitate so
much. But l must give him an an
swer in two days. l will tell you, also,
my decision at the same time"
M. de Kergariel and Nine. de Millery
came up just at that moment, and
Marguerite said no more.
Nine. de Millery thought that the
conversation between the two young
people must have taken a more senti-
mental turn and, glancing mischiev-
ously at NJ. de Kergariel, murmured:
"Those children worship each other.
Do you remember how cleverly we used
to slip away by ourselves when we
were their age? Come, your nephew
will not be the one to win her!"
M. de Kergariel shook his head and
answered slowly:
"Women's acts cannot be reckoned
with. We sometimes slipped away to-
gether, Marquise, yet did not become
your happy husband. l shall wait for
Marguerite's decision
The next day at the time they
usually took their walk along the edge
of the cliffs, Marguerite and the two
young men, followed by NJ. de Kergariel
and Nine. de Millery-the latter acs
companied by her faithful Coquette-
were exploring the lofty rocks over.
hanging the sea.
| Howls of terror suddenly arose.
| No one knew how the accident hap.
pened, but Nine. de Millery's dog had
fallen into the sea and the waves were
already bearing it away.
The old lady shrieked, wept, wrung
| her hands and offered her whole for
| tune to any one who would save the
poor animal.
ct would be useless" said Georges.
THAT is a dangerous place. No sensi-
bic person can risk his life to save a
dogs"
AS if the words were some magic
spell, the indecision portrayed on Raoul
| de Villiers face during Nine. de Mil
lery's appeal suddenly vanished and,
before there was time to stop him, he
threw off his coat, climbed down the
bluff and plunged into the terrible sea.
Cries of terror escaped every ones
lips. Marguerite's heart almost stop
ped beating.
Georges alone remained unmoved,
his eyes fixed upon Raoul, guessing
what excessive vanity, united to the
desire of pleasing his patroness, had
suddenly decided this mans action.
But the fears of the others became
intense as they saw that Raoul,
though an excellent swimmer, after
having seized the animal, could no
longer struggle against the waves;
his strength was failing and the spec
tators of the drama fairly held their
l
breath.
Marguerite was on the point of fall
ing when hand was laid on her arm.
Turning, she saw Georges, who was
looking at her intently. He was
; frightfully pale, but mis- voice was firm
as, pointing to Raoul, he asked:
DO you love him."
Marguerite answered angrily-fo1
she read in her cousins eyes his hate
for Raoul and thought it unworthy Of
him at such a moment
Eyes; do love him!"
Then, to her bewilderment, for the
words she had just uttered should
have deepened the gulf between the
, two men, Georges in his turn rushed
to the strand and breasted the threat.
: ening waves.
Swimming with unusual power, hi
succeeded by great exertion in reach
ing Raoul and dragging him out or
the shore.
The Whole scene had taken place il
, few moments, but to the terrified
y spectators the time seemed endless.
: When Georges had returned t,
the cliff Marguerite gaZed proudly a
him, radiant expression illuminins
her face.
In witnessing the danger he had in
! CURED merely to save her from suffer
ing, in spite of the hatred he Dor,
Raoul de Villiers, her cousins disin
: tcrested love shone VIGOROUSLY befor'
her eyes.
And by the intense emotion she fel
, she realized that she, too, loved hin
and that his love had taken possession
of her whole soul.
The next morning when Georges
and Marguerite were alone the young
+ girls eyes expressed heartfelt affec
, ton, radiant joy. He thought that sht
was going to thank him for restoring
her lover; and before she could speal
he said bitterly:
mot word of gratitude, | beseecl
, you! 1t was against my will that
saved the man you love. If you arr