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

! Ing, thinking, ,u,t..No, loving. uni
I wonder did not go mad! And yol
never came."
| ~ sent Josette. monsieur"
"Josette! You might have sent
every woman, every messenger in the
sorld. and would have thought only
Of you! How could You be so c-uel?
You love me, yet you left mel"
How can love the enemy OF
France, monsieur" she answered, gaz-
ing down upon him with eyes that
gave the lie to the cold words on her
lips.
IL know not how you can. but you
cannot deny that you do. Anne, sweet
Anne. you are half American. This
land Ia the home Of your mother. Let
II bs the home of your heart as WE'LL"
And my grandfather. the marquis?
He would never consent"
Faith. your own consent is all that
Is necessary, sweetheart. n you love
me enough
| But am betrothed to Monsieur de
Vitre"
why did you do II at the last mo-
ment after YOU had recognized me,
when fate-hnppy fate-threw me at
your feet?"
I---I-----"
you do not love him. Anne, dearest
Come, the truth. The de Romans were
ever true, you told me.
"Ah monsieur, I respect and admire
Monsieur de Wire He is a brave and
noble gentleman
Yes. but you do not love him."
How dare you catechise me in this
manner" she cried, piteously, shrink
| ing from his persistent questioning.
II will withdraw. sir. What warrant
| have you---"
But she made no motion 10 leave
the apartment On the contrary. he
saw her body sway uneasily toward
him. She could not control her feel
| ings. II he had not been so i'll, so
weak so pathetically helpless. he
would have appealed less strongly to
her, she might have resisted better.
She was angry at herself for her lack
Of control and bitterly mortified. Was
| this man her master in truth? And
| he wore another woman's picture!
Shame on her, shame, Could he COM
pei her to break her word, defy every
thing, and marry him against her will
All but was il against her will? There
was the rub
! She stood helpless before him. The
whole current Of her being flowing to-
ward him. only her stubborn will and
pride holding her back. But the struE
gle could not be- maintained for long
! He marked the rise and fall of her
breast. Her fingers moved restlessly,
her knees trembled her eyes swan,
her color came and Went The con-
stralnt she was under WAS terrible.
| The girl loved him with all her soul.
Yet she struggled on; she would not
yield. Twas an unequal combat. She
fought two: his will and her love. The
end was certain He felt II was almost
cruel as he watched her and knew il
would come. All she needed in that
moment TO bring her to him was time
He was wise enough not TO be hasty
3
indeed, his love was no less than her
own
II have only the warrant Of my love
for yon to plead my cause he an
swered at last.
| Have you loved me all the time?"
she cried. coming a step nearer.
I ~ know not" he answered honestly
kAf. H.,
at least | have loved no one else, and
since the night in the tower there
mas not been a day in which have
not thought of you. But never in my
widest visions did YOU appear so beau
tiful as Won are to-day. Anne. sweet
Anne! Dear Little France, My heart
knew you. even though my false eyes
told no story 10 my bewildered mind.
| Twas God that brought rs together
again. We cannot be separated, my
sweet my own"
But Monsieur Dc Wire, my engage
ment---'
81 ask you again why il was you en-
| tered upon il so suddenly"
II saw that locket you wear over
your heart. Sir Philip. whose secret
YOU guard so ieaiously, from which you
will not be parted You did not know
me. You had forgotten me. There
was some one else" she murmured
Il cannot marry the enemy Of my
country | should be an outcast. de-
spised. You tainted in the hall of the
chateau Monsieur de Wire was there
When | knelt beside you I--I-looked
al YOU, monsieur | forgot myself--a
little. ! betrayed myself unsought-
unknown even Monsieur de Wire
cried out before them all that loved
you. The thought stung me-my
pride. you know | could not bear it,.
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
vas foretaste Of what ! should meet.
stopped every gossiping tongue,
stifed every suspicion by saying Yes
to my brave countryman. IL do not
regret IT,"
She forced herself TO lift her head
and look al him whitehead and trem-
bling. His bold. burning giances
plunged through her defenses like q
sword blade
This from the truthful de Rohan,"
hn MI t,,t ,.,tth l.