Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-10-02
Continued.

And newell, even now it is you
who are the protector; some day
Leslie, it makes my heart ache to
think of you alone in the world, alone
and poor know that the little he
has goes with him. Don't be angry l
am thinking only of you; l cannot
help thinking of you and your future.
If you would say Yes il you would
promise to be my wife, not only would
your future be secure, but your
present, his present would be easier,
happier: for your fathers sake, if not
for your own"
He stopped, for Leslie had risen and
stood looking down at him, her quiver-
ing hands clasped tightly.
mo, mol" she painted, mot even
for-for his sake! could not, 1 could
mott"
Il understand" he said. ct isn't
that you do not love me, but that
you-well, yes, dislike met
mo"
Yes, that's it, see now that | have
been fool to go on hoping, that my
case is hopeless Don't'-for she had
shrunk from his almost savage tone
don't be afraid; | am not going to
bother you any more. l wish | could
say that l am going to give Up loving
you; but I can't do that. Something
tells me''-he struck his breast as if
he were glad of something to strike
that shall go on loving you till l
die. See here Les-Miss Leslie, its
evident that l can't be your husband,
but l can be your friend. MOTOR
she turned her head away-"no, l
don't mean that l am going to hang
about YOU and poster you; couldn't.
The sight Of you would be torture to
me. I hope-yes, hope | sha'n't see
4 you for years. But what l meant to
say is this: that, if you need a friend,
remember that there is one man in
the world who would give his right
hand to serve you. Remember, that
at any time-any time-in one year,
two, or when you are old and gray,
that you have only to say Come to
bring me like faithful dog to your
feet That time will never come you
think? Very good. But still you
may need me, if you do, send to me;
devote my life to you. Oh, there's no
merit in it; | can't help it. I'm
romantic in a way, you see"-he
smiled with bitter self-scorn for his
weakness you are the one woman in
the world to me. Your cause is mine,
your friends shall be mine, your foes
mine. If you need protector, send
for me; if one wrongs you and you
want revenge, send to me; and as
there is a heaven above us | will come
at your call to help or to avenge you!"
His face was white, his eyes gleam>
ing under their red brows. So trans
formed was he by the master7passion
that if any one of his city friends had
seen him at that moment they would
scarcely have recognized him. Ralph
Duncombe talked the rant OF melo-
drama Impossible!
Leslie drew back, her eyes fixed on
him in fascinated kind of gaze, her
bosom heaving He made an evident
effort to recover his self-command, and
succeeded. With a long breath he al
lowed his face to regain it's usual
hard, se4A-possessed expression.
81 have frightened you! Forgive me!
told you how 1 loved you, and, you
see, a man doesn't tear from his
heart the hope that has grown there
for two years without feeling it. am
going now. You can make any excuse
to your father, or you need not tell
him you have seen me. Goodbye,
you sol"
He held out his hand. 1t was as
firm as rock, and gripped hers so
tightly that she WINGED.
'I've hurt you! 1 would lay down
my life to save you a moments pain
1t was my ring All! Take this!" he
said: and he took her hand. opened it,
and, placing the ring in her palm,
closed her fingers over it gently, and
yet firmly, as if she would accept no
refusal. eff ever you need friend.
either for yourself or another; If ever
you need to be avenged on foe, send
this ring to met will not be neces-
sary to send word with it-ani
will come to you. Good-bye!"
He raised her hand toward his lips,
with a sound that was half sigh, halt
groan, he let it fall without kissing it,
and, without looking around, climbed
the beach and was lost to sight.
CHAPTER ".