The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-03-25
CUAPTER XVII.


II was opened by Clara herself. The
sight OF her sweet face, smiling upon
me. cowed my bravery "tiaVe l eUme
here to look upon her for the last time
TO bid adieu 10 that smile forever l
asked myself. and my heart sank. but il
gave no response.
I'VE are all alone" she said. as we
went into the paFloF. MARY Is out. aud
50 Is Mrs, Wilson. wonderful TO say
She was working hard at her paint
ing. a. usual. / sat down upon foot
stool at her feet. and gazrd turtisely
mp ~ her face. Never methought. had
she looked so lovely a. she did that morn
ing. in the soft, haxy. autumn sunlight.
Half an hour passed away aud we
had not exchanged hair dozsn words:
but that was not az all Uncommon. tor
| loved better 10 gaze and dream than to
talk, aud when 81 her work. she spoke
but little, She dropped one OF her
brushes and as { gave Il % her, held
her hand for a moment fast locked In
mine. When she hooked down az me
smiliHgly and saw me tn tears, a look
OF concern came across her cOuntenarce,
Would IL make you very unhappy II
| were 10 tell you that you might never
see me again after this dayT' spoke
in low, cheksd voice. aud the gathered
\ tears burst forth from my eyelids, and
fell upon her hand
She did not appear 20 comprehend my
words, as Hhe saksd. Ia a tone % tFau-
bled wonder. What do you meant
repeated my question. In a Jet more
trembling tone, I felt her hand more
passive In mine, and her eyes droop.d.
and the earuatinn tiugs deep"nei In her
cheeks as she answered, softly. 1t
would make me very unhappy 70 think
so.
Listen to me-" cried. kneeiins at
her feet. and clasping both her hands
In mine. From the time 0f our meet
I ing, ave years ago. ave loved you. from
the time % our meeting a few weeks
back I have adored you! Oh. tell me,
DO you love me7 Answer me bat one
word. my darling, Hly love-" cried
again.
She raised her eyes for a tnoment to
I mine. and then dropped thvm. with her
/ cheek a. crimson as my own. Il do
I love you. dearest much, = she sus
swered 10 her low. soft voies
I took her In my arms. AMI Kissed her
I fervently: and her sweet. bluabing farr
nestled upon my bosom ike bird seek
] ihg for shelter
4 Where we're my resolutions uow -
| my heroic ssIf.sacrihre. nv stptrtsm
| Mslted-Eons disappeared like snow he
| fore a are, In the fervid erstary % that
moment. had come 10 pronounce m
eternal farewell. stayed to pranouars
ar inward oath that I woftld sweep
away every obstacle. and win her yet
/ for my own nndisputed prize in the face
OF the whole world
/ After a time We sat together near the
window with my arm around her
waist. and her hand Claaped In mine.
And thus We sat. silrnt-she. 10 one Of
her dreamy rsvsriss. l. siled with gloomy
forsbodings. For. now that the first
ecstacy was passed knew that
her lore was mius--ths unnatural excite
msnt Of my brain subzided the tension
% my nerves relsVsd. and the missra
BILE rashnsss of what I had done was
revealed to ms in the EloomIest col1rs.
had sealed her misery. and increased
my own tenfold.
DO you not think" she said. sudden.
IT, that We are very AtrnnEe people.
you and II mean. that We are VERY
unlike other people p
= have often thought a." I said
world would think rs very silly people
Now. you do not even know my name
But you know nothing ~ me. 50 we
are we'll paired. ! know hut little my.
self. but that you shall know. I"
Not now. please. dear. Some day
when am very brave. | will tell you al
about myself
Immediately afterwards. Mrs. Wilson
returned. looking very cross. Il never
did know such a EosRiping creature M
that servant next door-always talking
to men. too don't know. am sure
what her mistress Is about to keep her
There she ia. talking now 70 some
strange. queer looking man. md I am
sure she Is talking about Ms. for ! saw
him point 10 this house. aud then he
snid something. and abe laughed. she
had better not laugh at my house,
won't put up with her impudence"
strange man pointing to the house
What was there In such q commonbt lace
Circumstance TO trouble me7 Isn't II did
went to the window. but he was mol
visible from there. I went 10 the door
both he and the servant had disappeared
| came In again and asked what the nan
was like.
"Oh, don't know. I never notice
such people. A foreign looking fellnw
with long hair she answered. hunlIY
Foreign looking. and long hair. such
description would apply to Mr. Mont
gomery. Could he have followed me-
And II he had, why should that discon
cert met lie could not possibly hav,
any motive beyond idle curiosity. Nev
erthsiess. could not reason myself aut
Of certain uneasiness respecting thi,
strange man.
Mrs. Wilson aid not recover the seren
ity Of her temper until after tea. In the
course Of conversation I mentioned thai
had visited n theater on the previous
night. They did not know OF my con
nection with the stage.
II have never been 10 = theatsr hui
twice In my life. and then only when
was a little child. to see the pnnto
mines" said Clara. Il thought II, then
thu most glorious place had ever seen
! wonder what should think Of Ii now
Oh, I shOtIi 20 much like to 60"