Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-11-23

himself together, so to speak; then he
bends down and takes her hand-the
hand that lies on the lap OF the pretty
morning frock like white flower.
She does not draw it away now; and
as he holds it, the passion which
raises men TO level with the gods
takes possession OF him.
Leslie" he says, hoarsely, Il cant
let YOU go! love you too much. Loon
me, I must stay and try and make
/ you love me! / cant lose you. You
are the only woman | have ever seen
Or known that | wanted badly, and
do want you. | can't live without
you. ! can't leave you, knowing that
| | may never see you again. can't,
Look up, Leslie-dearest-de
dearest! Tell me-tell me straight
once and for all will never come
back and worry you-once and for all;
will you try and love me?"
He takes her other hand-he has
got both now-and lifts her-actually
| lifts her from the tree.
She does not resist him, but lets
her hands trembingly remain willing
prisoners, and when her face IS on
level with his she raises her eyes and
looks at him.
There must be something in the
darkgray eyes, something under the
shadow of the black ashes, which con
tains a potent magic; for at the sight
Of it his heart leaps and the blood
PUSHES to his face, then leaves it pale
with an intensity OF supreme emotion,
an incredible JOY, an amazed delight.
"I.eslie!' breaks from him
Leslie"
Her eyes meet his steadily yet
shyly, overbrimming. with the secret
which maiden keeps-hugs closely
while she cana secret which she Is
loath TO part with, but which the
loved ones eyes read so quickly.
Leslie, do you-ah! dearest, dear
est 10 you love me-"
She tries to withstand him, to draw
away from him even now; burt his pas.
sion Is too much for her, and the next
instant she Is folded in his arms, ana
her head lies on his breast.
Sing ON, happy thrush, but no
music even your velvet throat can
make shall compare with the music
ringing through these two happy
hearts-a music which shall not die,
though the same hearts may be torn
apart and wrung with anguish
music which for joy or pain, veal or
woe shall echo through their lives
/ tin death comes with It's great silence!
But it is of life and love and joy, and
not death or parting, that. the are
thinking now
He draws her arm within his, as il
She had belonged to him for years
or, rather, us if he wanted to assure
himself that she belonged to him-and
they pace slowly along the meadow in
! the shadow OF the trees. llc2 ~
awnings in her hand; her eyes lift,
heavy with love. to his face as he
bends down TO her, his own eloquent
with that devotion and alteration
which fills his heart to Overlooking.
And yet, through all tho storm of
passion that stirs in his heart, he has
sense enough to realize how beautifW
she Is: how lightly and gracefully she
walks by his side; how perfect
! pose of the slender neck, the half
| avertel face
This flower that he has found and
| pluckcd to wear in his heart Is no
common weed. but a rare bosom Of
which an emperor might be proud,
And she we'll she scarcely realizes
yet what this Ia that has happened to
her. She only knows that a supreme
happiness novel JOY so intense as
10 be almost pain is thrilling through
! her; that at one moment she feels In,
| Clined to cry, and the next to laugh.
/ He is hers! she is to be his wlfo--ht,
wife! oh, what singular dream!
Shall she wake soon-wako to find
that he Is gone. and that all that is
now happening Is but fantasy
desoate?
She starts presently and looks up at
him.
Papa. He-he will miss me won,
der where have gone" she says
How long have we been here" nl
she looks around as If she expected
70 see the shades of night falling
He laughs softly-the laugh of a
man so completely happy that time
has ceased to be of any consequence,
II don't know. What does II mat
ter? Your father will know you are
all right, He will think you have
gone to the beach that You are play
ing with the children. How fond YOU
are of children, dearestl"
Yes, yes" she murmurs.
Il have never seen any one go IN
with them the way you do No Won
der they love YOU; but suppose
everything ana every one does, By
the way" he stops, and faint
shadow falls ON his facc-"l suppose