Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-09-20

take care OF you coming back alone?'
Il can take care of myself, miss, y
said Bessie firmly.
Go in at once, commanded Olivia
do you think | am afraid to run VI
our own drive? Why, what coward
you must think me"
Il mean to go" began Bessie,
more firmly than before, when both
girls were startled into silence by the
sound OF third voice.
Il will go with Miss Olivia, if she
will let me, Bessie" it said.
| Mr.. Faradeane," said Bessie, with a
nlittle catch in her voice. Yes, sir,
you shall CO.
Oliyia's heart seemed to stand still
at the sound of the voice which had
| been the first and only one to thrill it
| to its secret depths, and her face
went pale. With great effort she
forced slight laugh. Bessie dis
poses of me as If | were her exclu.
siye property" she said, and the eff
| fort she made to control her voice
caused it to sound hard and cold. She
moved on, and Faradeane, taking her
remark as permission, walked by her
side. Olivia's heart was beating
wildly. Scarcely for moment since
her scene with him in the wood had
| he been absent from her thoughts. At
night in her dreams she could hear
his voice calling her name, calling her
his darling! Shame and love-alas!
| yes, loVe-battled for mastery within
her as she felt the influence of the
/ near presence of the man who had
come to her, as the old Persian poem
says,
"The sun and the moon and the stars
and the light thereof"
this man who, while he had dared to
take her in his arms, had stopped
short of asking her to be his wife.
She felt now, as her face burnt as
! If with fire, that she ought to send
him from her with a cold word of dis
| iAAASoSip buI DllC COulu llOL, lUI IuGTG
was a miserable conviction within her
I heart that he was her souls master,
and that she was his slave.
For some minutes they walked on in
silence, Olivia with her shawl drawn
round her, Faradeane with his head
erect, his hand thrust in his pocket, a
set look of earenst thought upon his
pale, haggard face. At last he said:
Miss Vanley, | find it difficult to
speak to you tonight almost impossi
BILE to say what feel it is my duty to
myself, and to you, should be said"
His voice was very low and grave, and
his eyes as they turned to her were
full of sad earnestness. 81 know what
it costs you to walk with me thus
how much you wish to rid yourself OF
me-
why should II" she said, though
she knew.
Because you feel that have for
feited your esteem, that have acted
dishonOrably, You will think still
worse of me when ! tell you that /
cannot, that dare not explain my
conduct to you the other day-that
am compelled to suffer the continu-
ance of your contempt and scorn be-
cause | am unable to tell you all to
lay my heart bare to you. But it is
So" he sighed. Il asked you to for
give me when we parted in the wood.
Is it possible that you may learn to do
SO? Yours is a sweet and plying ma
ture; extend your mercy to a man
I who needs it very badly"
The words, the tone, went straight
to her heart.
Il forgive you,' she said, almost
in a whisper.
He made no response for moment,
and the silence was more eloquent
than words.
Let me speak one more word" he
said.
She made a slight gesture of as
sent
Lord Granville has gone-left Eng
land, you know. VIII you believe that
| broke as we'll as l could the sorrow
your refusal cost him?"
"You-you did the best for him,
your friend" she said family. yes.
can believe that"
Yes, did the best" he said,
gravely, land he has gone, think
wisely, Before he went he exacted
promise from me. May l tell you
what it was"
Yes" she said, simply, her eyes
fixed on the ground, her heart beat,
ing in sad harmony with every word
of his grave, musical voice.
1T was this Bertie's-Lord Gran.
ville's love for you was of that order
which loves still though it can never
profit by its love. Though you are
lost to him YOU are still the one being
in the world for him, and it is not
saying too much to say that he would
lay down his life for you" Her eyes
filled with tears. IF he could have
trusted himself hp would hare ctova1