The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-04
TIE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

!, M u |, 4 ] OILS 10 URN
yard away. The hindrance and her new
loveliness in the soft mantilla, the pink
of the roses reflected in her throat,
the provocative curl Of her mouth. sent
the blood to his head. #
You have only to say the word,',
he. said hoarsely, "and the Juno will
sail tonight 7
Never before had she seen his face 50
unmaskef Her voice shook in triumph
and response. n 5 9
m (. We IS you' J, Would you'"
You would sacrifice all--the com.
pany---your career-your Sitkansi =
HAll-everything.0 His own voice
shook with more than passion, for even
in that moment he counted the cost,
but he did not care.
But Concha detected that second
break in his voice, and turned her
"You would not say that tomorrow.
I hate myself that I ever made you
say it now. love You enough to wait
forever, but l have not the courage
to hand you over to your enemies. -
"You are strangely far-sighted for
young girl.'' And between admira-
ton and pique, his ardor suffered a
chill;
these last days it has seemed to me that
secrets locked IN my brain, secrets of
women long dead, but Of whose essence
have suffered in anticipation. NY mind
has fown-fownI have lived those
two years until they are twenty. thirty.
and I have lived on into old age here
by the sea, watching, watching--O
She had dropped all pretence of CO.
quetry and was speaking with pas
sionate forlornness. But before he
could interrupt her, take advantage of
the retreating voices that left them
alone at last, she had drawn herself
think, however" she said proudly,
"that am really as weak and silly as
that. It was only mood. Should YOU
not return I should grieve, yes; and
should live as long as is common with
my race, still would my heart remain
young with your image, and with the
fidelity that would be no less religion
than that Of my church. But should
not live a selfish life, or should be
unworthy Of my election to experience
and the life Of the Imagination would
be my solace, possibly in time nv hap-
piness, but. my days I should give to
| this poor little world Of ours; and all
that one mortal, and that woman,
has to bestow upon a stranded and be-
| nighted people. It may not be much,
but I make you that promise, senior,
that you will not think me a foolish,
romantic girl, unworthy Of the great
responsibilities you have offered me-
"Conchal >" He was deeply moved,
and at the same time her words chilled
him with subtle prophecy. sank into
seriousness, meeting response as subtle,
filing him with a rush Of angry i'm
patience at the mortality Of man. He
glanced over his shoulder, then took
her recklessly in his arms.
is 1t possible you doubt will come
baek7" he demanded. "My faith9"
emo, not that, But such happiness
seems to me too great for this life.'
He remembered how often he had
been close to death; he knew that dur
ing the greater part of the next two
years he should see the glimmer of the
scythe oftener. yet. For moment it
seemed to him that he felt the dark
waters rise in his soul, heard the ieers
Of the gods at, the vanity of mortal
will. But the. blood ran strong and
warm in his veins. He shook off the
obsession, and smiled little cynically,
even as he kissed her. .:x
"This is the hour for romance, my
dear. In the years to come, when you
are very prosaically my wife with a
Thousand duties, and erumbling at my
e:xactions, your consolation. will be the
memory Of some moment like this, when
you were able; to. feel romantic and
sad: I wish + could arrange for some
such set OF memories for myself, but I
am unequal o your, divine melancholy.
When 1 cannft see you Fam cross and
sophically happy. Some day. shall be
happier, but this is well enough. And
l can harbor no ugly presentiments.
AS [ entered California I was elated
with a sense of coming happiness, Of
future victories; and I5prefer to- dwell
upon that, the more particularly as in
q measure the prophetic. hint has been
fulfilled. So make the most Of the pres
emit. shall see you daily during this
last precious fortnight, for am deter
mined this arrangement shall cease; and
you must exercise coquetry and abet me
whenever there is a chance Of a word
alone.' ~ -
She nodded, but she noted with a
sigh that he said no more Of sudden
flight. She would never have consent
ed to jeopardize the least Of his inter
ests,. but she fain would have been be-
sought. The experience she had had
Of the vehemence and fire in Rezanov
made her long for his complete subiu-
cation and the happiness it must bring
to herself. But as he smiled tenderly
above her she saw that his practical
brain had silenced the irresponsible de-
mands Of love, and altho she did not
Withdraw from his arm she stiffened
her head. q ........- .*... - =
u fancy shall return home tomor-
row. she said. ."My mother tells me
that she can live without me no longer,
and that Father Abella has reminded
her that If T stay in the house of Ele-
ma Castro shall be as free from Cos
sip as here. T infer that he has rated
my two parents for making martyr
Of me UNNECESSARILY, and told them
it was a duty to. enliven my life as
much as possible before I enter upon
this: long. period Of probation. The
grating Of my room at Elena s is above
q, little strip of garden and faces the
blank wall Of the next house. Some
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