Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-01-18

face
"Yorke!" was all she said; but all
her loye?-her JOY in his return
rang in the single word.
Il startled you, dearest" he said.
How lovely she looked! how sweet,
and ah! how pure and good, Not
Eleanor herself could look more re-
fined, more spirituelle than this love
of his--his Leslie!
No" she said, with a faiR smile
and a little shyness in her voice and
eyes 81 ought to have been startled,
but ! was not. Perhaps 1t was because
| was thinking of you. When did you
come back?"
"A few minutes ago, dearest" he
said. Has it seemed long to you? ]
thought perhaps that you would have
forgotten me-"
We'll, | might have done So" she
said, with delicious archness, but you
guarded against that; did you not?"
He did not understand for mo,
ment; then he laughed.
You got 1t all right?"
'Ah, yes!' she said, with little
sigh Of gratitude and content. 81 wish
you could have seen me when 1t came!
! was standing beside Mr.. Temple
when the postman brought 1t, and |
cried out--well like a schoolgirl"
TT was happy thought of mine,
them" he said
Yes. But why did you send me so
grand a PRESENT." she said, in a low
voice. Anything would have done;
but that" She laughed and colored.
ut was too rich-too costly for such
a simple person as I am"
He laughed. So she thought the
plain little locket rich and costly. What
would she have considered tie diamond
pendant he had sent to Fnetta?
God bless my darling-my modest
pearl" he thought.
And you were pleased with it? 1t
occurred to me that you might like
it. For a moment or two | feared |
that you might consider me con
ccited in sending 1t; that a ring"
1T is beautiful-beautifu she
said. It's only fault is that it is too
costly. The merest trine would have
served to tell me that you had not for
gotten me. And indeed | did not need |
anything"
you trusted me 50 completely,
iearest?' he said
YES" she said, simply, with a faint
wonder in her voice at the earnestness
IN his.
you trusted me" he said, as ear
lestly as before And how If were
10 ask you to trust me still--to trust
me In greater degree, Leslie?"
What is it," she asked; and the
question was full reply to his.
1T is just this" he said, taking her
hands in both his and holding 1t tight
~. See, dearest, hesitate to tell
YOU, 1t is so much to ask you; and
The worst Of 1t is that I cannot give
YOU the reason,"
"Are-are you going to leave me
again? II you must GO
Leave you?" he said. well, yes.
But It will be only for few hours-a
day Tiff you consent to do what |
am going TO ask YOU"
What is ito" she asked, still
calmly.
Il want you to marry meat once,
Leslle." he said in low voice, and al
most solemnly.
"Marry-you--at once?' she whis
pered, her bosom heaving, her long
dark ashes trembling,
You are frightened. dearest?'
No; not frightened, think; but
And that isn't all" he said, almost
desperately, 81 want our marriage to |
be a secret one"
She started now and drew her hand |
from his, turning her pale face to |
him, with almost panied surprise.
Leslie, Leslie" he said, getting hey
hand back again. There are reasons
why it Is necessary-do you under
stand, my darling Necessary that no
one should know OF our engagement
The other day when-when | told you
| loved you and asked YOU to he my
wife, | did not think of those reasons;
didn't think of anything but you.
hut they came home to me when |
was in London. 1t sounds strange
almost incredible,"
mo, not Incredible she murmured.