Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-09

know how much I love you," he whis-
pered into her ear. at Is n deathless
love, unconquerable, unnlterable. 1t Is
In my blood to love forever. Listen to
me, dear one. I come Of a race whose
love Is hot and enduring. My people
from time immemorial have loved as
no other people have loved. They have
killed and slaughtered for the sake
of the glorious passion. Love Is the
religion of my people. You must, you
shall believe me when I say that I will
love you better than my soul so long
as that soul exists. loved you the
day I met you. 1t has been worship
since that time"
His passion carried her reslstlessly
away as the great waves sweep the
deck of a ship Mt sea. She was out in
the ocean of love. far from all else
that was dear TO her. far from all har-
bors save the mysterious one to which
his passion was plotting her through a
storm of emotion.
~ have longed so to hold you in my
arms. Beverly. Even when you were n
princess and | lay in the hospital at
Ganlook my fevcred arms h%ungered
for YOU. There never has beer n mo-
ment that my heart has not been reach
ing out in search of yours. You have
gloriicd me dearest. Ivy the promise
you made II week ago. I know that
you will not r%enOuncc that precious
pledge. 1t is in your eyes now-the
eyes ! shall worship to the end of eter-
nifty. Tell me, though, with your own
lips, your own voice, that you will be
my wife,. mine to hold forever"
For answer she placed her arms
about his neck and buried her face
against his shoulder. There were tears
in her gray eyes and there was n soh
in hcr throat. He held her close to his
breast for an eternity, it seemed tn
both, neither giving voice to the song
their hearts were singing. There was
no other world than the fairy grotto.
Sweetheart. | am asking you to
make n great sacrifice" he said at last.
his voice hoarse hut tender. She look
ed up into his face serenely. Can
you give up the joys, the wealth. the
comforts of that home across the sea
w a 81 WV 'Vlt'ASV WIN it hiINA
my love? Wait. dear-do not speak
until | am through. You mus: think of
what your friends will say. The love
and life I offer you now will not be
like that which you always have
known. 1t will be poverty and the
dregs, not riches and wine. 1t Will
be-
But she placed her hand upon his
lips. shaking her head emphatically
The picture he was painting was the
same one that she had studied for days
and days. Its very shadow was ia
miliar to her, its every unvholesom.
corner was as plain as day.
The rest of the world may think
what it likes, Paul" she said. TT will
make no difference to me. I have
awakened from my dream. My dream
prince is gon and I find that it's the
real man that | love. What would yor
have n1e do? Give you up becase you
are poor? Or would you have me &C
up the ladder Of fame and prosperity
with you, n humble but adoring bur
den2 know you, dear. You will not
dIWdNS Ue DDOI. IINt may Soy IL
they like. I have thought long ant
well, because I am not a fool. 1t is
the American girl who marries The
titled foreigner without love that Is q
fool. Marrying a poor man is too serl
Gus n business to be handled by fools
have written to my father. telling hin
that | am going to marry YOU" she an
,,rr,ol IIn uaS,,n1 with lnhplipf
you have. alrcady?" he cried.
"Of course. Ny mind has been made
up for more than a week. I old it Il
Aunt Fanny last night
And she:'
"She almost died. that's ALL" said sh'
u~nblushingly. Il vas afraid TO cabl
j.. the news to esther. He might stop m
) if he knew it in time. A letter wa
much smarter"
You dear, dear little sacrifice" n
cried tenderly. Il will give all my lif,
to make You happy"
II am a soldiers daughter, and cal
+ lp n soldiers wife. | have tried har'
to give you up. Paul, but l couldn't
You are loves soldier, and it is a
. relief to surrender and have it owe
with"
They fell to discussing plans for tn
< future. 1t all wen smoothly and airll,
until he asked her when he should go t
Washington to claim her as his wife
< She gave him a startled, puzzled look.
"To Washin'ton?' she murmure(
- turning very cold and weak. YOU
you won't have to go to Washin'tor
dear. I'll stay here"
5 "My dear Beverly. l can afford tn
p trip" he laughed. II am not an abst
G lutte pauper. Besides, it is right an
Just that your father should give 20
!, to me. 1t Is the custom Of our land.
She was nervous and uncertain.
"But-but, Paul, there are man
things to think Of" she faltered.
you mean that your father woul
n not consent?"
a "Well-he-he might be unreason'
=, ble," she stnmmered. And then ther
o. are my brothers, Keith n Dan. The
are foolishly interested in me. Da
;, thinks no one is good enough for M
l. So does Keith. And father, too. ft
that matter-and mother. You see, 1t
II not Just as If you We're a grand an
wealthy nobleman. They may not III
derstand. We are sOutherners, yo
- know. Some of them have peculla
tJoac ohO,,tt-