Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-08-30

she loved with a passionate devotion.
Her hot hands clasped each other
fercely, her cheek burned as If she
could almost feel the outrage of the
man s kiss; then the paroxysm passed,
and left her pale and wan and weary,
and she lay with her head against a
tree and her hands lying loosely in
her lap, lovelier In her exhaustion than
In her passionate indignation.
And it was at this moment that
Harold Faradeane, leading his horse
up the narrow footpath, came upon
her. For moment she did not hear
the sound of the horses feet upon tne
thick underground of moss and
bracken; then 1t seemed as If she
felt the dark, sad eyes fixed upon her,
for she turned her head and, her pale,
lovely face growing warmer, rose to
her feet, putting her hand to her brow
with half-startled gesture.
He tossed the bride over the horses
neck, and came towards her; and as
he did SO Olivia knew why the idea of
being BARLEY Bradstone's wife
seemed more terrible now than it had
done few weeks ago; knew by the
sudden leap of her heart, the swift
rush Of her young blood through all
her veins at the sight of this other
mani
I'm afraid I've startled YOU" he
said as he took her hand; it burned
and throbbed like an imprisoned bird
in his firm grasp. Miss Bessie told
me ] should find you here, and / was
lucky enough to hit on the right path.
What a delightful spot you have
chosen! A perdfect dryads' nook" he
added talking to give her time to re-
cover from her surprise, and looking
round slowly.
She put her hands to her face and
smoothed her hair, with one Of those
delicate, little touches peculiar to her,
and stopped for her hat, which she had
tossed aside, but he was quicker, and
got 1t for her.
THANK YOU" she said, and heg
voice, sweet at all times, smote upon
his ears like a melody to subtle for de.
scription. Eyes, it Is pretty; Il
often come here Were you going ia
the house? My father is in, | know
| will come too"
Il was going to the house." he said
and he spoke slowly, as If he were
keeping strict guard upon his words
his very tone. But 1t was not to see
Mr.. Vanley; | wanted to see you"
ITO see mel" she echoed and, his
gaze fixed on the ground, he did not
see the sudden expansion of her eyes
or the swift rush of blood to her face
''To see me! and her hand stole
] shyly to her heart for an instant.
i Yes he said. you are surprised
that |, who am almost a stranger,
should wish to speak to you alone
but one Is not always the master OF
his own actions, not always a free
agent. Miss Vanley will you promise
to listen patiently to me, however
much | shall try your patience, your
sweet gentIeness? VIII you not sit
| DOWN."
She sank on the grass, and looked
up at him, and yet not at him, for her
eyes were heavy with strange shy
ness, and it seemed to her that he
must hear her heart beat, it echoed
with such full JOY every word of his
musical voice.
II shall try your patience" he said
with II suppressed sigh, still looking
on the ground. Il came this morning
to stand here before you as a sutton"
her face grew pale and her lips quiv-
cred, and a wild thrill of JOY ran
through her-"as a humble sutton, as
u man pleading for something dearer
even than life!" His voice broke for
a moment. Yes, dearer than life.
You see | find my task difficult; even
now, that have ventured to begin,
would draw back If | could" She
glanced up at him half-amazingly, half
sorrowtully. For | realize how great,
how precious a treasure It Is that
am striving for. But | am not Free
a stronger will than mine impels
me. Miss Vanley, forget if you can
| know it will be hard-that am al
most stranger, that you know moth,
ing of me, and-listen to me. Do not
send me away till have told you
what came to tell you, what l would
have kept from you, even now, if /
had not given my word"
Again the look swept over her face.
You will not wonder that man
should love you, | don't think it pos.
sible for anyone to see you, to hear
you, to be in your presence for one
short day without loving you"
No words can describe the infinite
tenderness and reverence and yet the
infinite sadness of his voice. At that
moment, even so soon, she could have
stretched out her arms to him.
moi" he continued. mo one could