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

y .
fit to be duchess"
1T is not that" he says. But for
his promise to the duke he would tell
her all-tell her that he is not duke,
with land and gold galore, but poor
man so encountered and crippled by
debt that he dare not let 1t be known
that he is not going to marry a
fortune. Leslie, | cannot tell you!
| am not free to tell you till--yes, to-
morrow viii you not trust me?"
Il can not but trust you," she says
almost piteously Il could not doubt
you If tried"
my angel, my dearest" he says
fervently, reverently. you shall
never regret having trusted me
never, Now listen, Leslie There is
one person, of all others, who must
not know what we are going to do
Mr.. Temple"
Mr. Temple?" she says, not sus-
piciously, not even curiously, but in
faint surprise.
eyes," he says. He suspects, or
half suspects, already that love you.
1t must be kept from him. You will
understand why when | tell you all
when | clear up the mystery. Now
see" He stops and laughs. His
face is flushed with excitement and
his eyes sparkling. Tonight ! will
go up to town."
Tonight" she breaths.
"Yes," he says; there IS no time to
be lost--you will see what when you
know all. Tomorrow | will get a
must come up to London
alone" she asks, in a still voice
mo, no." he says. you must per-
suade your father-Stay, | will ar
range that. | will get a well-known
dealer | know to wire to him some
question about his pictures, something
that will bring him up"
THE moment you arrive you must
telegraph your address to mel will
tell you where to wire" He takes
out an old envelope and writes, Lord
Auchester;" then with an exclama
ton he tears it up, and on another
piece of paper writes:
"Yorke Auchester,
Dorchester Club,
Pail Mall"
Mind, dearest, send the telegram at
once, and at once l will come to you,
and--the rest you must leave to me.
You will?"
Il WILL" she says, almost inaudibly |
and as solemnly as ever marriage vow
was whispered.
Her great love and trust over
whelm him, and something like tears
yes, tears-dim his bright eyes.
MY darling, if ever | forget your
love and trust, your goodness to me,
may Heaven forget met" he says in a
voice that makes her thrill, Il will
make you happy, Leslie-happier than
any woman ever was before! Every
hour of my life" His voice
shakes. ooh, my darling! what have
done that Heaven should send me
such an angelo"
1--WE made you cry!" he says. "Ah!
know; you are thinking of your
father, Leslie"
She starts guilty. For the first
lime in her life-the life devoted to
nim-she has forgotten her father
do not fret about him. He shall
20 with us; he shall belong as much to
- What do think
| would separate you?"
They sit hand in hand for-how
long? At last he tears himself
away,
Remember, dearest" are his last
last words, send to me directly-the
moment you reach London Ans
Leslie, fear nothing. Why, when You
think of it"-and he laughs-"what Is
there to fear?"
He is gone at last She stands and
watches him as he makes his way
with many a backward glance-along
the quay; then she sinks onto the
rock again. Her heart is throbbing,
a mist is floating before her eyes;
she cannot think, she cannot see. SO
of everything around her
is she that, when half an hour later
the dark graceful figure of a woman
passes near her nook, Leslie does not
heed or notice it. She is in loves land
and rapt in loves dream
To be Continued.
STAMPS TO MATCH.