Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-04-19

/ in them A charming, an irresistible
picure, and one that appealed to this
man with the storm.beaten heart ach-
ing in his bosom.
She glanced up at him, saw the
haggard face, the dark rings around
the eyes that indescribable look
which pam and despair and utter
abandonment produce as plainly as
the die stamps the hallmark on the
piece Of silver and her heart yearned
for him, for hts loye-yearned for
the right to comfort and soothe him.
| All! If he would only have 1t so-if
he would only let her, how happy she
would make him! All this, and much
more, she felt; but she looked quite
placid and serene--like a dainty lily
unstirred by the wind-and said in
her soft voice.
I'VE were thinking of advertising
for you, Yorke. Have you been away?"
He might have answered: yes,
have been in the Valley of Sorrow
and Tribulation, on the Desert Of
Dead Love and Vain Hope" but in.
stead he replied:
No; just here in London; but
have been busy"
Busy! That sounds so strange,
and so comic, coming from you!"
"And yet It Is true" he said. u
have been busy thinking" If there
was a touch Of bitterness in his voice
she did not notice It. "And that's
hard work for me--it's so new, you
see"
There as silence for a moment He
held the string with which he had
been tying up the books in his hands,
and fdgeted with 1t restlessly.
Lady Eleanor dropped into small
talk Had he been to the Chrys-
anthemum Show at the Temple?
Had he noticed that he Duchess of
OrlofRe was not going to give her
autumn ball? Did he
He broke in suddenly as II he had
not been listening, his voice hoarse
and thick.
Eleanor, why did you do it?"
"Why did do what, Yorker" she
said.
"Why did you fling so much money
away upon n worthless scamp His
face went white, then red
"Who told your" she breathed
"They told me down at the court
where | had gone to be disgraced," he
said, land you saved me! How can
thank you, Eleanor? How can |?
And you would have done 1t in secret
would have kept It from me?"
Eyes, oh, ycs!" she murmured, her
head dropping. "Don't-don't say
anything about it, 1t was nothing
-nothing!" She looked up at him
eagerly, pleadlngly "Yorke, you will
not think badly of me because | did
Iit? Why shouldn't l? | am rich
YOU don't know how rich--and what
better could | do with the stupid
money than give 1t to IA friend who
needed It more-ten thousand times
more-than do or ever shall? Don't
be angry with me, Yorke!"
Angry" The blood flew to his
face and his eyes flashed. He drew
nearer to the chair in which she sat,
he knelt on one knee beside her.
Eleanor | am utterly worthless
you know that quite we'll was not
worth the saving. but as you have
saved me, will you accept me? Flea
nor will you be my wife?"
Her face went white with the
ecstasy which shot through her heart
All, for how long had she thirsted,
hungered for these words from his
lips! And they had come at last!
"Will you be my wife, Eleanor?
will try to make you happy. | will
do my best, Heaven helping, to be a
good husband to you! Stop, dear!
II you act wisely you will send me
about my business! There are fifty
hundred better men who love you;
you could scarcely have a worse than
| /, but II you will say yes, | will try
and be less unworthy of YOU All my
life | will never forget all that | owe
you--never forget that you saved me
from ruin and disgrace. Now, dear
Il
She put out her hand to him with
out word; then, as he took 1t, her
passion burst through the bonds In
which she thought to bind 1t, and
she swayed forward and dropped up
on his breast.
"Yorke, Yorke, you know"-came
through her parted lips-"you know
love you-have always loved you!"
MY poor Eleanor" he said, almost
indeed quite pityingly. Such bad,
worthless lot as | am"
mo, no. she painted. No, no;
the best, the highest TO me! And
and If you were not, tit would be
all the same. Oh, Yorke. be good,
bo kind to me, for you are all the
world to met"
by the way, Eleanor, how did you
hear ! was in such a mess-how did