Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-08-23

towards her, resting one knee on the
fauteuil, and laid his hand imploring-
ly ON her arm.
'Leola, / can keep silence no longer.
This has been the happiest night of
my life, it rests with you to confirm
that happiness or dispel it, and rem
der this night the most miserable.
Leola-listen to me for one miHutei"
he pleaded, for Leola had shrupk
back slightly at the fervor of his
words, and stood looking at him with
startled eyes.
Listen to mel" he pleaded. do
with me as you will-make my life
happy, or send me away more
wretched than any soul alive-do
either, but be sure of this-that no
man, be he good or evil, will ever
love you nore truly, more devotedly
than / do. Look into my face-there
is no deceit, no treachery there!
There will be-there may already
have been--many who will tell you
that they love you, but they cannot
love you as / love you, Leola.
would give up the whole world for
you! know that an adverse in
auence has fought against me, that
you have for some time past looked
coldly upon me. Why, know not
but tonight you have seemed nearer
to me, so near that have ventured-
all too madly, perhaps,-to lay my
love, my life, at your feet. Such
love as | offer you, Leola, Is not the
weak, transient passion of an uncul.
tivated mind, / know my heart, and
1t speaks in no uncertain tone. / love
you, Leola, and I ask you to grant me
the priceless privilege of guarding
your life, of cherishing it against the
hard world, so unworthy of its purity
and mystic goodness. This is my
prayer--a prayer such as slave never
offered to any other woman on earth
save yourself; such as, il you are deaf
to it will never again pass my lips.
Tonight I place my life in your hands
do with it as you will Take it, and
make it higher, worthier-it can
never be in any way worthy of you
or throw 1t aside as the worthless
thing 1t is, and will be, unless your
love redeems it. See," he said,
what it is ! ask. do not demand
your love, as presumptuous
schoolboy might, ask you to accept
my entire devotion, and permit my
whole life to be spent In winning
some small amount of love from you
In return. Believe me, Leola, shall
be faithful! Speak, Leola," he said
What is to be my fate? Will you
accept my love and the devotion Of
a life?"
Leola raised her eyes, but dropped
them again.
"And IT," she said, her voice sound
ing strange and unnatural in her own
ears, like that of a person talking in
his sleep; "and fl answer yes,
what do you demand in return?"
Nothing" he answered, quickly,
breathlessly. Nothing as yet. Say
accept your love-will be your wife
in time; say in time-years if you
will have it so, and you make me
the most happy of men. Leola, you
need some one to guard and guide
you; your very beauty, and purity
and faith demand some stay and pro-
lection"
what do you mean?' breathed
Leola.
'Mean-nothing," he said, save
that l offer you my whole, undivided,
lasting love! Leola, take 1t, l i'm
plore you. Think of my great joy,
Leola, my queen, my love, my life!
/ have loved you SO long-so long!"
Leave me. VIII you go and get
my shawl?" she said, trying to speak
calmly.
what have l done, what have
done?" she gasped, in tone of horror.
Am / dreaming? Have l promised
to be his wife?" and she shuddered.
"oh, Cyril! Cyril! you have driven
me mad-mad!"
Here is your shawl, my queen"
murmured Philip Dyce, bending over
her and looking into her eyes.
Are you ill.," he breathed in
genuine agony.
NO." she said in strange
voice; mot ill-only very-tired-I
think"
But as he put her hand on his arm
she set her lips lightly and forced a
smile.
About this time, remarked.
Cyril was passing up and down his
room at the hotel almost raving mad.
|cuIsing his folly and groaning for the
next train to Montsford.
CHAPTER XXI.