The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-26
Fair Margaret CaSteD
NJ n. RIDER HAooARD
CopvrSAl. 1901. b. II. Rider RsseaTd.
OoMMded

before her.
'sehorl' she said, amazed, 'bow cams
you here3'
'sehora,' he answered. closing the dool
and bowling, my feet Brought me. Had
any other means Of coming ] should no
often be absent from your side
Spare me your 1ne words. / pray you
sehor." answered Margaret. frowning'
1T Is not fitting that 1 should receive YOU
thus alone at night, my father being absent
from the house" And abe made a. though
she would pass him and reach the door.
D'Aguiiar, who stood In front Of 1t. did
not move, 80 perforce she stopped hall
way.
Il found that he was absent he said,
courteously. and that is why l venture TO
address you upon a matter OF some i'm
p~ortanoe. Give me a few moments OF your
time, therefore, ! beseeoh you
Now, at once the thought entered Mar
Earet's mind that he had some news OF
Peter to communicate to her-bad news.
perhaps.
BE seated and speak On, Senior. she said,
einking into a chair, while he. too, sat down,
but still in front Of the door.
'Sehora," he said. my business in this
country is finished and in q few days / sail
hence for Spain" And he hesttated q
moment.
'I trust your voyage will be pleasant
said Margaret. not knowing what else to
answer.
ct trust also. Sehora. since 1 have come
to ask you IL you will share it. Listen.
before you refuse. To-day / saw your
father and begged your hand Of him. He
---NI -.,- 49, A~A-4s ~AtkhnH yraA
nor nay. saying that o were your own
mistress, and that l must ask it from your
lips
"My father said that?' gasped Margaret,
astonished, then bethought her that he might
have had reasons for speaking 80. and went
on rapidly. We'll. it is short and simple.
THANK you, Senior; but I stay in England
Even that I would be willing to do for
your sake. SeIora, though, in truth. I find
il a GOLD and barbarous country
sIf 90, Senior d'Aguilar. / think that I
should 60 to Spain. ] pray you let me
pass"
mot till you nave heard me out, Sefora,
when I trust that your words will be more
gentle. See now, 1 am a great maj in
my own country. Although it suits me to
pass here indOgnito as plain Senior d'Aguilar,
I am the Marquis Of Morella, the nephew
Of Ferdinand the King, with some wealth
and station, official and private. II you
disbelieve me l can prove it TO you"
lido not disbelieve," answered Margaret
indiferently, 1T may well be 80; but what is
that TO me?"
Then is It not something, lady, that /.
who nave the blood royal in my veins,>
should seek the daughter of a merchant to
be my wife?'
Nothing at ALTO me, who am satisfied
with my humble lot
lis it nothing to you that I should love
as l do, with all my heart and soul? Marry
me and 1 tell you that ] will lift you high,
yes, perhaps even to the throne
She thought a moment, then asked:
The bride is great, but how would you
do that? Many a maid has been deceived
with false jewels, Sehor.'
How has it been done before? Not
every one loves Ferdinand. 1 have many
friends who remember that my father
was poisoned by his father and ~Ferdinand's,
he being the elder son. Also, my mother
was a Princess Of the Moors, and IL I, who
dwell among them as the envoy Of their
Majesties, threw in my sword with theirs
or there are other ways,
But I am speaking things that have
never passed my lips before. which, were
they known, would cost me my head-let
it serve to show how much trust you"
Il thank you, Senior, for youprtrust; but
this crown seems TO me set upon a peak
that it is dangerous to climb, and l had
sooner sit in safety on the plain"
you reject the pomp,' went on D'AguiIar
In his passionate, pleading voice, then will
not the love move your Oil you shall be
worshipped as eve woman a
Il swear to you that in your eyes there
10 O light which has set my heart on fire,
70 that it burns night and day, and will not
be quenched. Your voice is my sweetest
music, your hair is a cord that binds me
TO you faster than the prisoners chain,
and when you pass for me Venus walks
the earth.
More, your mind is pure and noblea as your
beauty, and by the aid of it / shall be lifted
up through the high places Of the hearth
to some white throne in heaven. l love
you, my lady, my fair Margaret; because Of
you, all other women are become coarse
and hateful in my sight.
See how much / love you. that ], one Of
the first grandees of Spain, do this for your
sweet sake and suddenly he cast himself
upon his knees before her and lifting the
hem OF her dress pressed 1t to his lips.
Margaret looked down at him and the
anger that was rising in her breast melted,
while with it ven her fear. This man
was in earnest; she could not doubt It.
The hand that held her robe trembled
like shaken water. his face was ashen and
In his dark eyes swan tears. What cause
had she to be afraid Of one who was so
much her slave?
"Sehor,' she said very gently, rise, 1
pray you. Do not waste all this love upon
who chances TO have caught your
fancy but who is quite unworthy Of IL
and far beneath you; one moreover, by
whom IL may not be returned. sefor, I
am already af1anoed, Therefore put me
OF your mind and find another love-
He rose and stood before her.
'Aelanced, he said, Il know It. Nay. I
will say no Ill OF the man; to revile one more
fortunate Is pool argument.
But what is il to me II you are afianoed3
What TO me II you we're wedf I should seek |
you all the same, who have no choice.