The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-10


| ing Instead of showing depression or
| humiliation even she confronted him
| with a smile more dangerous than any
| display Of grief could have been. for Il
| contained what il had hitherto lacked.
positive and irresistible admiration
Her words were equally dangerous
Il kiss your hand. as the Spaniards
saw" And she almost did So with a
bend of her head which just allowed
him TO catch glimpse of two startling
dimples.
He was astounded He thought he
knew this woman well. but at this mo-
ment she was as incomprehensible 20
him as if he had never made study of
her caprices and ever shifting express
sions.
Il am sensible of the honor" said he.
"but hardly understand how | have
earned it."
Still that incomprehensible look of
admiration continued to illumine her
face.
Il did not know / could ever think so
well of you" she declared. IF you do
not take care. shall end by loving you
some day
"Ah." he calculated. his face con-
tracing with sudden pain. your love.
then. is but potentiality! Very well.
Amabel. keep it SO and you will be
spared much misery. As for me. who
have not been as wise as you
.F'rederick- She had come so near
he did not have the strength to finish.
Her face, with it's indefinable charm.
was raised TO his. as she dropped these
words one by one from her lips in lin
gering cadence. 'Frederick-do you
love me. then. so very much?'
He was angry: possibly because he
felt his resolution failing him. You
know he hotly began, stepping back.
Then with a sudden burst of feeling
that was almost like prayer he re-
sumed: do not tempt me. Amabel
have trouble enough without lament
ing the failure OF my first steadfast
purpose"
"Ah." she said. stopping where she
was. but drawing him toward her by
every witchery of which her mobile
features were capa bic. your generous
impulse has strengthened into pur-
pose. has it? Well. I'm not worth 1t.
Frederick"
More and more astounded. under
standing her less than ever. but charm
ed by looks that would have moved an
ancborite he turned his head away in
vain attempt to escape an influence
that was so rapidly undermining his
determination.
She saw the movement, recognized
the weakness it bespoke. and in the
triumph of her heart allowed q low
laugh to escape her
Her voice. as | have before said. was
unmusical though effective, but her
laugh was deliciously sweet especially
when ii was restrained to a mere rip
pie. as now.
You will come to Springfield soon,"
she avowed, slipping from before him
SO as to leave the way to the door
open.
"Amabel.' His voice was strangely
husky. and the involuntary opening
and shutting of his hands revealed the
emotion under which he was laboring.
''Do you love me? You have acknowl-
edged ii now and then. but always as
If you did not mean it. Now you ac-
knowledge that you may some day and
this time as if you did mean 1t. What
is the truth: Tell me without coquet-
ry or assembling. for ! am in dead ear
nest. and He paused. choked and
turned toward the window, where but
few minutes before he had taken
that solemn oath. The remembrance
of it seemed to come back with the
movement Flushing with a new agi-
tation. he wheeled upon her sharply.
mo, no." he prayed; SAY nothing. If
you swore you did not love me,
should not believe it. and if you swore
that you did l should only find it hard
er to repeat what must again be said.
that union between US can never take
place. | have given my solemn prom
Use to-
well. well. Why do you stop? Am
so hard to talk to that the words will
not leave your lips?"
Il have promised my father l will
never marry you. He feels that he has
grounds of complaint against you, and
as | owe him everything
He stopped. amazed. She was look
ing at him intently. that same low
laugh still on her lips.
"TeI1 the truth" she whispered. II
know to what extent you consider your
fathers wishes. You think you ought
not to marry after what took place last
night. Frederick, / like you for this
evidence of consideration on your part,
but do not struggle too relentlessly
with your conscience. i can forgive
much more in you than you think, and
if you really love me-
stop, Let US understand each 9th
err" He had turned mortally pale and
met her eyes with something akin to
alarm. What do you allude to in
speaking of last night? l did not know
there was anything said by us in our
talk together
II do not allude to our talk
"Or-or in the one dance we had
Frederick. dance is innocent"
The word seemed to strike him with
the force of a blow.
Innocent" he repeated. innocent"
becoming paler still as the full weight
of her meaning broke gradually upon
him.
Il followed you into town." she wbis-
pered. coming closer and breathing the
words into his ear. But what ! saw
you do there will not keep me from