Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-26

"HOw hot your head isr' she said, |
sinking on her knees by me. Then she |
laid her head against me. and heard |
her murmur. "My darling. how hot |
your head ISL
Somehow love gives even to q dull
man the knowledge of his lovers heart
1 had come to humble myself and pray
pardon for my presumption, but what
l said now was:
Il love you with all my heart and
soul"
For what troubled and shamed her?
Not her love for me. but the fear that
] had counterfeited the lover as l had
acted the king and taken her kisses
with a smothered smile
with all my life and heart" said
! as she chung to me. always. from
the first moment I saw you in the ca
thedral. There has been but one wo-
man in the world to me. and there will
be no other. But God forgive me the
wrong I've done you
"They made you do itw she said
quickly. and she added. raising her
head and looking in my eyes: 1T might
have made no difference if I'd known
it, 1t was always you. never the king"
And she raised herself and kissed me.
II meant TO tell YOU" said I. II was
| going to on the night of the ball In
| Streisau when Sapt interrupted me.
After that l Couldn't couldn't risk
| losing you before-before-I must, My
| darling, for you l nearly left the king
to die"
| 81 know, | know! What are we to
do now, Rudolf"
| put my arm round her and held her
up while I said:
81 am going away tonight"
| "Ah. no, no. she cried Not to-
night
| Il must go tonight before more peo-
you have me stay, sweetheart, OK
cept''-
! "If l could come with you" she
whispered very low.
MY Cod said I roughly, don't
talk about that And thrust her a
little back from me.
why not? l love you. You are as
good a gentleman as the king"
Then | was false to all that | should
have held by, for l caught her in my
arms and prayed her in words that l
will not write to come with me. daring
all Ruritania TO take her from me-
And for awhile she listened, with Won
dering. daZzled eyes, but as her eyes
looked on me / grew ashamed and my
voice died away in broken murmurs
and stammerings, and at last l was
silent.
She drew herself away from me and
stood against the wall, willie l sat on
the edge Of the sofa, trembling in ev-
cry limb, knowing what 1 had done,
loathing it, obstinate not to undo It,
So we rested a long time.
II am madp' l said sullenly.
II love your madness, DEAR" she an
swercd
Her face was away from me. but
caught the sparkle of a tear on her
cheek. | clutched the sofa with my
hand and held myself there.
rs love the only thing?" she asked
in low. sweet tones that seemed 10
bring a calm even to my wrung heart
'If love We're the only thing, l coult
follow you-in rags. if need be-to tn
worlds end, for You hold my heart Il
the hollow of your hand. But is low
the only thing?''
| | made her no answer. 1t gives IN
shame now to think that l would no
help her
She came near me and laid her han
on my shoulder. put my hand up an
held hers.
II know people write and talk as
it were Perhaps for some fate lets
be- All, if | were one of them, But
love had been the only thing 20
would have let the king die In hi
cell"
l kissed her hand.
Honor binds woman, too, Rudol
: Ny honor lies in being true to IN
country and my house. | don't kno'
,, why God has let me love you, but
l know that | must stay"
Still / said nothing, and she, pau
ing awhile, then went on:
Your ring will always be on n
finger, your heart in my heart. Il
touch of your lips on mine, but yc
!, must go. and l must stay. Perhaps
must do what it kills me to think
h doing"
Il knew what she meant, and n shiv,
e ran through me, but l could not Il
terly fail Leside her | rose and too
{. her hand.
e do what you will or what VI
J. must" / said Il think God shows b
Il purposes to such as you. My part
lighter for your ring shall be on II
finger and your heart in mine. and !
l. touch save of your lips will ever be (
mine. So may God comfort you. II
IS darling"
1t There struck on our ears the soul
of singing. The priests in the chap
L, were singing masses for the souls
those who lay dead. They seemed
chant a requiem over our buried JIG