Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-10-30

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"Never!" she acclaimed,
very spot where you and I stand now
heart to heart for the first time, my
darling-askipg myself whether there
We're any way out Of labyrinth. It
was not until brought you here and
saw you by my side, with the moon
rays for a crown, that fash Of blind
Ing light seemed to pierce the clouds.
Suddenly saw all things clearly, and,
though there will be difficulties. l
count them as overcome"
"Still you haven't answered my ques.
tion." said Virginia In q low. strained
voice.
"l'm coming to that now. 1t was
best that you should know first all
that's been troubling my heart and
brain during these few bittersweet
days which have taught me so much.
You know men who have their place
at the head Of great nations can't think
first of themselves or even Of those
they love better than themselves. II
they hope to snatch at personal happi.
ness they must take the one way open
to them and be thankful.
Don't do me the horrible injustice
to believe that wouldn't be proud to
show you to my subjects as their EN-.
press. but instead l can offer only
what men Of royal blood for hundreds
of years have offered to women whom
they honored as we'll as loved. You
must have heard even in England of
what is called morganatic marriage.
1t is that offer you.''
With cry Of pain-the cruel pain of
wounded, disappointed love-the prin-
cess tore her hand from his.
"Never!' she exclaimed. otis an in.
suit"
IAN insult? No. a. thousand times no.
see that even how You don't Under
stand.'
Il think that understand very well,
too WELL" said Virginia brokenly. The
beautiful fairy palace Of happiness that
she had watched as 1t grew lay shat
tered, destroyed, in the moment which
ought to have seen its triumphant COM
pletion.
II tell you that you cannot under.
stand or you wouldn't say-you
wouldn't dare to say, my love-that I'd
insulted you. Don't you see. don't you
Asow. that you would be my VIE m
the sight of all men as we'll as in the
sight of God"
'Your wife, you call ity' The prin.
cess gave harsh little laugh which
hurt as tears could not hurt. "You
seem to have strange ideas Of that
word, which has always been sacred
to me. A morganatic marriage! That
Is mere pretense, hypocrisy. I
would be your wife, you say. would
give you all my love, all my life. You
in return would give me-your left
hand. And you know we'll that in q
country which tolerates such one
sided travesty of marriage the laws
would hold you free to marry another
woman-a royal woman, whom you
could make an empress-as free as IL l
had no existence"
"Great heaven, that you should speak
so!' he broke out. what IL the law
did hold me free? Can you dream-do
you put me SO low as to dream-that
my heart would hold me free? My
soul would be bound to you forever"
$50 you may believe now. But the
knowledge that you could change
would be death to me-a death to die
daily. Yes, tell you again, it was an
insult to offer lot so miserable, SO
contemplate, to woman you profess
to love. How could you do It? If only
you had never spoken the hateful
words-if only you had left me the
ideal had Of you-noble. glorious,
above the whole world Of men! But,
after all. you are selfish, cruel. II you
had said, I love you, yet we must
part, for duty stands between u.s.
could But, no; l can never tell you
now what could have answered If
you had said that instead of breaking
my heart"
Under the fire of her reproach he
stood still. his lips tight, his shoulders
braced. as If he held his breast open
for the knife.
"By heaven. 1t is you who are cruel!'
he said at last. "How can I make you
see your injustice?''
"In no way. There's nothing more
to be said between US two after this
except goodby."
1T shall not be goodby."
"It must. wish IT.