The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-10
CHAPTER XVII. (continued.)

Il love you. Dearest, it seems to me
as if l had loved you from the begin
ming of all things-long before l met
you. When l first saw you knew
that had loved you always. You
were the woman of whom had
thought and dreamt ever since had
thought and dreamt of noble woman
and what my love for her might be.
love You dearly-dearly. You are
the only woman in the world for me;
there is no other" he cried passion
ately. l love you with my whole soul.
Tell me, darling, that you care for me
that you love me! Christabel, will
you be my wife,"
He spoke from his heart the words
that came uppermost, and without
generalization as to the form they
took Indeed. he had meant to ex-
press his feelings differently. but in
such cases it is the heart that speaks
and not the head. Christabel, loving
him, loved every word he said. Every
syllable was dear and precious. but
she grew very pale as he went on. She
hardly breathed after he had told her
that she was the only woman in the
world for him-that there was no 9TH
en- If she was the only woman in the
world fer him, he was the only man
in the world for her. And yet she
must deny him what he asked. She
felt that fate was hideously cruel and
malignant.
81 cannot marry you, Mr.. Forde,"
she said. in a low voice that had the
sound of tears in it. 81 cannot
cannot: 1t is impossible"
"Christabel!" he protested
He uttered just the one word-her
name, but with such an accent of
pain that she flinched, and two tears
rolled down her cheeks.
1T is impossible!" she repeated, a
little wildly. Not thus had she meant
to speak to him, and she struggled to
regain her self-control.
You cannot marry me, Christa-
bel?" he asked, excitedly.
mo, Norman" she said, uncon-
scious that she had addressed him by
his Christian name, but he was swift
to notice it.
You do not love me-" he asked
ooh, Christabel, thought that you
cid care for me-a little!" And with
gentle force he compelled her to look
at him. Il suppose l was a vain and
silly mortal, and deceived myself into
thinking what l wished to think. And
YETI
Don't make it too hard for me"
she said looking at him imploringly.
81 do love you. l must not, cannot let
you think that you were mistaken in
me- 1 do love you, but-but l cannot
marry you"
Make it too hard for you!" ex-
claimed Norman won't you tell me
what you mean, dearest, for I do not
understand
But she cid not answer him at once,
save ~ buMing her face in her hands,
Snd now he saw they were trembling.
"Christabel," he went on, in plead
ing voice, ''you say that you do love
me, but will not marry me. What is
the matter? l do not understand.
What is there between us-what
l.ceps up apart? Is it something l can
explain? Is there anything l can do,
darling?"
No. there is nothing you can do,
or that can do" she said, in a pa
thetic whisper. I'VE must part. Do
not make it harder for me than it is.
For it is northumberland"
Wont you tell me why?"
NO, I cannot; that, too, is impos-
sible."
II do not understand" repeated
Norman, gazing at her in bewilder-
ment. What was this unnamed thing
that was keering her from him? What
could it lie? What was this mystery?
F.e could not guess at it in the least,
and felt as if he had been brought up
ega INST blank wall.
'T cannot tell you anything more"
she said, YEARLY. ooh, how l wish
you knew what is in my heart, Nor
r,ar-how l wish you knew!" she
went on helplessly. "How 1 long to
tell YOU everything, but you are the
last person in the world to tell it to-"
"Christabel,' said Norman, gravely,
81 must find out what is this thing
that has come between us. cannot
Iermit our love to be wrecked in this
way by it. You have told me that you
love me, and l love you; this surely
cannot be the end.'
Il cannot marry you," said Christa.
bel, desperately, rising from her seat.
I'VE must part. oh, Norman, don't
say anything more, for / am weak.
should not have seen you, but felt
must. This must be the end"
"No, Christabel, this shall not be
the end. l love you, and cannot
cease to love you. I shall always
love you. Some day this mystery will
he cleared up
But Christabel only shook her head
end began to move away. He walked
by her size until they reached the
park gates, and then she asked him to
call hanson.
what is this mystery" he asked
himself, half In amazement, half in
l terror t.is ~, ta5 4 ~ =