The midland journal., 1910-08-26
| THE Man SHE LOVED !
---,b- ~ 49,
By EFFE ADELAIDE ROTIANDS

as something beyond and above all:
else, till reaction follows, as follow It'll
must, and gradually the hot tide Of.
passion dies down, leaving naught be-,
hind it. So it was that Dorothy loved.
this man. While he? AS he stood
gazing at her vivid beauty it seemed
to him as if he could find no prayer
or thought sufficiently strong to thank
heaven for the happiness in store for
him.
He spoke no words, but simply put
out his hands and drew the slender.
graceful form TO MS nearr.
My love! my darling!" he mur-
INJURED, as after one moment ne bent
his head and their lips met
Dorothy was no shy, coy maiden:
she was woman, with all the attri-
butes Of woman about her. His
heart. his senses were blinded by the
Joy her love brought him.
why have you not spoken to me
before?" she asked, half reproach-
fully, as they rose at last to go home
ward, and she slipped her hand
through his arm.
Have you hungered for my words,
dearest?" he asked, interpreting her
speech as meaning only more glad
ness for him. ''Ah. If you only knew
how often + have been tempted, how
often my heart has failed mel"
.Did you think should be unkind
to you, Gervais?"
II don't know what thought. You
are SO beautiful, so wonderfully love-
ly, my sweet, I feared you might have
nothing to say to. me. I"
Foolish boy.'' Dorothy laughed
softly, and she lifted her lips once
more to his.
And now it is really true, and I
hold you in my arms, my life, my
wife-yes, my wife-I can scarcely
believe it."
Dorothy clung to him suddenly.
eyes, yes; your wifet" she repeat
ed, hurriedly. "Geryais. make me
your wife soon; don't let us wait
long; am frightened!.''
frightened at what, my darling?"
and he gently caressed the golden.
curls on her forehead; nothing
earthly shall harm you while am
near you
II am frightened lest you should
be taken from me- the girl said, and
for one moment her cheeks blanched,
and even her lips turned pale, "Oh,
think of that! Think how awful it
would be, Gervais; So
He folded his arms closer around
her.
you cannot long for our marriage,
Dorothy, as do; it has been golden
dream SO long, I yearn for the reali-
zatfon.'. h
Dorothy laid her head on his shoul-.
der and carried his hand to her lips.
II am ready when you ask me, Ger
vais," she murnured. and there was
an eager, anxious look in her eyes
which he did not see. Don't think
me terribly forward, = she added, with
soft laugh, ..if say 1 cannot bear
the thought of waiting, dear
Gervais' heart thrilled fast; he saw
in this only reproduction OF his
own great love, and it brought full
and complete qualification.
We will speak to our mother.
dearest" he said, tenderiy.
YES. dear mother will tell us our
best course" Dorothy agreed softly,
but her face was turned from him,
and he did not see the frown that his
words had conjured up. Dorothy was
not only wearied with Lady Derri-
( man, she was jealous of her, too.
She could not understand the love
that Geryais had for his mother, nor
the respect and admiration he poured
upon her. But the time had not quite
arrived when Dorothy could arrange
things as she liked, and so she posed
as a loving child, anxious for Lady
Derriman to settle matters as she
liked, the while the girls selfish, all
dominant nature fretted and fumed
beyond expression.