Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-06-05


cation and devotion.
At last the woman gave herself up
to him in complete and entire aban-
donment without fear and without re-
proach; and at last the man took what
was his own without the shadow Of
reservation. She shrank from no
pressure of his arms, she turned her
face away from no touch of his lips.
They two had proved their right to
surrender by their ability to conquer.
Speech was hardly necessary be-
tween them, and it was not for long
time that coherent words came. Little
murmurs Of endearment, little pas
sionate whispers Of a beloved name
these were enough then.
When he could find strength to deny
himself a little and to hold her at
arms length and look at her, he found
her paler, thinner and more delicate
than when he had seen her in the
mountains. She had on some witching
creation of pale blue and silver; he
didn't know what it was; he didn't
care-it made her only more like an
angel to him than ever She found
him, too, greatly changed and highly
approved the alterations in his ap-
pearance.
"Why, WILL" she said at last, st
never realized what a handsome man
you were"
He laughed at her.
II always knew you were the most
| beautiful woman on earth"
ooh, yes, doubtless when I was the
only one"
"And if there were millions you
would still be the only one. But it
isn't for your beauty alone that love
you. You knew all the time that my
fight against loving you was based up
on a misinterpretation, mistake; you
didn't tell me because you were
thoughtful of poor woman"
Should have told your"
''No, have thought it all out. was
loyal through a mistake, but you
| wouldn't betray dead sister; you
would save her reputation in the mind
of the one being that remembered her,
at the expense of your own happiness.
And if there were nothing else could
love you for that"
"And is there anything else?" asked
she who would fain be loved for other
qualities.
Everything" he answered, rap
turously drawing her once more to his
heart.
Il knew that there would be some
way" answered the satisfied woman
softly after little space; love like
ours is not born to fall short of the
con1pletest happiness. Oh, how fortu~
nate for me was that idle impulse that
turned me up the canon instead of
down, for if it had not been for that
there would have been no meeting"
She stopped suddenly, her face
af1ame at the thought of the conditions
Of that meeting; she must needs hide
her face on his shoulder.
He laughed gayly.
''My little spirit of the fountain, my
love, my wife that is to be- Did you
know that your father had done me
the honor to give me your hand, sub
ject to the condition that your heart
goes with it?"
''You took that first" answered the
woman looking up at him again.
There was a knock on the door.
Without waiting for permission it was
opened; this time three men entered,
for old Kirkby had Joined the group.
The blushing Enid made an impulsive
movement to tear herself away from
Newbold's arms, but he shamefully
held her close. The three men looked
at the two lovers solemnly for a mo-
ment and then broke into laughter. It
was Kirkby who spoke first.
II hear as how you found gold in
them mountains, Mr.. Newbold."
Il found something far more valu-
able than all the gold in Colorado in
these mountains" answered the other.
"And what was that?" asked the old
frontiersman, curiously and innocent
~.
"ThisT answered Newbold as he
kissed the girl again.
THE END.