The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-21

watched her drop asleep, and when
/ left her | sought the orchard.
No nook in the grounds more shell
tered and more Edenlike; 1t was
! full of trees, 1t bloomed with
flowers; very high wall shut 1t
out from the court, on one side;
on the other, beech avenue
screened 1t from the lawn.
felt as IL could haunt such
shade forever; but in threading
the upper part of the Enclosure, en-
ticed there by the light the now.
rising moon casts on this more
open quarter, my step is stayed
by warning fragrance. 1t is Mr..
Rochester's cigar.
l was retreating; but Mr.. Roch-
ester intercepted me:
Jane" he commenced, as we
strayed in the direction of the
sunk fence and the horse-chestnut,
''Thornfield is a pleasant place in
summer, is 1t not?"
Yes, SIR"
You must have become In some
degree attached to the house?"
81 am attached to it, indeed"
PITY" he said, and sighed and
paused.
Must l leave Thornfield?" I
asked.
81 believe you must, Jane"
Then you are going to be mar
ried, sir?"
Exactly - precisely; with
your usual acuteness, you have hit
the nail straight on the head"
Soon, SIR"
very soon, my--that is, Miss
Eyre; Adele must go to school:
and you, Miss Eyre. must get a
new situation"
Yes, sir, will advertise imme-
diateiy."
I'm about a month I hope to be
a bridegroom, continued Mr..
Rochester. I'VE have been good
friends, Jane; have we not?"
Yes, SIR"
And when friends are on the
even Of separation, they like to
spend the little time that remains
to them close to each other. Come
here is the chestnut tree; here is
the bench at its old roots. We will
sit there in peace tonight, tho we
should nevermore be destined to
sit there together" He seated me
and himself.
II grisve to leave Thornfield,"
said. Il have been happier here
than ever before in my life. see
the necessity of departure: and 1t
is like looking on the necessity of
DEATH"
Where do you see the neces-
sity?" he asked suddenly.
where? You, sir. have placed
it before me-"
I'm what shape?"
"In the shape OF Miss Ingram.
your BRIDE"
my bride! What bride? have
no bride."
But you will have"
"Yes-I will Wilt He set
his teeth.
Then l must go-you have
oofu II yOuIbcil.
mo; you must stay!" said Mr..
Rochester-''so," he added, gath
ering me to his breast, pressing
his lips on my lips; so, janet"
after minute. Jane, be still;
don't struggle so, like a wild, fran
tic bird that is rending its own
plumage In its desperation"
Another effort set me at lib
erty, and | stood erect before him.
He rose, and with a stride he
reached me, again drawing me to
him. Jane, will you marry me?"
Still | did not answer, and still
l writhed myself from his grasp;
for l was still incredulous.
DO you doubt me, Jane?"
Entirely"
Am / a liar in your eyes?" he
asked passionately. Little skep-
tic, you shall be convinced. What
love have | for Miss Ingram?
None. What love has she for me
None: as / have taken pains to
prove; caused a rumor to reach
her that my fortune was not a
third Of what was supposed, and
after that I presented myself to
see the result; II was coldness
both from her and her mother.
would mott could not-marry
Miss Ingram. You--you strange
you almost unearthly thing!-
love as my own flesh. en-
treat you to accept me as a hus-
band"
What. mel" I calculated, be-
ginning in his earnestness to
credit his sincerity.
You, Jane. / must have you
for my own-entirely my own.
VIII you be mine? Jane, accept
me quickly. Say Edward-give
me my name-Edward-I viii