Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-11-13

that delay is dangerous, If | am silent
little while, do you not guess that
it is for your sake that | am silenta
These things are rarely hidden from
clever women. Say that Count Odin
has learned to be a lover and you will
question me no more"
They we're in lonely glade, dark
with the shade OF beeches, when he
made this apparently honest declara.
ton; and he stood before her forbid.
ding her to advance further or to
avoid his entreaty. Her confusion,
natural to her womanhood, he inter.
preted In its true light--e"She does not
love me. but there Is that In her blood
which will give me command over
her." he said. And this was the pre-
else truth. Evelyn had, from the first,
been fully aware OF the strange spell
this man could put upon her. His
presence seemed to her as that of the
figure OF evil beckoning her to wild
pleasures and forbidden gardens OF
delight. Strong as her will was, this
she could not combat. And she shrank
from him, helpless, and yet aware Of
his power.
You are speaking to me Of grave
things" she said quietly. "My own
feelings must not enter into them.
II my father owes this debt to you, he
shall pay it. will be no part Of the
price, Count Odin."
"Cara mia" he said, taking both
her hands and trying to draw her close
to him, II care not how It IL II you
shall say you love me. Do not hide
the truth from yourself. Your father
IL in great danger. You can save him
from the penalties of wrong. Will you
refuse to do 20 because I love YOU
love you ~ have never believed .
man could love: love you ~ ny father
loved your mother 90 many years ago
with the love Of . race that has
fought for women and died for them:
. race which II deaf whom . woman
says NO, which follows her, cara mia,
to the end Of the earth and has eyes
for nothing else but the house which
shelters hort VIII you do this when
your heart can command me as you
will-saying, speak or be silent, for
get or remember? know you better;
you love me, Evelyn; you are afraid
to tell me, but you love me. That Is
why I remain a prisoner Of this house
because you love me, and I shall
make you my wife. All, cara mia, say
1t but once-I love you, Georges, the
son Of my fathers friend-I love you
and will not forbid your words"
A strange thrill ran through Eve
lyn's veins as she listened to this pas
sionate declaration. The frenzied
words of love did not deceive her. This
man, she thought, would SO speak to
many woman in the years to come.
A better wit would have concealed his
purpose and rendered him less frank.
He would sell his fathers liberty at
my bidding" she said, and the thought
set her struggling In his arms, flushed
with anger and with shame.
81 will not hear you, Count" she
cried again and again. Il cannot love
you-you are not of my people. II
my father has done wrong, he shall
repay. He is not so helpless that he
cannot save me from this. Oh, please
let me go, your hands hurt me. can
never be your wife, never, never!"
He released her reluctantly, for his
quick ear had caught the sound of a
horse galloping upon the open grass
beyond the thicket.
"You will answer me differently an.
other day." he said smilingly; mean.
while, cara mia, there are two secrets
to keep-yours and mine. If the
charming Lady Evelyn will not hear
me, l must remember Eta Romney,
young lady Of my acquaintance-ah,
you know her too; and that is we'll
for her. Let us return to the house.
My lord will have much to say to me
and l to him.
They went up to the Hall together
in silence. Evelyn knew how much
she was in his power and how idle her
yelled threats had been.
She could save her father from this
man-truly. But at what price!
"Etta Romney would marry him."
she said bitterly; but I-Evelyn-
God help me to be true to myself"