Volume II Part 67 (2/2)
”Listen to me,” she finally said; ”I hope you will not misunderstand me
Monsieur Gontram, I know that you are a brave, honest o, I felt that you regarded it as a--silent engagement?”
”Yes!” cried Gontra Monsieur de Larsagny for my hand”
”I did not dare--”
”Thank God that you did not do it,” cried Car more freely
”No, Gontra up
”Impossible, Car!”
”No, Gontra,” said Carmen, earnestly ”I can never becoht to put her hand in yours”
”Explain yourself more clearly,” said Gontram, deadly pale
”Gontram, I love you, love you tenderly, and if ever there was a pure love, it is mine for you Before I h life Good and bad were unknownwas”
Carmen sank exhausted in a chair and burst into tears
”Carmen, why do you cry?”
”Gontram, these tears are for me--for my lost youth--my tainted soul,”
whispered Carmen ”Oh, Gontrahter but the friend of Monsieur de Larsagny!”
Gontra his face with his hands, he gasped for air; the shot had struck him to the heart
”Yes, it is the truth,” continued Carmen; ”I aled with h to inform you of this”
Car Gontram's knee she wept bitterly
Gontram felt deep pity for her He placed his hand on her hair, and gently said:
”Carmen, the confession I have just heard has shocked me very much; but, at the same time, it has also pleased me That you did not wish to hear me, before you told me your story, raises you in my estimation, and let him who is without sin cast the first stone!”
”You do not curse me? Do not cast me off?” asked Carmen, in surprise
”Carmen, God knows your confession tore my heart; but, the reat extent of my love for you”
Carmen's tears still poured down Gontram bent over her and tenderly raised her up
”Carmen,” he earnestly said, ”tell me, what can I do for you?”
Carmen raised her eyes, which were still full of tears, and tenderly whispered to the young man: