The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-08-31

| head to look into the the face beside him
the face that looked up again into his, with
those candid blue eyes, and smile on the
soft parted lips The smile seemed to re-
fleet itself upon Marks grave face for an in
slant, and then he took up little hand ly-
ing on bis arm, and kissed it tenderly. |
looked no longer crept away stricken
with dumb anguish, a dreadful sulen des-
pair, crept away and went home.
For knew tue candid blue eyes, the
sweet smile, and the floating golden bair /;
and they were my sister Mily's Oh, had
not done enough? had not sacrificed
enough was my cup not yet so full but
that this bitter drop must be added to its
overflow.
So | cried out in my anguish, and it was
| long before better thoughts came to me, or
that coming, could hold them firmly
and take comfort.
But by-the-by rose from where | had
flung myself down, and sat by the window
to watch for Milly. She came along pres
emily, in the quiet evening light and Look
ed at her with my eyes freshly opened.
| had never yet ceased to think of her as
child; realized in one minute now that the
child was woman. looked at the beau
tiful fresh young face, and involuntarily
glanced at the reflection of my own in the
mirror opposite. never could have been
in my best days what Milly was; and
now-I turned away with sigh from the
image of that faded women, with pale lips,
and weary dark eyes.
Milly came in the next instant, threw off
her hat, and, coming up beside me, took IN y
face between her two soft hands, looked into
it tenderly for minute, then kissed me,
and sat down with her arm round me.
''Het, my dear, have something to tell
you" she began, with strange tremble in
her voice. though she was smiling, too,
wonderful thing don't think you would
ever guess it, Nlilly, dear p l asked, press
ing the little one close to my obbing
breast
you never could; and yet how your
heart is beating!'' she said, looking up at
me timidly Il believe you really do"
Then, sinking her face down to my should
er once more, she added, almost i'll whisp
er, chester, he told me to ask you wheth-
er you would see him tomorrow"
"He, means Mr. Sutherland, of course ~
''Of course. Hester, do you mean to say
yes ~ asked Milly, stealing another of those
timid glances at me.
''My yes will go with yours, Milly
dear
God bless you, Hester my darling, my
dear dear sister," cried Milly fervently /;
and for a long while we were both silent.
| Nor, indeed, did she mention Mr.. Suther-
| lands name again, nor recur in any way to
the subject, till about the middle of the next
day, she suddenly sprang up from her place
by the window, and CHANGING at me with a
vivid blush and smile, ran out of the room,
and heard her fly up stairs.
Then knew who was coming, and | sat
still, because to move would have been out
Of my power So. when he entered tie
room, sat, and though held out my
hand and tried to utter greeting, | knew
that my lips only murmured inarticulately.
| He looked at me as he held my hand in a
momentary grasp and | thought there was
both pain and shocked surprise in my face.
| Then he began.
81 have not come unexpectedly, | hope !?
MiIly promised to ask you-to tell you
''She did tell me; expected you" I
strove to say and nope said it quietly,
Did you not guess why wanted to see
you ?" he asked, with that directness of
speech | remembered so well.
Eyes, even went so far as that an
swered, and smiled--oh what a wintry
smile, if it did not belle my heart
''Of course, could only have ore purpose
in asking to see you again." he went on
quietly; ''but, ah Hester, what will you
say to me this time ?"
.EWhat does MilIv saw ?"
'Milly always Milly still But Hester
it is for you to answer me first" he said !;
and abruptly walking from his position on
the hearth, he came and sat down beside
me.
''Hester-I must call you so-did your
sister tell you what said to her yester-
day."
she let me infer it."
''Infer fiddIedee. Nothing like plain
speaking to express plain meaning" he
spoke out rather impetuously. ''But you
are so cold so unlike your old self, Hester,
that could not just take it for an answer
to what l came to ask. Did Milly tell you
that yesterday-for have grown to love
the little girl dearly -Hester! Hester !!
what have | said What is the matter p
hated, despised myself for the weakness,
but the mortal struggle Of yesterday was
not done yet. could not hear this man
whom | had loved so long, so deeply avow
to my face his transferred affection to my
sister, and be unmoved. InvoluntariIy |
grasped the arm of my chair for support,
for my life seemed fading from me in the
struggle. He bent over me, he lifted my
faint head on to his broad breast, but |
shrank from him feebly.
1T is nothing. am often faint am
quite well again. You were saying-yes,
go on Mr.. Sutherland.
81 was saying-ah, Hester-I think I
need not-go on-you are SO changed, my
DEAR" he said looking down at me with
sorrowful perplexity. "Well, well, AIilly
led me on to hope; but ought to have
| known better. You never cared for me in
the beginning as | did for you"
'Sulely, surely, that bygone ought to be
a bygone now" | cried bitterly.
IF you say that, it ought indeed he an
swered turning from me; ''but told you
then. Hester that should never forget YOU;
and from something Milly said, and youl
remaining unmarried, was wild enough K
dream-to hope"
Something light that dazzIed my poor
\ eyes-w as breaking in upon me as he spoke
Mark" said what did you come here
to-day to ask me?"
'|The same question that asked eight
years ago by the stream in the marshes
Hester. | have done with India; am ne
longer a poor man, and | want the woman
have always loved. Hester, is this true
Is she mine at last?"
For a long, long time think after this
we forgot the existance Of any one besides
ourselves Then l told Mark the little gam
Of cross purposes we had been playing
Lis incrednIous wonder that could mag
inc that he had ever thought Of any one bu
me, touched me to the heart.
Poor Milly," he said; $50 you woult
have put her of with the reversion 0
: the heart No, when she marries may sh
be what youare Hester-her husband
first love and his last"