The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-10-20
Selected Stori'.
THE UNCONSCIOUS CONFESSION.

My story goes Dack 10 the Gays Wnen
railroads to the Branch were as yet I'M
known, and when the transit to New York
was achieved by coaches that ran toward
Sandy Hook, where steamer awaited the
passengers.
A tau, handsome young mar, at the sum-
mons, came down the staircase, two steps
at time, and almost ran over a matronly
women few years his senior, who was
crossing the hail.
What! Going to leave us?" said the
lady in some surprise, and with more
meaning in her look than in her words
even.
Yes! It's no use" was the reply
Thanks for your good wishes, which /
can see in your looks, Mrs. Maxwell. But
I'm tired Of playing tho fool +"
''Pshawi" said the lady. putting her arm
Familiarity into his, and leading him into
the drawing room, which at that hour was
deserted Faint heart never won fair lady,
Mr.. Hastings. Listen to me. The coach
will wait moment"
''It's not a question OF faint heart" an
swered the gentleman. But Kate won't
have me. See here, Mrs. Maxwell-it's
hardly fair of you to corner me-but she
refused me- point blank, last night"
And what if she did? / refused Mr.
some of our sex have. Come, stay, and try
again"
I'm proud man" was the reply, ''and
don't like being trifed with. But I'd stay,
if l thought it would do any good. But it
won't. She is not anywhere about, you
see, though | tol3 her | would go away to-
day. When l said it she actually laughed.
And yet, confound her, l can't help loving
her"
Mrs. Maxwell would liked to have laugh
cd also. But she knew better than to do
50 just yet.
''She was . little hysterical, or she
wouldn't have laughed" she said. "The
truth is, Herbert You are pair of fools
You are proud, rs you say, and don't brook
reiusals. Kate is perhaps a bit of q hirt,
but | sincerely believe she loves you. All
she needs is little more urging. You
must storm the fortress till it surreuders
Give her no quarter, that Is my ADVICE
and now Mrs. Maxwell, seeing his face
brighten, yentured a laugh.
1t was a clear, musical laugh, aud il
cheered Herbert still more. He hesitated.
II another five minutes could have been
granted to Mrs. Maxwell, she would have
prevailed. But at that moment, voice
cried:
Here ne is. Hurry up, Hastings. We've
been hooking tor you everywhere. The
moment. Al! Mrs. Maxwell. Our holi-
day IS over you see. Goodbye"
That interruption decided Herbert He
shook his head in reply to Mrs. Maxwelps
Imploring look, wrup8 her hand, and -
dashed out Of the drawing room. The
next minute the crowded coach was rolling
heavily through the sand, with the surf
laundering on its right.
Ii was six miles or so, to the steamboat
landing. For the first two miles the pass
engeTs, ali of whom were gentlemen. chat
tered gayly; after that they gradually grew
silent, the monotonous drag Of the wheels
in the sand acting as kind Of soporifc.-
one or two, in fact fell asleep. And nos
Herbert began half TO repent Of what he
had done. Perhaps l have been too
hasty," he said to himself. what if Mrs.
Maxwell IS right"
He unused thus for quite half q mile
I've great mind to go back, he thought.
Hold on, driver" he cried, I've changed
my mind. Stop till jump out. III wall,
back"
before his sleepy companions could ask
what he meant, he had left the coach, had
lit cigar, and was Flooding through the
heavily sands on his return.
His mood soon changed again. "Vbat
precious fool am making of myself" be
reflected, and he turned 70 hail the coach.
but It was quarter of mile of.
He stopped still. III that fish hawk di-
YES before count fifty" he said, s.IIi 90
back to the Metropolitan Hotel; if not. TN
walk to the landing and take Il o afternoon
boat"
The tish-hawk dove almost mediatelv.
Fate has decided for me-" he SAID de-
Spera ely. ''Now let rs see how wiselv. "
Meantime where was the offending Kate.
To do her Justice. she VAS not aware how
much she loved Hastings until she refused
hlm 1t was not altogether coquetry that
led her to say. mo" The answer had
been given IN the first surprise and embar-
rassment of the proposal. Shewas fright
eued to find, almost jmmediately. how
much she misunderstood herself She grew
more sud more embarrassed in conse-
queuce; and her manner cfterward. at
which Hastings took such oftense. was as
Mrs. Maxwell had suggested. really the
result of nervousness. Ever before he left
her she bitterly repented what she had said.
Had he perseryed a little longer, she would
have confessed the truth. She did not,
however, think be would leave the Branch
even after he had said so. Hence, early
IN The morning, she had started for walk
on the beach, hoping 90 meet him there.
as usual; for hardly a day had passed with
IN tue last fortnight that these two had not
so met.
There was en- old wreck. Mt That time
about mile or more, above the Metropo-
Titan, which had been a favorite haunt Of
theirs, and thither she repaired. She tried
70 rcad till Herbert should appear. bat her
thoughts wandered from her book confirm
ally. Meantime. the hours passed without
Herbert appearing. Her heart began TO
fau her. She spent the time examining her
real feelings, and the more she scrutinized
them, the more she fels her love had gone
irom her forever. BY and by the hot tears
oeENn to come She knew how proud Has
hinge vasr and she sud TO herself that he
would > 'ver come back.
The se.' oiled heavily IL: the fish-Lav.ks
sailed ovela.@d; the breeze fresh from the
EASTWARD; the I'm sbOue dazztinclv BRIGHT
n was getting CaCard noon. She cave M
all hope Mt last, an,s rising. began to walk
hack toward the hots, But after n whilF
she sat down on boulder, under shelter
OF the bank, for she had been OH this tim.
upon the besch below IT, Sic would not
Yet abandon tins chance of sa,;ug MIN -
Gradually she fell into i sort o. raverie.
and began, half un2ouSeiouslv, IL srrce
3erberts name III the sand with the point
OF her parasol
Iy was ut this iuncture that Herbert
walking along the top os the bank above,
sGSverncd her He he'd already passed
her, and would not have seen hera, all bat
that his attention Was suddenly directed 10
$ fsil-hewk that, diving tor victim. hei