The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-01-28


was SO quiet that the sound of a foot
step crossing the hall below fell upon
her ear, and aroused her to momen-
tary interest. She heard door open
the library door, and then voice
uttered few words of commonplace
greeting. She remembered itwell, and
sprang to her feet with a desperate, in
sane thought of flight. But the door
closed, the house was still again, and
she was calmer
She crossed thereon istlessly, and
drew back the curtain of the window
The scene without was beautiful The
moonlight lay broadly ON the garden,
turning to silver the tops of the trees
and making the little lake beyond look
like great white pearl Gazing earn
estly downward she saw tall, shadowy
| figure standing beneath the shade of
the old elm. With low cry she sprang
from the room, and, moment after,
stood beside her lover
Come, at last, my treasure" cried
Mark Winchester, folding her in his
arms. She remained leaning passively
against his breast, while he pressed
passionate kisses upon her forehead,
cheeks, and lips.
Why have you made me wait SC
long, darling z" he said softly, and, tax
ing both her slender hands in one OF
his, he pressed them to his lips. "Why,
how cold you are How you tremble u
he continued, as she chung to him.
"What is the matter, May 2"
" I waited because Threaded to meet
you, Mark"
"Why2 What do you mean 20
And, brokenly through her tears and
sobs, she told him all. He did not
and when she had finished there was a
long silence. She lacked courage to
say more.-he would not ask. She re-
peated the last words: And to NOR
row 1 must give him my answer" Still
he did not speak.
She looked up at him. In the dim
light she could see his rigid, agonized
face, white lips, and cleaning eyes,
She stole her arms about his neck, and
drew his forehead down to her lips.
"Speak to me, Mark; say that you
do not blame me-" .
He knew then that she had decided,
and what that decision was
And you will leave me, May, and
marry that old man 2"
Heaven pity me, Mark, for I must.
L will become his wife, and will be
true and faithful to him, for he will be
kind to me. You will hear of me thus,
and when you do, remember my words,
Mark, that you have my heart
I will remember, May. God help
us both, for shall never forget YOU
They shall bury me with this unon my
heart" And he drew tress of soft
brown hair from his bosom.
| For moment more-one little pre-
cious moment-he held her against his
heart, and then kissed her, put her gen
tly from him, and was gone
| For a moment she stood alone under
the trees, with clasped hands and face
appraised TO the quiet sky, and then she
turned and walked silently toward the
house. A light from the library win
dow streamed down on her, and as she
looked up, she saw the shadow of a
! bowed figure fall across the curtain.
g Father, you are saved !" she muir
INJURED.
A hand was laid suddenly on her arm
| anu oIC Dual UCu Will ~ low CRY.
Fl" Good evening, Miss May" said
Colonel Leighton. have been seek
ing YOU.
She bowed, and stood silently before
/ him with calm, downcast face
81" l have been talking with your faith
er," he continued, carelessly pulling a
rose from bush near them. !" He tells
me that you have promised to think OF
my proposal, and let us know what your
decision is tomorrow Is there any:
thing / can say which will influence
yon to form that conclusion in nv ia
vor 2"
g You cannot say anything which
will influence me in the least, Colonel
Leighton. AS my father has said, you
shall have my answer t. morrow"
He glanced at the poung face, so sad
to its calm dignity, and looked down
at his fingers again, which were bruisine
IN tearing to pieces the blossom he held,
and allowing the crimson petals to fall
at his feet, as if they were fragment Oh
the heart he was breaking. In the long
silence that followed she glanced up al
HIM once with the thought of hingina
herself upon his mercy by giving him
her confidence; but the stern express.
sion of his face repealed her.
-" Miss May Warren" he said sud
denly, "you are averse to this mar
riage
His tone aided in rendering his words
an assertion. She was startled, but re-
piled quietly. "Do you think so 2"
=" I must be blind if I could think
! otherwise - he continued with c,,JJor,
energy. May Warren, you know that
you hate me-that you would die rath-
er than to become my wife, were it not
for your fathers sake
Before she realized what she was do
ing, the monosyllable eyes" slipped
from her lips.
g And in doing this, do you realize
how you would wrong us both 2"
She was silent.
=" 1t shall never be. [ willnever ca II
you my wife, knowing that you do not
love me-that your heart is not in my
keeping. l will not tell you of nv
hopes, how l have dreamed that nv last
days would be my happiest ones-it
would not interest you. Now I have
only to say that you are free as if I had
never seen your sweet face"
He paused for reply, but she
made none. Bewildered by her position
she did not know what to say.
know that I have my self re-
proach," he went on. MY motive in
offering your father my assistance was
purely selfeh one The consequences
are only what I deserve. I had no
thought of the long wears durinp which