The Van Buren press., 1873-07-29
" Pauline, are you i'll y

"Bu. why must you go 2" l interrupt
ed her hurriedly.
Why for a number of reasons. In
the first place, had intended remaining
only three weeks, and 10 have been
here nearly six Secondly, have busi-
mass matters on hand, which | must not
postpone Finally, my friends demand
my return, and should I not come, they
would say-that you were the magnet
that fetters me here. Is it not nice that
my friends miss me? Oh, the conscious
ness of being missed is truly delicious
sensation
Then-then you wish to return to
your old mode Of life, and in the course
of time, perhaps-te marry
Pauline's hand rested in mine, and the
touch of her warm, velvsty little fingers
quickly scattered my wisdom and self
possession. !, who had firmly resolved
never to enter the matrimonial noose-i
sqid to her, in a voice so soft and tender
that both of us trembled at its tone:
I'VE have been so happy together
here !"
"Very happy" she whispered, quiv-
ering
| held both of her hands tightly; she
avoided looking at me, but did not turn
away her darling little face, continued
Betwxt you and me there is con
siderable disparity in age, and | am by
nature much more seriously constituted
than you Excepting you, | have never
loved a woman, while you have Conquer
ed-heaven knows how many hearts.
You are not what the world says Of you;
you have heart that can love and be true,
Therefore / pray you, tell me frankly and
faithfully whether you can love me-or
do love me. am not accustomed to ad-
dressing such questions, and | do not
know, perhaps, how to express myself
comfortably to the requirements of an
occasion like this but believe me when
| say that you have won my heart, and
that | do not think | could be happy
without YOU.
Il believe you.
But will you trust me, too, and love
me p
81 love You and trust you, ~ she an
swcred frankly. Are you not surpris-
that | tell you this SO quietly? That is
because shall never marry yen. | am
caprcious and presuming, and would
soon make you weary Of life with my
constant demand for attention. | was
born to be treated like spoiled lap'deg
YOU are, although capable of loving, new
er,heless not an ahcctlonate man we
should not nave passed two months in
wedlock before you'd wish me in Cay
enne, or some other torrid locality. But
as that would not be practicable, there
fore you would break my neart-not
rudely and harshly, oh no !-undemon-
stratively and calmly. That is just as
clear to me as if had it Il before my
eyes at this moment"
Sire looked at me, and her whole soul
was in the glance; it spoke love, passion
and yearniDg tenderness. Oh, what
strange feelings, never hitherto expert
enced, this glance awakened within me /!
The next moment held her in my arms
and exclaimed:
pauline, if ever man loved woman
with all his heart and soul, unreasonably,
madly, and yet SO truly and honestly, 1t
is l."
"But will that last, George p
| bent down, and our kisses breathed
all the delirious iervor of first true
love.
"You must be my wife, Pauline" l
cried. Her head dropped upon my
shoulder, and her hand sought and clasp
ed mine
ais this your answcr7 May call
this hand mine.
"If you wish, George J.
Shortly afterward we were married,
Il only needed a master, George,
she used to say TO me. During my
| was constantly on the
lookout for him--could not find him
h owsver. and came to the conclusion IT,
nally that should never meet him. But
heard for the first time, and gaged into
your eyes, then knew that had found
this master at last Aud how gladly !
carry the chains Of my master!'
She loved me, Every chord of her
delicately strung heart vibrated at my
merest touch nevertheless ] was not
satisfied. | undertook to modify the
tones her doting homage itself was the
instrument. True--now sec all clearly
this instrument was sword with
which ! cruelty wounded hor. A very
sage idea entered my head, and whisper
ed TO me that | was making child Of
Pauline with my indulgence. and that
with so much sunlight her full womanly
power would never be developed. ! act
cd according to this idea, altogether
overlooking the fact that her mental and
moral force had already been entirely un-
folded and ma,ursd, and that, too, at
time when others just begin to be aware
that there are rocks and storms, shoals
and quicksands in the ocean OF life.
also forgo, that. in spite Of her youthful
sayetv rnd exuberance of spirits, the les
sons of long, bitter, gloomy past would
never be lost upon her; their impress
was merely hidden from my eyes beneath
a blithe exterior.
One day, ms she raised her eyes to
mine, happened "a be in very unrea'
sonablo frame Of mind; her rallying love
look almost irritated me, and l said
shortly
"You annoy me when you iook at mo
in that manner.
Glad to get an opportunity to chat
with me, she dropped her pen, came to
my side, and bent ever me.
"Why, my dear The glance was for