Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-17
NO. 2e2.
A LIES ENIGMA.
A NORWEGIAN SKETCH.

why sit here ?"
Because it's high and pleasant"
"But 1t goes SO deep down, it makes
me quite giddy; and the sun shines so
dazzling on the water; let's 60 little
farther
"No-not any farther
"Just back. then, as lar as that green
enclosure-it was SO pleasant there"
"No-l say-not there, either;" and he
flung himself down, as if he either could
not, or would not, go farther.
She remained standing, with her eyes
intently fixed upon him.
'Aasta," then he said, "now YOU must
explain to me why it was you were so
much afraid of that foreign skipper who
came in just in the dusk of the evening"
"Didn' t think that was ii - she whis-
pered, and seemed to wish to avoid the
matter.
Yes. You must tell me before you go.
else shall never come again"
''Botolfr' she exclaimed; and she
turned, but still remained standing.
''It's true" he continued, II promised
you wouldn't ask any questions, and I'll
still keep my word if you like: but then
things must come TO an end between u.s.
She burst into tears, and came over To
him, with the sun shining full upon her
slender little figure, small hands, and soft
golden hair, wherefrom the kerchief had
fallen
He sprang up.
"Yes"' he exclaimed, ''you know very
well when you come looking like that at
me, always give in to you. But know,
too. that the longer this thing goes on,
the worse it gets. Can't you understand
that, though may promise you hundred
times not to wish to know about your by
gone life, never have any peace? can
bear it no more" His face, too, did in
deed bear look of long continued suffer-
ing.
Yes, Botolf, you did indeed promise
me to let that thing rest-that which can
never, never tell you about. You prom
ised me solemnly; you said you didn't
care about it, if you could but have me.
Botolf!' she exclaimed again, sinking TO
her knees before him upon the heather;
and she wept as though her very life were
in peril, and so looked at him through her
fast-falling tears that she seemed at once
the loveliest and most miserable creature
he had ever seen in all his days.
"Oh dear me!' he exclaimed, rising,
but then directly sitting down again. ''if
you did but love me well enough to have
confidence in me. how happy we two
might be ~
eff you, rather, could but have a little
confidence in mel" she implored, COM
ing nearer him, still upon her knees, and
looking yearningly into his face. Love
you! Why, that very night when your
ship had run into ours, when l came up
on the deck and you stood there in COM
mand, | thought l never had seen any
body so brave and manly; and | loved
you from that moment. And then when
you carried me over into the boat when
the ships were sinking, l once more felt,
what thought never should feel again,
wish to live" She wept in silence, with
her hands clasped together, resting upon
his knee. "Botolfn' then she exclaimed,
"be good and noble; be as you were when
you first took ne Botoif,'
'Why do you urge me so ?' he replied,
almost harshly. You know very well it
can't be. One must have a woman's
whole soul; though for Il little while at
first, perhaps, one IS content without
She drew back, and said hopelessly,-
''Ah, well, then, my life can never come
began to weep.
and not merely part of it, and it will all
come right so far rs am concerned"
He spoke cheeriuily. rs though to en-
courage her.
She did not answer: but he saw she was
struggling with herself
"Master yourself he urged run the
risk of doing as | wish. Things can't be
worse than they are now, at any rate"
n hp
she said piteously.
He misunderstood her. and continued
"Even ii you have to confess the great
est crime to me, I'll try to bear up: but
this | can't bear"
mo; and neither can I,' she ex-
claimed; and she rose.
"l'n help you" he said, rising also;
''day by day I'll help you, when | only
know what this thing is. But I'm quite
too proud to be with woman l don't full
ly know about; and who, perhaps, be-
longs to somebody else"
bright flush came over her face
"For shame If You talk of pride, I'm
good deal prouder than you are; and
won't have you say such things. So,
stopm
III you're so very proud, then, why do
you leave room for my suspicious %
God help me. can bear this no
longer!"
mo, nor either; I've made a VOW il
shall come to an end this day"
''How cruel it is" she walled out, .'to
go on worrying and tormenting woman
who has trusted herself so fully to you,
and has begged and prayed of YOU rs
have been doing She was near again
beginning to weep, but with sudden
change of feeling she exclaimed, 'Yes,
see how it is, you think by provoking and
exciting me, you'll get things out OF me !"
She looked at him Indignantly. and turned
aside.
Then she heard him say slowly, word
by word,-
"Will you, or will you not ?"
81 will not, replied she, stretching out
her hand enc, not if you gave me all we
can see from here!n She went from him.
her bosom heaved, and her eyes wandered
to and fro, but mostly looked towards
him, now sternly, next sorrowfully. then
sternly again. She leaned against n tree