Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-11-06
A LIES ENIGMA.
A NORWEGIAN SKETCH.

"Why sit here ?"
| 'Because it's high and pleasant
/ ''But it goes so deep down, and makes me
quite giddy. and the sun shines so dazzling
on the water; let's go d little farther.''
! ssNo-not any farther''
| sfJust back then, as far as that green en-
| closure-it was so pleasant there"
mol say-not there, either,'' and be
flung himself down, as if either he could
not, or would not, go farther.
She remained standing, with her eyes
intently fixed upon him.
'sAasta," 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 at the dusk OF the evening %
'Didn't I think that was it r she wills
pered, and seemed to wish to avoid the
matter.
Eyes, you must tell me before you go,
Aelse / shall never conesagaiA.
"Botolf ~ she exclaimed and she turn
ed. but s i'll remained standing
cts true he continued, Il promised
you wouldn't ask any questions, and III
still keep my word if you like; but then
things must come to an end between us. ="
She hurst into tears, and came over to
| him, with the sun shining full upon her
I 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 l know,
too, that the longer this thing goes on the
worse it gets. Can't you understand that,
though may promise you ahundred times
not to wish to know about your bygone
life, [ never have any peace? | can bear
it no more"
His face, too, did indeed bear look of
long-continued suffering.
Eyes, Botolf, you did indeed promise
me to let that thing rest-thatwhich can
never, never tell you about. Y on promised
me solemnly; you said you didn't care
about it, if you could but have me. b.
tolf !" she exclaimed again, sinking to her
knees before him upon the heather; and
she wept as though her very life was in
peril, and so looked at him through her
fast-lalling tears that She seemed at once
the loveliest and most miserable creature
he had ever seen in all his days.
ooh 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 have but little
confidence in me ~ she implored coming
nearer him, still Oh her knees. and looking
yealningly into his face. "LoVe you J.
Why that very night, when your ship ran
into ours. when | came up on the deck,
and you stood there in command, Thought
I had never seen anybodyso brave and
manly: and loved you from that moment.
And then when you carried me over into
the boat when the ships were sinking, |
once more felt, what I thought l never
should feel again, wish to live"
She Wept in silence, with ller hands clasp
ed together, resting upon his knee. 'Bo-
tolf." then she exclaimed, ''b5 good and
noble; be as you We're when you FIRST took
me Botolf!'
s'Why do you urge me so ?'' he replied
almost harshly. 'You know very well ii
can't be. One must have Woman's
whole soul, though for a little while at
first, perhaps, one is content without.
She drew back, and said hopelessly:
s'Ah, well, then, my life can never come
right again. Oh God ~ and once more
size began to weep.
''Trust me with the whole Of your life
and not merely with a part of it, and i
will all come right SO far as l. am concern
ed
He spoke cheerfully as though to encour
age her.
She did not answer; but he saw that sh
was struggling with herself.
''Master YOURSELF he urged; run tn
risk Of doing as [ wish. Things can't ~
worse than they are now, at any rate
You'll drive me to the very worst, y sh
said piteously.
He misunderstood her, and continued
Given if you have to confess the great
est crime to mel IL try to bear up, but thi
1 can't BEAR"
ono; and neither can I!n she exclaim
ed; and she arose.
'sI'll help you," he said rising also; "da