The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-08-05


Before could speak or cry out, he
had taken me in his arms, and was rain
ing kisses upon my lips. was young,
romantic, and impulsive. This man had
| aroused a strange feeling in my breast,
that now, as lay in his arms, I believed
must be love. I could see the reckless
beauty of his face as it bent above me-
| and almost unconsciously clasped my
arms about his neck, sobbing wildly,
and whispering, ooh, if I had only
known you sooner-if it were not too
| late 70
a" tits not too late" he cried, pas
siOnately, straining me to his heart.
You are mine, now and for all time.
| You must be my wife 20
"But I cannot" I sobbed, "I am
bound to another - the wedding day
dlaws near"
" I care nothing for that. You must
wed me. and no other. I cannot give
you up"
His imperious manner, his impas-
stoned earnestness, aroused my girlish
admiration. He seemed like some
knight of olden romance to me, beside
whom Rollin Weatherbee, with his pa
| trician beauty, was completely over
| Swallowed. We walked long in the
| cleaning, he pleading, I hesitating,
/ almost yielding, but leaving him at
length with no definite decision. For
| three weeks met Rogers clandestinely
each day, and listened to his words of
! passionate devotion, and let him i'm
| print warm kisses upon my lips. Day
| after day he urged me to fly with him {:
but, though I believed I loved him,
| better than L had ever loved Rollin
| Weatherbee, 1 hesitated to make him
| any promise, and a strange fear of him
| held me back from fight. Yet each
| day my resolution grew weaker, each
day the mans hold upon me, and power
| over me, became stronger. At last
came an afternoon late in September.
q was to meet Breeze that evening, and
| stood looking out at the gorgeous sun-
set, with a heart full of offending
emotions, when mamma came into the
room. Rose" she said, "you remem-
Der Breeze Rogers, who came here so
often some time ago?"
Remember him but l only said,
" Yes, mother" in a very low voice.
Well, HARDWOOD tells me a painful
thing in connection with him. She
/ says her husband tells her it is the
neighborhood talk now. 1t seems there
Is a very lovely young girl, a gardeners
daughter, Cora Smith by name, whom
| Breeze has been very attentive TO for
| some months. The girls father SAYS
! she is betrothed to him. at all events
he has been most ardent lover, for a
| year or more, and now, without a word,
or any apparent cause, he has deserted
her. Has not been near her for two
months, and the girl is very ill-caIling
for him constantly, but he does not 90
near her. 1t is thought she will die
She is a poor, frail, childish thing, and
never knew what it was to suffer before.
1t is very sad. What heartless villain
ne must be-"
My heart seemed to die within me.
| A rush of emotions, shame, anger, grief,
misplaced love, and wounded pride
fought together in my breast. Oh how
mean the man was whom 1 had placed
above ROllin Weatherbee in nay hearts
affection. How I despised him from
that moment. Then 1 began to think it
might not be sO-there might be some
mistake. 90 will go to him tonight "
L thought, land 1 shall know"
J l did go, when the shadows of the
cleaning settled down over the earth.
] found him waiting for me. He held
out his arms, but stood aloof.
$50 to Cora Smith," I said. "She
is entitled to your caresses-she wants
! them-I do not"
Leeded no further proof of his guilt.
His face turned crimson from brow to
chin-and then pale as death. "What
do you know of her ?" he cried, hoarse-
ly. Who has been telling You lies?"
" No one" 1 answered. Z" Your face
is proof of the truth of all have
| heard. l will make this our last meet
ing: My eyes are opened in time, thank
! God. do not want to set them upon
you again. Do not try to see me, for it
will be useless. 1 utterly despise you.
Go back to the only person who believes
you worthy of love-whO is dying for
You"
I turned and sped back to the hou-e,
and for two weeks scarcely stepped
outside its walls. was i'll in mind and
body. My romantic folly, that 1 had
called love, died suddenly, at one blow.
and knew that there was only one
man that / loved, or ever had loved, and
that one man was ROllin Weatherbee.
But my heart was filed with regrets for
my past folly, and fears for what might
follow. But two weeks passed by, and
l heard no word and saw nothing OF
Breeze Rogers, until that chill October
night, when my story opens.
turned my face away, lest the light
OF those dark eyes should bring back
the old delirium. For at that one
glance l felt the blood leap through my
veins, and n strange glow shoot through
my heart. / thoroughly despised this
man, yet he had power over me still.
A woman who has ever been held in 9
mans arms, and felt his kisses upon
her lips, can never so learn to despise
or forget him that the sight of his face
willnot sometimes move her. At length ]
arose and moved away from the window,
second later something struck the
glass with sharp click.
What was that ? asked mamma.
1.-The wind hurled something against
the window-pane, 1 answered. A mo.
ment later and it was repeated. "Why,
1t sounds like something thrown against
the glass, mamma said "Tell Har.
wood to see what it is, Rose"
l got mp and went out of the room.
knew 1t was useless to resist Breeze
Rogers summons longer. I must &c
and see what he wanted. I threw q
dark cloak over my shoulders, and went
out. He heard the door open, and
ghded into the shadow again.
What do you want ?" asked, Jelly.
" Why are You here? I told You never
to approach me again.
Yes, but you were angry then. You
have had time to think more kindly of
me since, and | came to tell Won that
Cora is dead. She died last night, and
with her dying lips she forgave me
whatever wrong 1 have done her. l
was with her and caught her last breath.
II she could forgive me, surely you
ought I know that did her a great
wrong, but l repent of it, and she has
forgiven me, will you do the same, and
| come 10 me?'
He took step toward me, but 1 re-
treated. 81 nave nothing to forgive. "
l answered, coldly. eff she whom
You so wronged has forgiven yOu, we'll
and good. 1 owe you TO i'll will, but l
do not love or respect you now, and
never can"
Rose :" he cried, "you are cruel I
On, come TO me, and fly before it is too
late"
" Hush !" said, sternly. "All that
wild folly is past, and forever. I shall
be the wife of RolIin Weatherbee next