The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-11-14
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER IL.
The absence of the family facilitated
matters, and after partaking of "A light
dinner, | rushed to my room in
breathless haste; removed the flow.
ers RON water, and armed with
TINS tribute OF affection, sought her
presence. She was in the sjtting.room
engaged in reading, and as | entered,
raised her sweet face and regarded me
lnquiringly, imagining, possibly, the
flowers had been entrusted to my care.
10y some friend or admirer. Not daring
to hesitate, | presented the Gift, saving.
81 gathered these for you, Miss
Edith. and hope you are pleased with
them.u
Indeed you are very kind,n and
closing he book, while her taper fin
gers adjusted the Towers, "and very
skllml IN arranging theta" My heart
seemed TO stand still, and my tongue
refused to perform its office could
not have articulated had my life De.
pended on it. In my desperation /
seized my handkerchief aud wiped the
Leads OF perspiration, or rather of ag.
ony, that 0o2ed out all over my face.
WAS so still and white, she regarded me
anxlously, saying:
care you ill?'
ono, Miss Edith, but-but, | love
you, and am almost dead!n
Noting the vivid flush that dyed her
face, aud its pgllor, as she laid aside
the flowers, feared, ! hardly knew
what, and exclaimed IN dispair:
Don't, oh don't, be angry with me.
have endured everything trying to keep
this from you, but could not! know
all about it; that ] deserve to be driven
out Of your sight, but cannot leave
you, until | tell you how dear you are
to me! | have never loved before,
Miss Edith, and never shall again If
you dispise me for daring to talk to
You in this manner, | will love you
still, and feel that it did me go d and
made me better every way to be near
you. You will marry some fine gen.
tleman who has wealth and fine
home to offer you, bnt shall always
carry your sweet face in my heart.
Tell me that You are not angry with
me, and | will try and face the world
once more would not have told you
all this, but 1t was killing me! Oh
you are not mad, Miss Edith, because
you are all love on earthl are you?
If you would not think me hold, ]
would like to shake hands with you
before l go,n
| extended my hand, but her own
rested listlessly in her lap, and weighed |
to the earth, / turned, saying: "For-
give me l could not help it p
Ihad reached the centre of the room,
when my name, spoken in tremulous
-ones, reached me, and l returned to
see face white with suffering aud
agitation. Requesting me to be seated,
she said: NaEHf fgA ittH
~ am more than surprised at what
you have said, and If you lave really
formed an attachment for me, leave
ne. Ii IL best for b0thh
An expression of intense pain pass
ny over her face, / involuntarily
'aught her hand and pressing
+ to my lips cried OUT
edo you i oh do you love me!"
The little hand was not withdrawn,
md look so full of tenderness, and
filled her eyes lost all
ontrol over myself, exclaiming while
buried my face in my hands: "0h
ny God " while copious shower of
ears, tears of purest joy, descended in
0 the lap of the one loved; aud in
he rehearsal of my newborn happi-
ess, | leveled all distinctions of birth
nd position, by taking her to my
cart and holding her there; 1t SEEM
~ impossible to love her enough.
I" l am not worthy Of your love, but
will make myself so. All ! ask Is
me-" and her sweet face dimpled
it'll smiles and bushes as she willis.
cred -
ar am not so august that you should
eel SO humble. This dear, good, kind,
cart drew me to you long siuce."
She was ever modest of her acquire
leuts, did not possess particle of
,olish pride, or seem TO realize that
10 was remarkable woman IN every !
,spect; particularly, her appreciation
t merit; 1t mattered not how humble
ne giuse that ere shrouded it, or how
ugh il setting the gem had received, ;
er magic touch brought forth brill
ancy aud beauty. But l knew It, and
ldured with new lie determined TO .
AXE every effort to appreciate the
rize | had won. But had | won II ?
The announcement that was sud
enly transformed from my low estate
the lofty position Of IN accepted
yer, was received by the family with
Itensified opposition. "The idea was
imply absurd and disgraceful, and not
be- entertained for u moment, aud
NJ for the interposllioh Of Edith, her !
Hing health, and the fear that the re-
nc might prove fatal to her, would
ave been ordered peremptorily from
Ie premises.
OH those days Of sorrow, OF forebod.,
10, of wild, tumultuous thoughts! l
ms to leave rs soon rs my time ex-
red. the short period of two weeks,
nd | never knew time to be 30 rapid
|, its flaht. TO be In the presence OF !
dith seemed necessary to my exist.
zoe. to encourage her, assure her that
i would be well, was task far more
f,ic,,lt than | cared to own To myself.
he was so unlike her sweet self, SO
of trouble, that 4 ioumd !
impossible TO quiet her fears. 10
"a her grow thin and pale under my y
,es, this woman who held my life IN
or hands, who regulated my MOODS,
nd was my stronghold and prop l.
HON | loved with an affection Dor.
arina ON idolltry, was the bitterest :
ron In our cup OF woe, the keenest
me in the aflliction that overwhelm'
is. To quiet, II possible, the oppo-
ma af ayarV atpn. we