The Jasper weekly courier., 1875-08-13

was not blind 10 the fact that all these
things grow out of love as inevitably as
the gout grows out OF Green Scal.n But
they were insufficient TO frighten me.
Love Is magnanimous. Is IL not
shame, said 10 myself, To pluck this royal
rose and plant II In my small conserva-
tory? Now Il blooms wildly and gladdens
the world. Would [ have the Venus of
Milo shut up In miser's back roomg
But love Is also selfish. What was II
made for but TO gladden. some fellows
homer After all, IL was double duty 10
possess her. Nature was the best guide
In such cases.
thought I'd consult Culbertson again.
He was a level-headed fellow. file had
just come down again for day. lie was
a married man Though had never seen
his wife). He should advise me.
OF course. Clymene fought shy. She
would not have been woman had she done
otherwise. | had written to one Of the
weekly papers, and received full directions
how TO proceed. | was 10 press her hand,
said the "answers TO correspondents. )"
To appear distressed; women desired
pain. The more agony they inflicted the
more pity they bestowed. Ii | could
writhe ather feet il would enhance matters.
tear or two thrown in unpretentously
generally decided lovers fate. Although
not good at writhing, managed 10 squirm
with real suppressed emotion when said
"And now, my dear lady, the time has
come to speak seriously. Knit as our
hearts are by SO many ties of disposition
and circumstance. IL is not in reason that
we should be forever separated"
She laughed little. It tencouraged me,
for knew il 10 be the exultation OF fem
ininity.
II need not ask you TO be mine, for you
are mine already. A thousand golden fet-
tiers invisible TO the world have united
us"
All, how well remember her endeavor
TO look astonished and even horror-struck.
Ii was the instinct OF maidenhood strong
in death.
LET us waste no formal words"
said. "When hearts understand each
other language Ia ridiculous. Love speaks
volumes with glance, pressure Of the
hand. a sigh"
| was holding her hand. She did not
pull it away. | was looking into her lus-
trous eyes. They were downcast with
the heavy, voluptuous triumph OF the mo-
ment. Suddenly she gave my fingers
squeeze and said:
Somebody's com:ng!"
lt was Culbertson.
let him gaze for moment in envious
admiration. Clymene's back was toward
him. He walked around 10 get look at
my prize. Then he strobe away.
"A friend of mine," | said. assuringly.
Zone In whom coniide. He knows our
secret"
She trembled.
| kissed the tips of her warm, white fin
gers. adjusted her shawl, and saw her
move like an empress into the hotel. Then |
flew on the wings of jov 10 Culbertson.
Congratulate me, old boy!' cried
He sat down in the pagoda stolidly. and
liz his cigar. Here. calm your nerves
with this" he said, offering me Reina.
"Now, my dear fellow" went on i'm
petuously, :. i want some advice. You're |
clear-headed. I'm delirious. You're high |
and dry on the peaceful shore. I'm strug-
Cling in the tropical breakers. Perhaps |
you can pull ne through. You have seen
her. Now. then, what would you do In |
my case. I've got reasonable income,
am well connected, amiable disposition, |
industrious, affectionate. Do you think |
that il would crush Clymene If married
her! Would matrimony rob that lustrous |
form OF the bloom and beauty and free
dom that we all prize, that make such a
boon TO the world9'
Culbertson took two or three pulls at |
his cigar. The hollow azure gulfs Of stars
were above us. The sea poured its kisses |
audibly upon the willing sands. The |
moon fell upon my friends face with |
phosphoresccnt beauty. | seemed 10 be
questioning a disembodied married man. |
Then he replied coldly, imperturbably, |
solemnly in these exact words.
My friend, if you wish me to Inform |
you II your marriage with that woman
will disturb her happiness | can do so. | |
married her six years ago, and IL didn't
make the slightest appreciable difference
in her habits. | don't think it would If
you were TO follow suit"
Then the circulating system of the uni |
verse stopped. The waves Missed and |
curled like snakes. The azure gulfs grew
suddenly deep and black, and the stars
winked maliciously and vulgarly at Cul- !
bertson as IL they were feminine and hap |
py at the joke.
He put his hand behind me. "Straight- |
en- up old fellow" he said; there's no
damage DONE" He laid me gently on the |
rustic seat.
"Go away and let me die in peace" |
murmured hoarsely.
IF lido, hope may be-remarried,"
said he.
Ne famed me with his hat, and, push
ing cigar between my teeth, saw with |
satisfaction the blood come again into my !
cheeks.
"where am | ?' whispered.
"Safely landed" said he. {" You were |
right when you said | could pull you |
through"
Look" I cried, pointing out to sea.