The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-06-08

a low voice, as if speading to herself
Then with sndlen energy, '1 can not
tell when we shall meet again. Before
we part, answer me ono question. You
are looking worn and weary-are you
happy ?'
Now he stood before her, and through
the dusk and the freight his eyes fash
ed on her, rs he said, in low, harsh
voice-''From your lips this question is
an insult -
| ''Of which you need not fear the repe-
tition," she rejoined promptly, with cut
ting formality. g-
''No, it can't end like this" ae went
on. 'tDo you know, ever since you
have been here, I have bitten my lips
through and through to keep from speak
ing of the past. This meeting was not
of your seeking, and it seems to me un-
manly and dastardly to take advantage
of this opportunity"
| "We are sometimes so mistaken" she
said hurriedly, but her words we're hard
| ly audible and he continued 4
'Alice you have treated &c very ill.
On that day, now three years ago, when
I gave you my love, and believed in
yours, I was frank with you. I told you
! how wild end irregular my life had been,
and how full of faults it was You re-
claimed me-you transformed my days
You made my life, ali at once, pure
and fair; and then because some thorn
in my love hurt you, you threw it all
away. and left me to perish miserably." !"
She would have interrupted him, but he
| silenced her by gesture and went on :
| 'tand now when we meet, after three
years, you ask me if I am happy! If I
loved you once, I shall love you forever.
Do I look happya"
"I think there were faults on both
Sides" she said quietly.
eyes, perhaps there were, he replied;
''but was reading your last letter over
only to-day. Oh how terribly bitter it
wasr'
"And have you forgotten your answer
| to that letter 2" she said, almost passion
ately, her voice quivering, and her breast
heaving. 8
ST don't remember it word for word, !"
he returned quickly sI know it was
written on the impulse of the moment. ;"
'tBut I have it by heart ;" then, very
slowly, 'syou said, if your love, in its
heart and strength, was little exacting,
mine was cold and tidcless in fact, no
love, only a slow. sluggish affection.
You almost thought I was right, and
that we could not be happy. I am nat
urally proud" she went on 'but wo-
man with less pride than have could
not have acted differently. Only one
course was left me-to be silent"
"Well, it is all over now, he rejoin ed;
''we shall never meet again."
'tYou won't take my friendship, them"
''No, thank you !; you are very gener-
GUS, but I do rot want this gift
He threw himself wearily into chair,
and for some time there was a complete
silence. Hope is so subtle, SO intangi-
BILE, that we are often only aware of its
existence when it has ceased to be. Ar
thur Seton looked upon himself as a
man quite without hope. It seemed to
him that his life could hardly be more
gray and desolate than it was, yet who
shall say what feeling, of which he was
not directly conscious, may have sustain
ed him through the last three years. :
Now everything seemed gone-there
was nothing but death left.
Presently carriage wheels came down
the road carriage lamps flashed through
the dusk, and grew stationary opposite
the window. Mr.. Hunter hustled in
and announced, in tone of triumph,
that the carriage had come for the young
lady, and done the distance wonderfully
quick. Then the door shut, and they
were alone together again.
Very softly and distinctly Seton heard
her say his name, 'tArthur - brS he did
not move. It seemed to bin that he
would keep back all his love, clinch fast
his heart till she were gone, and then
die swiftly of the pain.
t'Arthur, I am waiting, dear. Won't
you come Are not you going to for
give me 2"
Now he rose and groped his way to-
ward her like blind man. She stretch
,1 Il h, 10 hc7.
Then he bent down. She raised her
face, and the hearts and the lips, 50 long
disunited, came together in prolonged
passionate kiss. He knelt down by her,
her head sank upon his shoulder, and
for feveral minutes they remained thus,
lost in loves profound peace and mys-
terry. They were soon disturbed by the
landlords summons, and as Arthur fold
ed Alice's mantle round her, she said,
half shyly, "You ere coming back with
me to see mamma, are you not %
'sMay I?' he answered, with great
Joy evident In face and voice.
SO the bedroom which Mrs. Hunter
had been preparing all the afternoon.
and of which she was not little proud,
remained unoccupied but the payment
was lavished, and the days labor was
not regretted.
Oh that never-to- be- forgotten ride to
through the wild, windy evening.
Between it and the last three years lay
all the pains of hell. And the rain ceas
ed, and strange voices were abroad In
&l,o ,,1I,lopf1v ovoy lox-a