The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-05-18
il was wrItten on the impulse Of the

it was written on the impulse OF tn'
moment"
"But I have it by heart :" then
very slowly, "you said, If your love
IN its heart and strength was a littl'
exaeting, mine was cold and tideless
in fact, no love, only slow, sluggish
affection. You almost thought wa
right, and that we could not be hap
py. am naturally proud" she wen
on "but woman with less pride
than I have could not have acted diff
fereDtly. Only one course was lef
me-to be silent"
"Well, it is all over now" he re
Joined 1--WE shall never, never NEE
again"
"You won't take my friendship
then ?'
mo, thank you: you are very
generous, but l do not want this gift
He threw himself YEARLY into 6
chair, and for some time there was s
complete silence. Hope is so subtle
so intangible, that we are often onlJ
aware of its existence when it hai
ceased to be. Arthur Seton looked
upon himself as a man quite without
hope. 1t seemed to him that his life
could hardly be more gray and desc
late than it was, yet who shall say
what feeling, of which he was not di.
rectly conscious, may have sustained
him through the last three year,
Now everything seemed gone-thert
was nothing but death left.
Presently carriage-wheels came
down the road carriage-lamps flash
ed through the dusk, and grew 81 8
| tiOnary opposite the window. Mr.
Hunter bustled 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. "Arthur ~
but he did not move. 1t seemed to
him that he would keep back all his
love, clineh fast his heart till she were
gone, and then die swiftly OF the pain.
ARTHUR, 1 am waiting, dear.
Won't you come? Are you going to
forgive me ?''
Now he rose and groped his way to-
ward her like q blind man. She
stretched out her hands and drew
him to her. Then he bent down.
She raised her face, and the hearts
and the lips, so long disunited, came
together in a prolonged passionate
kiss. He knelt down by her, her head
sank upon his shoulders, and for sew
eral minutes they thus, lost in
loves profound peace and mys-
terry. And the ale. .eorks continued to
pop and wagoners on their way to
London tramped in and out of the bar
and warm goOd-nights were ex-
changed between customer and land
lord and as Arthur folded Alice's
mantle round her, she said, halfshyly,
You are coming back with me to see
mamma, are you not ?'
May ?" he answered, great joy
evident in face and voice.
So the bedroom which Mrs. Hun
ter had been preparing all the after
little proud, remained unOccupied :
but the payment was lavish, ana the
days labor was not regretted.
Oh that o-be-forgOtten ride
to Chiselhust through the wild, windy
evening. Between it and the last
three years lay all the pains of hell.
And the rain ceased, and strange
voices were abroad in the wind,
jubilRntly over love re-risen
and redeeming. And the clouds drift
ed away, and the pure, sweet, windy
quivered over wet fields
and tree g, and seemed loves benedic-
ton.
/ leave you to imagine the arrival
home. Arthur had always been a
favorite with Mrs. Clarefield, ana in
the old days of quarrels she used al
ways to take his part. When dinner
had at last been disposed of, Mrs.
Clarefield pleaded household duties
and went to her bedroom. There she |
sat down before the bright fire and
wept profusely, dear soul, over the
of her children. And |
down stairs these two were very
quiet. To them love was a solemn |
thing, and they were solemn lovers. |
And the wonderful, priceless mo-
ments went silently and swiftly by.
Presently, however, Alice said,
up IN Arthur,s face, and |
his hand Very uisIIsiys Il 4 |
WON'T continue your walk to Hast
ings this week ?'
And he answered, with bright
smile, "But have pledged my word |
Of honor to do So"
"And 1 command you to break it,"
Yes, and he did breaK it /; bat none
Of his friends brought it as an accusa-
ton against him that for once in his
life he had broken his Word of Honor!
-NelU Quarterly Magazine.