River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-06-01


advantage of this opportunity"
eve are sometime so mistaken" she
said hayriedly, but her words were
hardly audible, and he continued
"Alioe you have treated me very i'll.
On that day, now three years ago
when gave yOn my love, and I be.
lieyed in yours, was frank with You.
| told you how wild and irregular
my life had been. and how full of
faults | was. You reclaimed me-you
transformed my days-you made my
life all at once, pure and fair and
then, because some thorn in my love
hurt you, You threw il all away, and
left me TO perish miserable" She
wOuld have interrupted him, but he
siienced her by gesture and went on,
''ald now when we meet after three
years, You ask me if ! am happy If /
loved you once, shall love you for.
ever. DO look happy o.
81 think there were faults on both
sides, she said quietly.
ayes, perhaps there were" he re.
piled "but was reading your last
letter over only to-day. Oh ! how ter.
ribly bitter it was
"And have you forgotten your ans
weT to that letter ~ she said almost
passonately her voice quivering, and
her breast heaying.
u don't remember it word for " ord,
he replied quickly ~ know it was
written on Tia, impulse Of the mo
ment
"But have it by heart ! then, very
slowly, ''you said, if your love, in its
heart and strength was a little exact.
| ing, mine was cold and .ideless in
! fact, no love, only slow, iluggish at.
| lection You almost thought ! was
right, aud that we could not be happy.
am naturally proud, she went on
"but a woman with less pride than
have could not have acted differently,
Only one course Was lett nIe--to he
silent.
well it Is all over now, he re.
joined; We shall never. never meet
again.
"Ym won't take my friendship,
then r.
NO thank You; you are very gene.
rous, but | do not want this gift
He threw himself YEARLY into a
chair and for some time there was a
complete silence. Hope is so subtle,
SO entangible. that we are often only
aware Ut its existence when il has
ceased 10 be. Arthur Seton looked
upon himself as man quite without
hope. II seemed to him that his life
could hardly be more gray and desc
late than 1t was, yet who shall say
what feeling, of which he was not d-
rectly conscious, may have sustained
him through the last three years. Now
everything seemed gone-theTe was
nothing but death left
Presently carriage " heels came down
the road carriage lamps flashed thro
the dusk, and grew stationary opposite
the window. MI. Hunter hustled IN,
and announced, in tone Of triumph,
the carriage had come for the young
lady, and done the distance wonderful.
ly 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.
clnch fast his heart till she were gone,
and then die swiftly of the pain
arthur, am waiting. dear Wont
you come are y0u not going To Tor.
give me
Now he rose and CROPPED his way
toward her like blind man. She
stretched ont her hands and drew him
| to her. Then he bent down She
/ raised her face, and the lips and the
| hearts 40 long dismited, came together
/ IA long passionate kiss. lie knealt
down by her. her head sank upon his
4 shoulder. and for several minutes they
| remained thus, lost in loves profound
/ peace and mystery. And the ale-cOrks
continued 10 pop, and wagoners on
their way To London tramped in and
out of the bar. and warm good-nights
were exchanged between customer
and landlord, and as Arthur folded
Alices mantle around her, she said,
| half shyly. lyon are coming back
with me to see mamma, are yOu not o.
May o. he answered, 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 mOccupied, but the payment
was lavish, and the days labor was
not regretted.
Oh that ver-to-be-forgOtten ride
TO Chiselhurst through the wild, windy
evening Between 1t and the last
three years lay all the pains OF hell.
| And the rain ceased, and strange
voices were abroad in the wind, sing.
/ ing iubilantly over love re-risen and
redeemng. Aud the clouds drifted
away, and the pure, sweet windy
moonlight quiyered over wet fields
and trees, AMI seemed loves benedic-
/ ton.
leave you to imagine the arrival
home. Arthur hada,Ways been favor
tie with Mrs. Clarefeld. ana in the old
take his part, When Dinner had At
last been disposed OF Mrs. Clareheld
/ pleaded household duties and went to
her bedroom There She sat down
before the bright lire and wept pro-
fusely, dear soul. oven the happiness of
her children and down stains these
two were very quiet. 10 them love
1 was "A solemn thing, and they were
solemn lovers And the wonderful
priceless moments went silently ami
/ swiftly by.
/ Presently however, Alice said
looking up INTO Arthur face, and
| pressing his hand very tightly, You
won. { continue your walk to Hastings
! this week
And he answered with bright
smile, But have pledged ms word
OF honor 20 do So.
~ command Won % break u.