Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-03-30
q gleasant storp,
E D | I II w Ills O N
BY WILL WILLIS.

There were only two in the cozy little
parlor Of the tasteful cottage, half hid in
the shadow Of the trees upon the banks
of the murky Missouri The woman
was of slight proportions, but with a
certain energy and undcfinable strength
in every motion that took away the first
impression of childish youthfulness that
her petite figure might have given. She
was dark and proud looking, with strange
dark eyes, and a touch Of willfulness
about the beautiful lips that gave her a
charm, though it might have detracted
from the beauty Of many other faces
The man who had just come into the
room, and yet stood looking at her, was
different from her in every respect; tall,
fair and well proportioned, with broad
brow and eyes, that looked into hers
with all her own pride, perhaps, but with
IA passionate vehemcnce that was not so
easily governed
He had come with a purpose, and
that purpose stood revealed in his eyes,
as he deigned not to take the seat that
she offered him, but folded his arms
proudly and rested a gaze upon her fea-
lures that brought the bushes chasing
each other across her face.
Said he, Edith, / have come TO know
my fate; and | must know it before |
can sit in your presence. | do not ask
you if you love me, for J have seen it in
your eyes too often not to have guessed
Che story; but | ask you if you can
I marry me, poor man? / know you
are proud and ambitious, but can you
lay aside your pride and cast your lot
with mine? Edith, why do you not
answer me 2 DO you ask for more love
before you put your life in my keeping ?
Exacting little woman See my whole
soul is yours? |, who never knelt to a
woman before, can kneel with proud
sense Of love and worship; aye, worship,
for ] recognize in you the arbitress Of my
destiny"
1.-The man whom love must never
kneel to me. You were right when you
knew loved you ! cannot dissemble
when my whole heart is yours you
were right, again, when you said | was
proud and ambitious; but you are wrong il
you think, with all my pride and ambi-
ton, | could consent to be poor mans
wife. Not because | love you less, but
because will never be the weight that
drags man back from the doors of
prosperity
edith, my darling, your love and
sweet companionship will open the doors
Of prosperity for me. DO not put your
self from me in this way. Como to me
and let us be happy"
30, john you tempt me greatly
with happiness that know is an
illusion We could not be happy in
poverty. You with your exquisite taste.
and / with my ambition, would soon grow
to hate each other; for being held below
our level. wonld sacrifice anything but
your happiness and mine, to be forever
with you. To prove that | do love you,
| will wait for you until you are able to
come to me with competency 10 your
hands, be that time soon or late
"Tben, Edith, my darling, ] will go
from you tonight, and never return
until | can como with the fortune you
think will make us happy. | have too
much confidence in you to think that !
will not find you waiting when return.
If fate Favors me, shall not write to
you but if it does not, shall write,
because shall need your consolation. -
Fortunes are made too slowly here,
therefore I shall go where they come
moro quickly, if they come at all. |
shall 60 into the great mining region Of
California, and there shall win or lose
my happineess Dear Edith, como to
me, that may look into your sweet face
and carry your image forever after in
my heart
Edith Wilson stood for one moment
almost wavcriDg in her resolution, then
she reached out her hands TO him in Z