The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-11
HOW 1 TOLD MY STORY.

MVU UA 0LVh1S
Mr.. Grange rose from his seat, look.
ing inexpressihly panied, and walked
slowly up and down the room, while ]
sat back in my chair by the window,
with my heart beating violently, and a
sense Of suffocation upon me that was
absolutely painful. But was panied,
too, for him; grieved that he should
ever have asked me-more than grieved
to have caused him sorrow. For in bis
suffering he looked so calm and gentle
he, the tall, stalwart man, with his fast
CRAVING hair, and countenance marked
with the lines printed by maturing age
and thought. He had been so kind and
friendly, too, ever since he had been at
the parsonage, and in our daily work we
had been drawn so imperceptibly to-
gether, that had hoped ours was to be
firm and lasting friendship; and now
this meeting seemed to have brought it
TO ON Gbrupt conclusion. Suddenly he
stopped before me again, and stood look
ing down, while I crouched there almost
fascinated by his gaze.
Miss Denison-Laura,' he said. in
low, soft voice, "you must forgive
me, and If you cannot accede to nv pro-
posaI, let us be as we have been during
the past happy year."
L tried to speak, but he held up his
hand.
"Hear me out, dear friend" he said.
land let me speak again, for T still hope
that may have taken you by surprise.
have known you now for a year"
tried to speak once more-to beg
him that he would let me leave the
room-that he would bring our interview
TO an end; but my heart went on still
with Its heavy beat, and the suffocating
sensation was still at my throat, so that
4 bali Lay there with my eyes closed,
listening to his words, every one of
which seemed to wake an echo, and in
crease the heavy throbbing of nv heart.
had love dream once" he said
and his voice became very rich and soft.
- was tutor in noble house. There
was daughter there whom could have
loved had but dared. Honor, posi-
&1on, all forbade il. She was heiress To
33P, 200, and I was the young tutor to
whose care the educati u of her brother
had been trusted. She never knew nv
fancy, and l saw her married to noble
man, happily, hoped-whle II re.
turned TO my books"
lie paused again, and I sat up watch
ing his half-averted face, as in those few
words--so few but so pregnant of mean
lng-he laid bare to me his heart; and,
as he sighed, the heavy rhrobbing in
my EAars began to subside, and a
Stance feeling OF pity for him to grow.
u thought it but fair to tell you
tn he s2id, sadly, i" to show you that
1 have no youthful first love to Law be-
fore you; but ] felt that here, in this
village II your lot were Joined to mine.
the down hill of life would be made
happy for me, as God knows I would
ry 60 make it ever green and pleasant
for You. while those around us should
be taught to bless us for the help we
gave. eft is no romantic OFFER" he
said, more cheerfully. cit is very
31natter,Of-fac know, but it was pom
these grounds, dear friend, that asked
you TO be my wife"
He looked down at me once again.
and, as our eyes met, something within
me seemed to say, Sc Withdraw your re-
fusal and lay these trembling hands in
his, for he is 0 man that you could love-"
Bur only shook my head sadly. as
mUrmured
No, it could never bel"
g" You are agitated, he said, tenderly,
as he took my hand and reverently
kissed it. "l will leave you now. Mine
Is too solemn proposal for us both to
Zoe replied to without consideration.
Let oil be as it was for a month, and
stheu will renew my suit. If, after this
lapse of time, you still think as you do
anow, believe me, l will never pair the
woman / hope to retain as my best and
dearest friend by the faintest allusion
TO that which we will agree to bury in
Oh, past" Is
emo, / said, with frmness which
surprised myself. "Stay, Mr.. Grange,
land let me speak"
He bowed his head in his old pleasant
manner, and took his seat once more.
"L must undeceive you now-at
once" faltered. "It would be cruel
to you-to us both-to let this rest, only
ito be renewed at the months end"
He bowed his head still lower, and
my heart gave a throb of gratitude as I
saw the tender consideration with which
he averted his gaze from my agitated
face.
There was again terrible silence in
she room, broken only by the distant