The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-05-11

He was calm no longer; but he turn
ed abruptly away to hide his emotion.
"Mr. Lacy" / cried, striving to stifle
the conflict of my love, 81 would fain do
right. / have deep esteem for YOU
l." l broke off. "Give me little
time," / added, passionately renewing
the effort; 81 shall conquer this love Of
mine; will become worthy of you after
ALL"
Conquer the purest feelings of a
woman's hearth Offer yourself a sacri-
flee to my selfishness No, no, Mildred.
yours in the season of blessedness; mine
is already passed. Presently will come
back to you in my old character, and be
able to say with less difficulty than | do
now, God bless you BOTH | will kiss
you for the last time"
He clasped me in his arms and kissed
me, seemingly with more earnestness
than passion, but it was the very depth
of passion. As the door closed upon him
strange impulse seized me. | longed
to call him back. Was it true did not
love him?
saw none of my family that even
ing. for / went at once to my room.
What.a night of misery and conflict |
passed!
The next morning Frank came to my
private sitting-room and knocked for
admittance He held letter in his
hand; his fine eyes were suffused with
happiness.
"Sympathize with me, Mildred" he
said, " feel too much to bear it alone.
have never talked to you about her, for
| could not trust myself with the sub
ject while a doubt remained. Now /
will tell you about my darling; she is as
worthy of true mans heart as-as Mr..
Lacy is of yours. By-the-way, Mildred,
| was very anxious about you that night
he came home, for your manner was not
not what, were | in his place, would
have satisfied me; but that Is the form
woman's caprice takes with you, have
concluded. AS for not loving him at
bottom, | don't dare so to 'impugn my
noble Cousins heart and understanding"
ran once more to the solitude of my
chamber. | felt bandoned-prostrate
| flung myself on the ped in a transport
of despair. Why, had lost all Had |
been SO criminal that my punishment
was so heavy? "Ah, Frank" / cried,
how | have loved you-what life
might have been!" Then reflected, if
Mr. Lacy loved me as loved my cousin,
what fine spirit and nature he had
shown; what a rare gift such heart
was! Miserable as / was, it was deeper
misery to think was the cause of his.
Twas very i'll after thase events, and
fears for my health quite absorbed any
anger my father might have felt at the
disappointment of cherished desire, or
perhaps Mr.. Lacy, by his presentations,
had shielded me against it. When | re-
covered, people said | was very much
altered; and so / was. The flush of
youth was passed; | was not 20, but
nothing of the childishness of few
months back was left. Frank was mar
ried and Mr.. Lacy We never saw-at
least never saw him. Disappointment
had made life an earnest thing to me;
and taught ~ its discipline the character
of my former love rose in dignity in my
eyes.
How was it that what | had thought
would be lifelong regret-my love for
my cousin-seemed transient emotion,
of which the traces grew daily feebler?
Had / sacrificed my happiness to pass
cannot long cling to the impossible!
Little signifed the contrariety of my
heart; for the fact nmained-if / had
never loved Mr.. Lacy before, loved him
now, thought perpaually of the Incl
dents of our brief 9gagement-everyl
word of endearment, every embrace had
its hold on my memory. | recalled his
opinions, framing my own stringently by
them, and followed his public career SO
far as | was able, aided by my deep
knowledge of the high principles and
motives that actuated it.
My chance came at last. At large
dinner party | unexpectedly met Mr..
Lacy. lie came to me at once, spoke
kindly and gently, as in long past time
but there was nothing to lead to the
idea that he still loved memo hesitation
in the well-known voice, no latent ten
derness in the searching eyes. [ could
not bear it, and wish he would leave me
to myself and not torture me with that
cruel friendship. At my first opportu-
nifty turned from him and engaged my
self in conversation with a gentleman
who was well known to be one of my
suitors. 1t appeared like coquetry, but
1t was the eagerness of self-instinct.
That evening seemed very long and in
supportably painful. [ had not known
how tenaciously / had chung to hope
until it failed me. When Mr.. Lacy
came forward to help me to my carriage
| felt | could hardly receive the ordinary
civility from him without betraying my
SELF
| was surprised when he begged me to
turn into an empty room we passed on
our way to the hall. Mildred" he said,
" was going to ask you, when we first
met tonight, whether | might resume
my old relations in your family. Nearly
two years have passed since we last met,
and | thought | could bring you back
the calm heart of friend. But you
have so studiously stunned me, that to
ask permission now seems superfuous.
What am | to think? Have you not
forgiven me yet for the misery | cost
your,
l was silent If I could. have fallen
at his feet and sobbed out the truth, |
might have been blessed for life, but that
would have been too great sacrifice for
even love to exact from woman's pride
I" If the deepest sympathy in your
disappointment could entitle me to the
character of friend Mr.. Lacy paused
=" you would give me your hand willing
ly. Pardon me, Mildred, for what may
seem an unmanly allusion, but it is the
best to make tiff there is any chance of
future friendship between us. 1t was
hard work to give you up; harder still to
think the sacrifice had been in vain.
Had you been happily married, l could
have returned to you sooner; but suffer