The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-12-13

Nh' hAa''f WhAh ffhhNf
Nothing"
She pushed hack his outstrctched
hands, and stood before him white as
the dead.
"Babcttel" he demonstrated in won.
der.
Don't speak to me, Walterl' shc
moaned, and her voice sounded like q
sigh out Of sepulchre.
"what do you mean'' he demand
ed surely you have not ceased to
love me? Good heavenl Ihave suf-
fered enough without such sorrow as
that would cause mel"
With one ag1hized effort the girl
choked hack every open emotion, and
when she spoke her words were icily
calm.
ut would have been better for me
IL | had never known YOU" she said.
"You we're a gay collegian and | an
inmate in a seminary opposite your
abode when you first saw me. To
you, our first acquaintance was an
amusing Irritation; to nae, il was a
sweet and sober reality Of love, sltho'
must have been mad when | went
with you to distant village, and in
that obscure little parsonage became
your wife. I must have been mad,
Walter Walroih. That night you
left me at the private gate Of the sem.
mary. The next day you we're gone.
On the next, graduated and came
home. | have never from that time
until now known whether you were
dead or alive. Why should still
love your"
because love is love, and because
I am yours and you are mine" was
the impressive answer. "Babette,
{ was called home by the sudden illness
> of my father, from which he as sud
: denly recovered. Then tried to tel
: him Of my new relation. At first h
u laughed; then finding me earnest he
u became angry, and vowed he would
J ldisown me If / did not at once become
l. the husband Of his ward, who, blythe
way, was as averse to such union Al
e | was, and who has since happily mar
ried. /, in my resentment, left hi
u roof forever to subsist as best could
,, on the small heritage left by me by
VI my mother. l tried to find you, Ba
e bette, but you know that our court
ship was so deliciously sweet, that il
u its briefness | had quite forgotten
: whether your native Greenrille was in
Thule or Cathay. | have been in q
u score of Greenvilles in as many States
and have just now found you. | have
never deceived you in but one thing
! my darling, and il you will consult
p the register of the clergyman wht
married us you will find that the nam,
A of your husband is Walter Wslroth
Kenwick, Babette; my wife you arr
r and as such | claim you. Surely oul
n love was not such light thing as IL
he outlived by you in so short time?'
/. Babette had not outlived it, moi
h would she ever, that she knew; ant
!. she said so in a passionate speech bro
v ken by a rain of tears.
= There was one moment lost in rap
v tnrous embrace, and then Babette fel
|, the scarlet bud stir on her bosom.
D Roy Kenwick was coming tonight
h and he had promised to give her wha
she asked il the toy should please him
r. She had often heard him speak of hi
e disObedient son whose strange and I'm
!. filial absence had whitened his hair
n before their time. and hardened hi
r heart into an unforgiveness that he at
o firmed should be lasting.
A great light deepened in her pans,
: blue eyes.
o 81 must 60 and prepare my friend
G for your coming, dear, she said; "com'
to the house about sunset
!. As she sped home through the wild
a roses, the broad, coarse figure of Mrs
, Faxon intercepted her way.
b "Who was it you went to meet
n Bab!" she demanded, shaking witt
/ rage. "Oh, that | have lived to SCI
D this day, you sly, ungrateful creature
!. You shall 60 back to the kitchen and
e the milking, miss, after this! To
f think after the schooling | gave you
you should turn out like this ! And
7 there is poor Mr.. Kenwick waiting fol
yon now, and you might Just as wei
have married him as not If you had
!. behaved yourself; but he will fnd oui
how you coquette with strange gentle
7 men. Oh, shame!"
! Babette looked at her mother grave
: ly, but never answered, nor even paus
e ed in her rapid pace.
She realized that If her romantic
, clandestine marriage brought her nc
) i'll, The fact would be as exceptional as
, presidential.
{ Breathless and fearful, she rushed
+. into the parlor, and placed her treas
, ure in the hands OF Roy Kenwick.