The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-11-28

went down TO the shore alone, sitting
listless and idle, though wearily. At
last. voices disturbed me, voices that !
knew only too well-his and hers-and
staid TO listen. They grew quicter as
they approached and finally seated
themselves OH the other side of the
bOat-house from where / sat and kept
silence. A few moments, and her voice
broke the pause.
knew by the sudden start and quick
breathing that he had turned towards
her, but he said no word. stifled my
own loud gusps and leaned forward 10
hear more.
"Elwyn?" And now the tone was
changed. 1t was as ii the words were
forced, wrung from her. "Have pity
| love you.
"Gracious heaven!' knew he had
started to his feet. You tell me this?
You !"
81 !" she answered, tremulOusly;
"and more-yOu lore me-"
heard him groan, and knew by in
stinct thathis hands were stretched to-
wards her as though to defend her from
her own words.
"You love me-" she continued, more
calmly, "and love you. have wait
ed for you to speak, but you would not;
so | have done it, You may imagine, If
you will, what it costs woman to
make such a confession unsolicited. Do
you blame me, Elwyn?"
Blame?" he said, "my beautiful! !
my dearest And yet-Oh, the traitor
the miserable traitor you have made of
me, Eleanor"
cit is because love you. Forgive
me, if too we'll, Elwyn."
"She loves me, too," he said.
"That child?" she answered, with
touch of sarcasm. Her heart is too
young and untried for any deep impress
sion. Oh, Elwyn, what is her love
to mine? She is pretty toy-a play
thing. Will you weigh her in the bal
ance against me?"
Eleanor" he pleaded, "have mer-
cy! Take my life, as you have my love
but leave me, at least, little self-res-
pect. We are strong in our love, and
can near more than she can. Dc not be
cruel in your power"
"What do you want to do?" she
asked.
"To be true to her" he said bitterly,
yet, oh, how grimly! 81 wish her new
er to know thaC it is to traitor her
pure faith has been given. For | will
marry her and cherish her as through
you and ! had never met. So help me
heaven :"
"And what is to become of me?"
"Have mercy! Why did you ever
come between us?"
"You say you love me. | ask, what
is to become of me? You say you love
me, Elwyn?"
"Ah, better than my own truth and
hOnOru'
On, how changed and broken his
voice sounded.
/ waited to hear no more. My resolve
was taken. His pride was humbled to
the dust--trampled beneath the feet of
his great passion. He should never
knowingly make me witness Of his hui
initiation. This much | could and
would do for him.
That evening | asked him to walk
down the avenne with me, for the last
time, and then | said, ElwyD, this must
end between us. | will not marry
YOU"
1t was strange start he gave - a
strange look, almost of joy, that flashed
over his face, only to be gone again.
And then | gained strength to tell the
falsehood, that was to set him free.
81 do not love you, Elwyn."
1t is needless to repeat his hurried
words of question and confused remon-
STRANGE. But | saw that he believed
my love was gone from him, and there
in could be thankful.
A short month, and they were mar
ried. never saw them again.
But long after they told me he was
dead, and that she was abut to wed an
other husband, and they gave me the
little packet of hair that he has address
sed with his own hand to his First and
latest love-"
His first and latest, for ever.