River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-12-25


your flowers nevertheless"
'Not you" ne replied eagerly, almost
tenderly, and in voice that frightened
/ her.
She replied almost coldiy-although
her hears was strangely beating and
warm, unusual color was in her face:
MY friends will tell you doctor, that /
am ugly and commonplace. Believe
them, beg of yoa, and do not let your
/ Imagination invest me with charms"
He seemed all at once to be carried
away with his passion. He leaned over
! her and replied warmly: Il say you are
beautiful Constance Owen | feel your
( beauty IN my very soul" But he said
I no more:
The face of Constance was study;
| the flush that had before crimsoned her
cheeks had died cut, and she became
ghostly pale. Her fingers, which clasp
ped the flowers, slowly opened and they
| dropped to the ground at her feet. All at
once the vision Of the dead woman
seemed 10 present itself to her mind
| and the trust she was violating struck
cold to her heart. Was this the "For-
ever" she had spoken? She staggered
and would have fallen; the arms of DIR.
I Paulding were about her; but she waved
| him away in a moment with such a pit
eous, dispairing gesture that he obeyed
her without a word. she only had
strength to falter:
''Go-and remember Edith"-and
she staggered back toward the house,
leaving him standing there, bent and
trembling.
She did not knew how she reached
her own room; TIE strong woman had
learned at the same moment that she
loved and must sacrifice and renounce.
She stood for hours white and motion
less, looking out at the sunset and the
gathering gloom Of the evening, with
wild thoughts chasing themselves
through her brain and dumb aching
pain in the heart, every hope trailing
! in the dust, like those sweet flowers he
had given her. She laid her head upon
her hands, and wept softly through the
long, long hours, until she heard the
village bell strike she hour of midnight
She had prayed and wrestled with her
grief and agony, and rose up at length
quiet and calm. She had yielded to
duty and her promise to the dead.
Somehow. Constance Owen seemed to
grow prettier as tie months passed by;
there was some refining change which
was softening her rugged features and
rounding every line III her stately form.
The summer into autumn had flown,
and still Edith Orvnond had not return
ed to Bonnybrook. Her aunt had died,
and letters came from time to time, say-
ing that ere long she would be home,
yet she came not. Could she suspect
the disloyalty of lser lover.
1t was late in the lall, when the woods
had put on their pomp of glory, and the
chill winds sent the fallen leaves through
the valleys near Bonnybrook, when Dr.
Paulding rode up TO the house and
asked for Constance. She had only re-
ceived him twice before since the sum.
mer evening" and had then contrived by
womanly tact not TO be alone with him
although she NO longer doubted her
strength. Constance, on this occasion,
received her guest alone; there seemed
strange embarrassment in his man.
ner. After the first greetings were over,
he said:
Constance, | have much to say to |
you to-day. Do You think you can lis
ten to me calmly?'
EYES," she replied, off it is upon a |
subject or which you speak she !
added tremblingly-"to which [ should |
listen"
"Both," ne said. "When first saw
Edith Ormond WAS captivated by her
beauty aud girlisll graces; thought |
loved her"
Constance would have stopped him
by gesture, but lie begged her to lis |
ten-"f0r you can do so now" he said, |
Gin all honor and reason"
He continued:
81 had never had my heart stirred by |
the full knowledge OF love, however UNI
til | knew you and discovered the
breadth Of your sympathies and the
wOmanliness character. never re-
spected you more than when you re-
jected me, knowing l was the engaged
husband of Edith. But fate has been
kind to Us both" His voice was trem-
bling with emotion. Read the last
part of this letter"
He had handed folded paper to
Constance. who took it as one in
dream.
From Edith ?" she said.
eyes"
The portion read thus:
so you see, dear DIR. PauIding. it is
better | should tell you now that have
met one here-my cousin Ray-whom
| feel thai love better than an body
in the world. l have promised to be
his wife and am sure you will forgive
me, for you are so noble and grand and
all that, and | should feel, / know, that
l never could fill worthily the exalted
sphere of DR.. Paulding's wife"
Constance could read no more; a
mist gathered over her eyes, but this
time strong arm was about her and
voice, deep and rnelodious, whispered
to her: dearest Constance will you
be NINE at last?" Their lips met for
the first time in one long kiss of love,
and her answer was: eyes thine-for-
ever