The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-29
"You love me then, you say; why did
.ou seek hanniness with anoiher Cantain

"You love me then, you say; why did
you seek happiness with another, Captain
Miller% How cold her voice sounded.
"a very natural question, Miss Vane, /
shall be truthful, the confession cannot
hurt the dead. Nellie White and were
thrown great deal together while in lta-
ly. She was little more than child in
years and experience, but wonderfully
beautiful, as when you saw her later. |
fancied that loved her, and told her that
| did. l shall never forget her look of
pleasure or the dreamy, happy light that
shone in her eyes when l told her, and in
her shy girish way she told me how she
had loved from the first. We became en-
gagged, and returned to England to settle
some affairs with my lawyer before she
should return and we should be married.
1t was then | met you. ! tried to think
only of little trusting Nellie, but try as
would your face, your voice, your words
all came between us. l saw my danger
and fled from it. / went back to Nellie
and strove to forget you. / do not think
reould have done as l did, but every time
/ looked in Nellie's face my heart smote
me. ] knew that to break our engage
ment would be to break her heart / had
strength enough not to tell you that
loved you, and as for the thought that you
loved me, did not flatter myself enough
to think it. Nellie had never been strong,
even before we were married, and heavy
cold caught in the fall of the year, six
months after our marriage, brought on
congestion of the lungs, from which, as
you know, she never recovered. | mourn
ed for her more as one who mourns for a
Al. l. l.. ,a1n
ton had, that while she lived had done
my best to make her happy" His voice
grew tender and pathetic whenever he
spoke his dead wiie's name, and when at
last he paused low sob broke from his
sstener.
"I have panied you with my story, Ber-
tie-Miss Vane," and he bent tenderly
over her bowed figure.
No answer came but a sob.
"Forgive me, Bertie; but thought you
wished to know all would not willing
ly pain you"
She raised her head and looked at him,
her eyes filled with tears. at is l who
must ask forgiveness Willie; | who have
wronged you so deeply in my thoughts.
l believed you flrt."
81 do not blame you BERTHE, my condua
without an explanation must have seemed
heartless indeed. But you do not think
so now since have told you all?"
"No, no" she murmured family; "but
do not feel worthy of such love as
yours, when remember all my bitter
thoughts of you"
"L.et them remain in the past, where
Al E,ll 10 pinht RprtIa. and tell
me, can | have this little white hand
now"
"You may as we'll have the hand, since
you have taken the heart without leave,
she answered in a low voice, with an at
| tempt at her old playfulness. Captain
| Miller caught it in both his own and
raised it to his lips.
This to begin with, but your turn
comes next"
"You are 100 tall, I could never reach
| that far" and deep crimson camedn her
| checks, and spread to her forehead.
"Then will come down on my knees
If you like"
~ should have to stoop to you then, so
pray don't, Willie, as have not learned to
stoop yet, with good grace" and she
gave him a mschievous glance.
al want my way just this once, BERTHE,
and if you don't give it to me, III have to
take it, as | took your heart;" and he
stopped and kissed her. Mrs. Vane came
out to scold them for lingering in the
night air, but smiled kindly on them in.
stead when she saw how it was. Three
months later the bells rang out merrily
from St. Georges church, and Bertie
| Vane became the wife of Captain Miller