The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-07-30

out to make calls ana talk over the lash
ions with the aristocratic young ladies
of the neighborhood. On these occa-
sions Kenneth would be sure to find
some excuse for coming In from the
field before evening. His manner had
long been that of lover
Zone day, as was seated at desk in
the library writing, he came in quietly,
but, seeing was busy, he pretended to
have some errand In the room. He soon
came to my side, however, and put his
cool, tender palm against my cheek.
Some slight, caressing movement on my
part perhaps pressing of my cheek
against his hand caused him to bend
down and say, with deep earnestness
- You do love me-
/ flashed smile up into his face and
asked:
:" Why p
" Because I love you, he answered.
"To his protestations Of love | had al
ways returned an Indifferent reply, but
that day spirit of coquetry possessed
me. My blushing inquiry had seemed
like confession, and Kenneth was radi-
ant / would not seem to share his
mood, neither did / have the heart to
check his joy / kept on with my writ
ing, but / had no thought except of this
man, who was all the world to ne. He
sat by my side and held my hand. /
could not deny him nor myself that
pleasure. / wrote steadily, with down.
cast eyes. / was in a delicious, dreamy
trance. Ny interest in my writing was
gone. laid aside my pen, and, passing
my hand lightly over his thick masses of
hair, said:
SO You should be at work, Kenneth,
instead of hindering me.
"He caught my hand and, drawing me
toward him, said:
go Kiss me, Mirabel just once, dear /;
You never have
81 shook my head. He arose, bringing
me to my feet at the same time; his
strong arms were about me, his passion
ate kisses on my lips. / had no further
control of myself, and toshis whispered
entreaty, Kiss me, darling, just once,
my arm crept half way around his neck
and my lips met his. No use of denying
my love for him after that. For one
hour complete, unthinking happiness
was ours, We did not trouble ourselves
by thoughts of the future. We had the
present and each other. We did not
talk much With provoking pretense
of industry, said, Let me go ON with
my writing.
"He put his arm aboutme and heldme.
i can't spare you, he said. You do
not love me as do you or YOU could not
think of work. Oh, Mirabel, I cannot
live without you.
go Perhaps, / said, with a side smile
up into his face, "you could not live
with me-
"tM yra' he always called me Myra
when very grave do not talk SO. Do
you doubt my love?'
SO No, Kenneth, I would as soon think
of doubling my own
"Fhe time had come for me to go to
my room. said to him, I must go.
He arose and stood looking down sor-
rowfully at my uplifted face. put my
palm against his cheek.
g" Why are you 50 grave?'
Because you leave me, he replied.
OF can't stay right here always.
No, that is so; but would to God
we might love each other always and no
one come between
And why can't we I'm sure [ shall
love you always, Kenneth
He bent down and kissed me CRATE
fully. Dear Myra, I am not worthy
of your affection. [ am Milly Bently's
betrothed husband
81 started back ashamed and angry.
He fastened to entreat, Forgive me,
Myra could not help loving you. I
have been in paradise now | can suffer
hell. ,
81 shrank further from him. ooh,
Kenneth, why did you not tell me this 2
SIS / could not. Myra. / wanted you to
love me, and you would not had you
known
81 could only say, How could you
do so wrong?'
"He replied, I do not feel thatit was
wrong, Myra. ] did not know how much
it was possible to love q woman until
you came
81 had been seated upon the sofa, over
come with grief and humiliation. [ now
arose and said, If you are engaged to
Milly, of course it is impossible to do
otherwise than to marry her. I will not
make it difficult for you to do your duty.
Henceforth you and | will remain apart.
| will go home day after tomorrow.
This love-making, which is but the
mockery of love on your part, must go
no further. Keep in mind that you are
pledged to another woman; and, if you
wish to retain even my respect, leave me
to myself.
He protested
"' You are cruel, Myra As God is my
witness, / did not mean to wrong Milly,
but | was powerless in your presence.
Say that you do not despiss me, and
will do whatever you command. 81
No, do not desplse you, Kenneth !;
am sorry for you / am sorry for my
self but still there is something higher
than happiness. You must marry Milly.
[ command it; desire it. I could never
found my happiness on another woman's
misery. And, whether you marry her or
not. | shall never marry YOU. No more
need be said. Good-by, Kenneth. We
will not meet again if l can prevent it. ;
81 had been strong, cruel, if you will !;
but just at the last my voice quivered.
1t was very hard to be stern then very
hard to see him standing there in his
splendid, manly beauty, yearning to
take me to his heart and hold me against
the world, and then to turn away to take
up again my old desolate life. Some
Power higher than myself gave me cour-
age and strength in that hour. One mo-
ment my hand was pressed in his, and
the next he held the door open as [
passed out. have confused vision of
sad, stern face that bent toward me as
if struggling to speak, and then stood
proudly erect as if he accepted the worst
that fate might infict.
81 loved Kenneth more than / knew,
until the inseparable barrier arose be-
tween us. His word was pledged and
should not be violated for me; that /
resolved, and yet cannot picture one
tenth of the agony that resolve cost me,
not only on my own account, but on
his.
I'VE met the next day at breakfast,
dinner and tea, but were not alone to-
gether for an instant. [ would always
manage to have Milly with us. When [
announced my intention of leaving the
following day she frightened percepti-