The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-02-13

soft impeachment. Eyes, he was going
to marry, but he hoped that need not
part old friends like them"
"Oh! we'll, it was very bad hearing
an awful pity" etc, etc. almost US
great blow M If some one told me
was to be married myself"
After some more light talk, the friends
partcd-Frank to the dinner Mt his club,
where he informed some kindred spirits
that another COOL man had gone
wrong" and Edwin to the home where
his handsome face and graceful figure
were welcomed gladly by other gentle
hearts than those Of his mother and Sis
t"rs.
On the evening following the
events recorded i'll our last chapter our
friend Edwin bent his steps towards the
home Of his lady-love. He was always
welcome there; they all liked him, and at
many pleasant little musical evening
his rich voice had played conspicuous
part. On this particular night, however,
he does not care to see any of the others;
he wants only his Angelina, to make
fully known to her all his love, and to
rest at last III the warm sunshine of that
sweet smile which liz for the future to
illunine every day Of all his life. For
tune seems to favor him. "Lina" and
her mother are for once quite alone. The
young people have gone to the theater.
Lima was little over-tired, and preferred
to remain with her mother. The trio
had not been talking many minutes be-
fore servant called away the mistress,
AMI Trey rcrc atone!
She was knitting stocking, and
little ball Of cotton lay in her lap. He
stopped forward from his chair beside
her, and possessing himself of the little
ball, began slowly unwinding and rewind-
ing the cotton. He had not imagined
the words would be 81 hard to speak,
but now. with those clear eyes and that
unconcerned expression before him, he
found il difficult to begin. "Lina,
came here tonight to nsk you to be my
wife" Better not beat about the bush;
now il was done, and he sat up strnight
and looked at her. "Will you marry
me =
\ faint blush spread over the pale
cheek, and slight start accompanied it,
that sent the little ball upon its travels.
-hlltt ~ VI tStoNtk
it, she turned upon him face as white
~ if the moon shone upon it. "No! i
can not marry you" Then rising, she
continued very quietly, but with trem-
ulous Voice: :" nm very sorry, but l
cannot marry you, and would have left
tho room.
At first he had seemed stunned; but
when he saw her going he sprang up and
intercepted the moment
Lima, you can not leave me like this.
At least, explain your conduct"
Then she stood passively before him,
very pale, and, rs he now saw for the
first time, very worn and sorrowful look
ing.
II have nothing more to shy. can
only repeat that can never marry you."
why not? Do you not care for
me?"
Then came the answer that froze the
very blood in his veins, it was spoken 30
calmly and sadly. "So, Edwin, not
mar. But" she added, with deep sigh.
"If must speak, had better tell you
the truth"
Here she looked ut him with faint
smile, and clasped her hands tightly to-
gether. "If You had loved me enough
to make me your wife before you became
rich, we might have been happy. God
knows, loved you then. But the years
that have followed have altered me 40
that sometimes ] scarcely recognize my
self. ] have grown old in heart, and no
longer desire to form any tics beyond
those have already. loved you onco
very dearly, but through all these years
it hrs been dying, and it is long now
since l told myself that, though We
might always be friends, my love was
dead"
"No, not dead. Oh my darling,
never dreamed Of this, or that your life
vas really hard, rs your words imply.
Forgive me, Lima, and don't look ut me
with that still look. My own, my only
love, ] shall 60 mad if you cast me of. "
"Hush there is some one coming.
Goodbye, you will soon forget this. ]
have learned to forget. am sorry you
have spoken now; the hope that you
ever would died long before the love OF
which it was born. You will find some
woman younger and fairer fhan l, who
am no longer young; she, perhaps, will
love You now N | once did. Goodbye"
She held out to him her little, cold,
white hand; he mechanically took it,
dropped it, and she was gone.
When mamma returned from her visit
to the kitchen she found poor Edwin
"all abroad" At first, being short
sighted, she noticed nothing, but after
some vague conversation he rose, and,
complaining Of not feeling quite sup to
the mark" took his leave. Mamma af-
forwards described his appearance rs be-
ing that of one walking in his sleep.
She hal refused him! His first feel
ing was one of surprise; intense, blank
surprise. He had 80 often pictured this
meeting, but 30 differently; that now it
was over, the aching surprise seemed
more than he could bear. Next came
, sorrow, then anger; then he thought of
! all she had said, which came evidently
, from her heart Of hearts. He felt how
, selfish his conduct had been; why had
he not been by her side all those years
and shielded her from this hard life?
She had called herself no longer young,
and he had noticed lines i'll that brow
which had used to be 30 smooth and fair.
In his despair he groaned aloud. His
love for her was greater than ever; he
could not bear this punishment. No!
he would write to her and beg forgive
, ness; she used to be so loving years ago;
he would write letter that no woman
could withstand. And with this grain of
comfort in his occnn Of trouble, he went
home thoroughly tired ont by the long
walk he had taken.
The best part of the next day he spent
in composing the letter that was to do 30
much, and before it was finally folded
and placed in its envelope the floor of
his chamber had looked rs if a snow
storm had passed over it. The letter
contained deep contritiOn for having al-
lowed her to work as she had done, and
many sincere regrets that he had not
asked her, when they ere both younger,
to share life with him, land then came
the part about which, unconsciously to
himself, blinded as he was with self,
there was false ring he d" had waited
till he had name, such as il was, as
well rs a home to offer her." etc.
The five years which by him had been
spent in comfort and afiuence had been
spent by her in hard, uncongenial work :;
and her heart had died within her; all
girlish ideas of love and marriage had
flown forever; this last he saw, but he
quite forgot the cause. However,
there was still n ray of hope,
and with the first experience of comfort
he had experienced for two long days, he
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