The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-24
Kate IhQrltOl'S Two Lovers.

"I tell you Kate, we must give it all up
God only knows how hard it is for me to
speak these words-bow it is almost like
taking the heart out of my body, the life
blood from my veihs-but l see no other
way, dear. You can't 60 on waiting the
best years of your life in a dreary waiting,
and II have written failure against my
name. l might as well acknowledge it. It
is the hopeless, barren truth.
Kate Thornton looked up into her lovers
face as he uttered the above words 1t was
strangely handsome face, though the dark
eyes, as they now rested on the burning
Goals in the crate before which they sat held
an expression of sulen misery.
How often the girl had looked before on
the almost iaultless features, the tall, fine
figure, always dressed without flaw, in the
last caprice of fashion, yet escaping even
suspicion of fdandyism-looked and worship
ed the man to whom face and form be-
longed.
Her own face had grown very pale now,
and her lips trembled, as though struggling
to conceal her emotion as she answered:
"Give me up, Fred? don't think you
quite mean those words. I have never
doubted your love once in five long years.
You would not have me doubt it now?"
"Kate /" The name was Whispered in a
tone of reproach. "Ah, you know" he
went on, "that you never could doubt my
love. 1t is the nobler, better part of my
self but think what these five years have
been to you. Five wasted years, the best
part of your lifel You were but eighteen
when you promised to become my wife. You
are now twenty-three-"
$50 they are wasted yearsand am grow
ing old ~ she said sadly. "What has so
suddenly opened your eyes to both facts2"
"You are UNJUST" he replied. "You know
that time and time again have been tempt
ed to give you back your freedom, but that
could not"
"And what has made it so easy for you
now? All, you have been talking to NAM
ma, Fred, and she has been again reproach-
ing you. sec 1t ALL"
"Yes," he agreed. "She says, and says
truly, that, with your heart and beauty,
you could win any prize, and that am
selfshly standing in the way of your future
happiness. 1t is all true enoughj but, oh,
God, TO sec you the wife of another manp
He stopped, choked by emotion.
Il he vooa feoun he obas h. ~ sNo.l
beside him, slight blush mounting to the
exquisitely lovely face.
al don't think YOU will ever see that day.
Come, Fred let's end it another way. You
think I am not fit for a poor mans wife,but
| am, dear. You make at least two thou.
sand a year with your practice. We can
live on that and not starye, either. You
will have to give up your clubs, and your
luxurious little bachelor dinners but
could hardly spare you for either, anyhow.
/ 1t will be love in a cottage, Fred, but it will
be love, and, think, happiness"
"You don't know what yon are talking
about !" he answered, fretfully. "We should
both be miserable, wIetched. No; could
mover drag you down to that"
(Which means that clubs, and dinners,
and handsome bachelor apartments are pref
cradle to love and poverty" she answered,
with little bitterness and touch Of woun-
ded pride.
She had offered to brave all for him and
his loves sake, and he had refused the Of
fering.