Morris tribune., 1880-06-10
SAIDEE.

SAIDEE.
"Saidee.''
"At your service, Sir Wiltred" From
the CAV worsteds she was sorting, she
looked up with mischievous expression
BETTING her words, yet underlying 1t
goodly measure OF the rare tenderness
that only woman's face can wear.
Hers seemed q strange face for lover
to trown upon; but frown he dld-uglily,
emphatically.
81 am in no mood for jesting, Saidee,"
he continued glumly, "nor probably will
you be when tell you what that we have
so long debated must be decided between
US now.
The sunny smile died from her counte-
nance; the rare tenderness seemed but
the rarer for its gravity.
softly; 81 SO hoped you would see its i'm
possibility and agree with me.''
He could but read how she loved him,
but he read something else now in look
and concentrating that momentarily
banished the fIown and paled his hand
some face. With passionate impulse
he arose, and, crossing over to where she
sat, took her hands in his, and gazed
down into her brown eyes long and stead
lily.
"saidee, do you care at all formey" he
asked, finally.
"Do care for you, Wiltred9" she muir
INJURED. reproachfully, yet with the rap
ture of his touch reflected In her face
lido care for you9 Oh, how can you ask
nae that when you know that there is on
ly you-only you in the whole wide
world for me''
His hands fell; he turned away from
her impatiently, with bitter smile.
eff am all the world to you, Saidee
you certainly have q very strange way of
showing it. Your words are pretty, but
they do not weigh at all with me. If
you would have me believe you, come,
and promise to obey me as every woman
should the man she loves"
He extended his arms toward her as
he spoke; there was look on his face
she could not mistake. She knew that
| it would De the last, last time, but still
she took no step forward; she simply
stood terrified, appealingly gazing up at
| him.
"Wilfred-"
He was frowning again, now deeper
| than before.
81 know what you would say, Saidee,
he interrupted, "and it is only waste Of
words. AS / said before, your words
have no weight with me; 1t is enough fol
me that you are ready to have me &C
away alone. And now, as shall 90 to.
morrow, we may as we'll say goodbye"
She had not taken her eyes from his
face, and he still looked back at her re
lentlessly, steadily. At his last word sh.
shivered; death-like pallor oVerspreaC
her countenance, and she answered him
brokenly:
s'Wilfred-"
He did not interrupt her now; he ben
forward with conscious eagerness for he
words. His own were honest, but he fel
certain of their effect; he did not donb
that, in this decisive moment, he would
gain her to his will. She would surely no
let him go; she was about to yield to him
to say that there could be no goodbye be
tween them, that sooner than this, sh
would adjure all and follow him. And 9
he bent forward for the answer, eagerly
with u certain hope.
'Wilfred, if you 80 will you must g
but can never say goodbye to you.
That was what she said, brokenly, te
derby yet with the gentle firmness tha
had so startled him just now.
"If you so will, you must CO."
They were little words but he did nc
mistake them, the fullest judicial ser
tence never weighed more heavily.
moment he stood regarding her, shakin
with pain and disappointment; me-
ment passion swayed him, a f1eeting, way
ering impulse, but he quickly crnshe
them down.
81 do SO will, Sadiee; he replied, wit
scornful emphasis; land sinse you objec
to goodbye, let us make it good-after
noon.
This was their parting; so he left he
striding out and past the window b
which she sat. She did not turn; she 81
fixed and rigid, listening to his retrea
ing footsteps, each of which was knil
stabbing deep down in her heart. A
they died away she started up as if I
! follow him, her lips parted with q pal
, slonate cry; but as suddenly his cuttin
words foated back to her it sank into
| moan.
"And this is the end of 1t all! % st
! murmured; tswhen he knows how lol
him, when he knows I would die f
HIM. Oh, Wlltred, my love, my deares
] how could you leave me sol"
It was not strange that that other tim
J should rise wildly before her; that da
J six months ago, when, in this very room
in the first blissful realization of the
mutual passion, he had fallen on h
j. knees before her, and solemnly affirme
that, come what would; no power Q
! earth should ever separate HIM frol
{ her.
: "Ifcver woman was sure of ma
2 Saidee, you are sure of mer'
] What music the words were, thoug
neither of them could foresee the futu,
!, and the sore test that awaited them. A
s seemed bright before them; they were
be married in six months time, and 81
r was to 60 away with him TO Brazil, whe
. he had secured a government appoin
4 ment.
j. There seemed no need of the passion
o ate protestations, the solemn oath of til
D fond lover; their truth was to be trie
). In the fifth month of their engagemer
Il Aunt Ruth of whom Saidee was the q
8 pecial pet and protege- waslthrown fro
n her carriage and received injuries whic
/ though il was not believed they wou
d prove fatal, lett her in very apprehe
> sive state.
= True, the Wedding day was named al
Wilfred must 60; true, there were loyil