Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-07-01
SAIDEE.

oA1DEIE.
"Saidee."
cat your service, Sir Wilfred." From,
the gay worsteds she was sorting, she
looked up with mischievous expression
betting her words, yet underlying it a
goodly measure of the rare tenderness
that only woman's face can wear.
Hers seemed strange face for lover
to frown upon; but frown he did-uglily,
emphatically.
II am in no mood for TESTING, Saidee, -
he continued, glumly, "nor probably
will you be when 1 tell you that what we
have so long debated must be decided
between us now"
The sunny smile died from her coun-
tenance; the rare tenderness seemed but
the rarer for its gravity.
II am sorry, Wilfred," she answered
softly; IS so hoped you would see it's
lmpossibiity and agree with me-"
He could but read how she loved him,
but he read something else now in look
and tone-something that momentarily
banished the frown and paled his hand
some face. With o 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
steadily.
"Saidee, do you care at all for me %
he asked, finally.
"Do care for you, Wilfred?' she
murmured, reproachfully, yet with the
rapture Of his touch reflected in her face.
DO I care for you? Oh, how can you
ask me that, when you know that there
IS only you-only you in the whole wide
world for mel"
His hands fell; he turned away from
her impatiently, with bitter smile.
IF am all the world to you, Saidee,
you certainly have 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 a 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 it
would be the last, last time, but still she
took no step forward; she simply stood
terrified, appealingly gazing up at him.
"Wifred-''
He was frowning again, now deeper
than before.
II know what you would say, saidee,"
he interrupted, "and it is only a waste
OF words. As said before, your words
have no weight on me; it is enough for
me that you are ready to have me go
away alone. And, as now. I shall 60 to-
morrow, we might as well say goodbye"
She hal not taken her eyes from his
face, and he still looked back at her,
steadily, relentlessly. At his last word
she shivered, q death-like pallor spread
over her countenance, and she answered.
brokenly:
"Wilfred-"
He did not interrupt her now; ne bent
forward with conscious eagerness for her
words. His own were honest, but he
felt certain Of their effect; he did not
doubt that, in this decisive moment, he
would gain her to his WILL She would
surely not let him go; she was about to
yield to him, to say that there could be
no goodbye between them; that, sooner
than this, she would abjure all and. fol-
low him. And so he bent forward for the
answer, eagerly, with certain hope.
Wilfred, if you so will, you must go,
but l can never say goodbye to you."
That was what she said, brokenly, ten
derby, yet with the gentle frmness that
had so started him just now.
eff you SO will, you must CO."
They were little words, but he did not
mistake them; the fullest judicial SEN
tence never weighed more heavily. A
moment he stood regarding her, shaking
with pain and disappointment; a mo-
ment passion swayed him, a aeeting,
wavering impulse, buthe quickly crushed
them down.
II do so will, Saidee," he replied,
with scornful emphasis; land since you
object to goodbye, let us make it good
afternoon"
This was their parting, SO he left her.
striding out and past the window by
which she sat. She did not turn: she
sat, fixed and rigid, listening to his re-
treating footsteps, each of which was a
knife stabbing deep down in her heart.
AS they died away she started up as if
to follow him, her lips parted with pas
slonate cry; but as suddenly his cutting
words hoated back to her it sank into a
moan. 80 - -
*'And this is the end of it ALL she
murmured; "when he knows how I love
him, when he knows how I would die for
him.. Oh, Wilfred! my love, my dearest,
how could you leave me sol''
1t was not strange that that other time
should rise wildly before her; that dav.
six month ago, when, in this very room.
in the first blissful realization Of their
mutual passion, heT had fallen on his
knees before her, and 'solemnly affirmed
that, come what would, no power on
earth should ever separate him from her.
IL ever woman was sure of man,
Saidee, you are sure of mel"
What music the words were, though
neither Of them could forsee the future
and the sore, test that awaited them.
All seemed bright ahead; they were to
be married m Elk months time, and she
was to go away with him Is Brazil.
where he had secured government ap-
pointment. ,.,s. - -
There seemed no need of the passion
ate proteetations,5 the solemn, oath of
this fond lover; their truth was to be
tried. t-lnathe fifth month of their en-
gagement, Aunt Ruth-of whom Saidee.
was the especial pet and ,protege- was
thrown from her carriage and received
injuries which, though it was not be-
ieved they would prove fatal, left her in
very critical and apprehensive state.
True, the wedding day was named and
Wilfred must go; true, there we're loving
hearts beside Saidee to care for poor
Aunt Ruth, but it seemed to her tender
nature most a crime to leave her. at
Least, until danger was positively past
And when, one morning, the old lady
drew down the fair face to hers, and
whispered, mpleringly, )" You viii not
my getting well?" she promised unhesi-
Perhaps if she had known Wilfreda