Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-05

hand slightly over his thick masses OF
hair, l said:
you should be at work, Kenneth,
instead of hindering me-"
He caught my hand drawing me to-
ward him, said:
Kiss me, Mirabel; just once, dear;
you never have
Il shook my head. He arose, bring
ing me to my teet at the same time; his
strong arms were about me, his pas
sionate kisses on my lips. [ had no
further control of myself. Kiss me,
darling, just once, my arm crept half
way around his neck and my lips met
his. No use denying my love for him
after that. For one hour complete I'M
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 about me and held
me. L can't spare YOU he said. You
do not love me as | do or you could not
think of work. Oh, Mirabel [ cannot
live without you"
'Myra'-he always called me Myra
when very grave-'do not talk SO. Do
you doubt my love?'
" No Kenneth, Iwould as soon think
of doubling my own
THE time had come for me to 90 to
myroom. l said to him, L must go
''He arose and stood looking down
at my uplifted face. [ put
my palm against his cheek.
Why are you so grave%
: Because you leave me- he replied.
Il 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? Pm sure [ shall
love you always, Kenneth.
He bent down and kissed me CRATE
fully. Dear Myra, [ am not worthy of
your affection. [ am Milly Bently's be
trothed husband
II started back ashamed and angry.
He FASTENED to entreat, Forgive me,
Myra; could not help loving you. |
have been in paradise; now l can suffer
hell
II shrank further from him. oh,
Kenneth, why did you not tell me this?'
81 could not, Myra. | wanted you
to love me, and you would not had you
known.
Il could only say, How could you
do SO wrong"
Gle replied, I do not feel that it was
wrong, Myra. [ did not know how
much it was possible to love woman
until you came
II had been seated upon the sofa,
overcome with grief and humiliation.
| now arose and said, IF you are en-
gagged to Milly, of course it is impossible
to do otherwise than to marry her. |
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 10 retain even my re-
spect, 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 pres
ence. Say that you do not despise me,
and | will do whatever you command.
mo, [ do not despise you, Kenneth
| am sorry for you; [ am sorry for my
self; but still there is something higher
than happiness. You must marry Mil
ly. [ command it; | desire it. Icould
never found my happiness on another
woman's misery. And, whether you
marry her or not, [ shall never marry
you. No more need besaid. Good-by,
Kenneth. We will not meet again if |
can prevent it.
II 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 my old desolate life Some
Power, higher than myself gave me
courage and strength in that hour.
One moment my hand was pressed in
his, and the next he held the door open
as [ passed out | have a confused
vision of sad, stern face that bent to-
ward me as if struggling to speak, and
then stood proudly erect as if he ac-
cepted the worst that fate might inhict.
II 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.
eve met the next day at breakfast,
dinner and tea, bu twere not alone to-
gether for an instant. [ would always
to have Milly with us. When
/ announced my intention ofleaving the
following day she frightened percepti-
bly,. Kenneth was civil to us both,
more.
''There was no congeniality between
Milly and myself, and therefore no con-
fidences. The last evening of my stay,
however, [ said to her: II wish you
Milly Kenneth has told me
of your engagement" She smiled and
Dear Kenneth! | am sure
1 shall be happy with him.
'Oh, how | hated her at that mo-
ment! [ soon made pretext to leave
her room. Kenneth was haunting the
hall awaiting my appearance. He de
tanned me by gentle force, and said,
Come into the library, Myra.
II quoted my uneasy conscience by
saying to myself, Surely, [ may see
him this once; tomorrow [ CO. [
took my old place by the window, but
the air was cold and the room strangely
cherries. Kenneth lowered the win
dow and leaned against it. [ sat with
downcast eyes. felt that he was look
ing at me, and [ toyed nervOusly with