Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-27
house, and in the direction of the winter

seemed to be no one in the garden.
Nevertheless, he walked down between
the hedges of blooming roses until he
saw, in a corner of the rear hedge, an
arbor of climbing roses, in the midst OF
which his eyes caught CLEAN of silvery
raiment
He fastened directly to the spot, and
found her there.
She was reclining on the rustic seat,
and had taken off her mask for air, re-
vealing the fair. proud face of Leda Won
Kirschberg.
He had not expected this revelation of
her identity, and he felt that his presence
at this moment might be considered an
inexcusable intrusion upon the privacy
of the lady
"Leda,'' he said, deprecatingly, as he
stood before her and removed his ewn
mask, "please to pardon my indiscretion,
but have been trying to make an oppor-
tunity for speaking with you all the even
ing-in fact, all the day-but have not
succeeded even in seeing you until to-
night" ,.,
"Tudor, sit down here for little
while. The rooms were so warm and
the crowds so dense that l felt like suffo
eating; so | came out here to unmask
and inhale breath of fresh air." she
said, as she smilIngly made room for him
beside her.
81 am very glad you did so! pre-
sumed to follow you. Do you forgive me
for my presumption" he inquired, as he
bowed and took the offered seat.
'That depends" she answered archly.
Chow could you know me, to follow me!
Or were you, perhaps, following an un-
known white domino that had caught
your fitting fancy?"
"How could | know your" he repeated
gravely, taking her hand and fixing his
eyes on her lovely face-"How could l
know you? By the simple, universal law
of nature through which know myself
for you are my sweeter, purer, higher
self! Leda, my queen, do you imagine
that any disguise could hide you from
nv knowledge? MY heart would always
recognize you, Leda."
"Oh, Mr.. Hereward !'' she murmured
in low, distressed tone, whose meaning
he could not have perceived, for he went
On to plead
81 have oeen seeking you for for many
hours, my love, my queenl Not to tell
you in set speech that which my whole
life in your dear presence has been telling
you ever since we first met, and IN that
meeting recognized each other! All, lady
mlnel Ever since that sacred moment OF
meeting and mutual recognition, have
been tempted to believe in the old heath
en- myth, that man and woman were orig
inally one being; but that Jove, in rage
cleft them in two, leaving the halves to
seek each other sorrowing through all the
ages! To seek in vain--as we see by all
the mismatched couples in this lower
world-except in such happy cases as
ours; for, sweet lady, have found my
completion in you and you yours In me.
And we know it nowl"
ooh, Mr. Hereward!" she moaned, in
an almost inaudible tone.
"Thus, dear Leda, have not followed
you here to tell you that which you fee
and know SO well, but only to ask your
permission to speak, at once, to your
good father and invoke his blessing on
our betrothal But even this l scarcely
need to mention-for surely l know |
have your sanction for it."
ooh, Mr.. Hereward! Pray, pray do
not talk to me in this manner" she moan
ed, in agitation, as she withdrew her
hand from his fond clasp and covered
her white face.
He gazed on her in surprise and I'm
easiness, yet scarcely taking in the full
meaning of her words.
"But whyH Why may 1 not speak to
you in this way? Why, Leda? Why?"
he inquired, trying to take her hand
again.
She drew it away as she faltered:
sob, Mr.. Hereward! Because-be-
cause we are only friends And we can
never be more to each other than friends!
Though hope" she added, pleadingly,
"that we may always be just such dear
friends as we are and have been! Shall
we not!" she prayed, dropping her
hands and raising her eyes appealingly to
his stern, set look.
He met her glance, he gazed on her
white cheeks and trembling form, fixed
ly, ineisively, with increduleus amaze
ment and indignation in every feature of
his firm, handsome face, for no part of
her previous demeanor towards him had
prepared his mind for this unexpected re-
pulse.
''NIiss Won Kirschberg, how is this? 1t
cannot be that l hear you Alright" he
said.
"Ah, yes, you do, Mr.. Hereward! You
hear me Alright" she sighed.
s'And we can be no more than friends?'
he said, drawing 10 hard breath. els
this true?"
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Hereward! 1t is truel
And it is heart breaking!" she moaned,
in voice full of tears.
"Leda In the name of Heaven
What do you mean? Explain yourself. |
implore you'll" he urged, in an agony of
sorrow, anxiety and confusion.
81 meant mean-Oh, Tudor! My
heart is brokenW And she dropped her
head on her bosom and again covered
her face with her hands.
"Ledal Ledal'' he cried with anguish.
ooh, Tudor! Our friendship has been
so precious, so delightful to mel And
and-all our communion has been so i'm
proving, purifying, elevating to my soul.
| am so much less vain, selfish and frivo-
lous than when you first met me, the
spoiled child of fortune. Our precious,
delightful friendship has saved and re-
deemed me. And-and-I pray that
may enjoy it forever. But butt must
be only friendship" she said, while heavy,
sobb1ng signs shook her bosom and
streams of tears forced themselves through
the slender fingers that covered her face.
"Ledal" he exclaimed, in bitter pain,