The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-11-03

VOLUME X.
The UNCONCIOUS CONFESSION.
Hurry up, gentlemen! the coach is wait =
ing, cried the voice Of the stage driver, in
front Of the Metropolitan Hotel, at Long
Branch.
My story goes back to the days when
railroads to the Branch were unknown, and
the transit to New York was achieved by
coaches to Sandy Hook, where = steamer
awaited the passengers.
A tall, handsome young man, at the sum-
mons came down the staircase, two steps
at time. and almost ran over matronly
woman. few years his senior, who was
crossing the hall.
What? Going to leave us?" said the
ady in some surprise, and with more mean
ing in her look than in her words even.
YES! it's no use, " was the reply. "Thanks
for your coed wishes, which can see in
your looks, Mrs. Maxwell. But I'm tired
of playing the fool"
"Pshaw" said the lady, putting her arm
familiarly into his, and leading him into the
drawing room, which, at that hour, was
deserted. Faint heart never won fair
lady. Mr.. Hastings. Listen to 1ne. The
coach will wait a moment"
. 1T is not question Of faint heart. " an
swered the gentleman. But Kate won't
hardly fair of you to corner me, but she
refused me point blank last night"
And what if she did2 I refused Mr..
Maxwell the first time myself. It's q way
some of our sex have. Come, stay, and
try again.
I'm proud man, " was the reply, ''and
don't like being triaed with. But I'd stay
if I thought it would do any good. But it
won't. She isn't anywhere about, you see,
though I told her would go away to- day.
When said it she actually laughed. And
yet confound her, can't help loving her."
Mrs. Maxwell would have liked to have
laughed also. But she knew better than to
do it just yet.
"Sbe was little hysterical or she would
not have laughed, she said. The truth
is Herbert, You are q pair Of fools. You
are proud, as you say: and don't brook re-
fusals. Kate is, perhaps, a bit of tlirt,
but I sincerely believe she loves you. All
she needs is little urging. You must
storm the fortress till it surrenders. Give
her no quarter, that is my advice" and now
Mrs. Maxwell, seeing his face brighten,
ventured laugh.
It was a clear, musical laugh, and it
cheered Herbert still more. lie hesitated.
If another five minutes could have been
granted to Mrs. Maxwell she would have
prevailed. But, at this moment, . voice
cried:
"Here he is. Hurry up, Hastings, The
stage driver won't wait another moment,
and Hastings shook his head to Mrs. Max
wells entreating look, wrung her hand,
and dashed out Of the drawing room.
It was six miles or so to the steamboat
landing. And now Herbert began half to
repent of what he had done. Perhaps I
have been to hasty." he said to himself.
"What if Mrs. Maxwell is right?"
He mused thus for quite half mile.
I've great miud to go back, he thought.
changed my mind. Stop till + jump out
I'll walk back"
Before his sleepy companions could ask
what he meant, he had left the coach, had
lit cigar, and was plodding through the
heavy sands on his return.
His mood soon changed again. What
precious fool am making of myself" he
reflected, and he turned to hail the coach,
but it was quarter of mile off.
He stopped still. If that fish hawk dives
before count fifty" he said, I'll 90 back
to the Metropolitan; if not, I'll walk to the
landing and take the afternoon boat"
The fish hawk dove almost Immediately.
"Fate has decided for me-" he said desper-
ately. Nov let us see how wisely"
Meantime, where was the offending Kate?
To do her justice, she was not aware how
much she loved Hastings until she had re-
that led her to say mo-" The answer had
hoan oivor, in tho frof c,rrnrioo on1 op,bor
rassment of the proposal.
Even before he left her she bitterly re-
pented what she had said. Had he perse-
vered little longer, she would have con-
fessed the truth. She did not, however,
believe he would Leave the Branch, even
after he had said SO. Hence, early in the
morning she had started for a long walk on
the beach, hoping to meet him there, as
usual; for hardly day had passed within
the last fortnight that these two had not SO
met.
There was an old wreck at that time
about mile Or more above the Metropo-
Titan. which had been q favorite haunt of
theirs. and thither she repaired. She tried
to read till Herbert should appear. but her
thoughts wandered from her book continu-
Herbert appearing. Her heart began to
her feelings, and the more she scrutinized
them. the more she felt her love had gone
from hel forever. By-and. by the hot tears
began to come. She knew how proud Hast
ings was, and she said to herself he would
never come back.
The sea rolled heavily in; the fish hawks
sailed overhead; the breeze blew fresh from
the eastward; the sun shone dazzlingly
bright. It vas getting toward noon. She
gave up all hope, ut last, and rising, began
to walk back toward the hotel. But, after
q while she sat down again, on bowlder
under shelter of the bank, for she had been
all this time upon the beach below it. She
would not yet abandon the chance of tes-
ing him. Gradually she fell into sort Of
revery, and began, half unconsciously, to
trace Herbert's name in the sand with the
roint of her parasol.
walking along the top of the bank abo7e,
discerned her. He hastily sprang down
the bank and began hurriedly to retrace his
steps toward her.
He thought she would hear him as he
approached. But she did not He ap-
preached so close at last that he could look
over her shoulder. Blessed vision! Could
he believe his own eyes? She was writing
with her parasol in the sand the words,
Herbert, love you"
Hastings could control himself no longer.
His cigar had long been out. though re-
tained mechanically; he now flung it away,
and stopping over, caught Kate's face in
his hands and kissed her full on her ripe
lips.
''Darling," he whispered, clasping her
in his arms and drawing her to him. "God
bless you for those words. hid come to
try my fate once more. Say that dear con-
fession over again"
Kate was silent for while. But his ca.
resses soon dried her tears. and made her
forget her momentary shame.
What happy hour it was that followed!
The lovers paced up and down the strand,
far out of sight of any intruders, exchang.
ing confessions as to when they first began
to be interested in each other. All! that
first hour of mutually acknowledged affec.
ton. Is there anything in life, ever after,
halt, or quarter so blissful?
ANV IAuRon a,nrr