Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01

| Helen, without running away with her was
unintelligible. He himself should have loved
her madly, if he had been twenty times her
brother The time he passed in the cottage
was unreal. 1t was so dream-like that he
sometimes pinched his arm to see if he would
not awake. Helen had not hitherto struck
him as remarkably attractive in person, but
now she seemed more beautiful than any
woman he had ever seen.
In the evening he asked her if she would
like to take walk She readily assented,
and in quarter of an hour they were slowly
pacing the well-worn paths OF the renowned
Cliff Walk. There was no moon. He was
glad of it, for he imagined that even the
moon would profane what he had resolved to
say. The myriads of stars were witnesses
enough, and they seemed to sympathize with
him in their far off mysterious brightness.
Bargate offered her his arm, and she took
it firmly. There was not tremor in her
little hand, and yet he felt his heart throb-
bing wildly.
Neither spoke for some minutes, but as
Z" L have come to Newport with purpose. l
so longed to see you that I could not stay
away. Is it worth my while to tell you
what you must ere this have felt? L scorn
preambles. It may be of no concern to you,
Helen-let me call you so for the present
but | must say that L love you, and have
loved you from the first hour that | spoke to
you. l did not know it for some Zine
Although I am Sc, L am novice
in love. l never believed [ could
love any woman. 1 did not believe
that any woman could love me. [
hardly think so now. My love for
you seemed a weakness at first. am
ashamed no longer it is a strength. 1 do
not expect you to love me in return. l do
not know that L want you to; for We Can
never have any future.
There was no response in words. But Bar
gate felt Helen's hand treruble on his arm,
her whole frame heaving with emotion, as
her form pressed closer to his, as if by an
irresistible attraction. As he spoke the last
words, she started somewhat, and q hot drop
fell upon his right hand. which had by some
mysterious agency taken possession Of her
left hand.
"We can never have any future ?" she re-
peated slowly and mournfully. What do
you mean? In one breath, you tell me that
you love me in the next, that we can have
no future. Do you seek to mystify me p
Then he referred to her future and his pow
erty, and to his determination not to be the
husband of a woman on whom he must be
financially dependent.
"But suppose the woman loves you, Mr..
- Robert?'
docs she ~
eyes. / avow it frankly since you've been
so candid with me. When q woman is con-
scious that she is loved, there is no need of
further pride; love sweeps 1t away. It seems
to me now thai ! have always loved you,
Robert"
My dearest girl, do you then really, posi-
lively, absolutely love me? Please say 50
agsin.
"And yet you told me, only moment
ago, that you did not know thai You wanted
my love-"
"DidI I, Helen? It must have been be-
cause thought your love unattainable-im-
possible"
My fortune, then, as You call it, is, and
must he an impossible barrier to our happi-
ness
eyes, Helen, and it ought to be-"
Il have heard 50 before and from other
lips"
bIr. Hudson told you So"
81 have mentioned no names.
81 know he did, Helen. He has informed
me Of the fact And to think that was the
miserable fellow who prompted that amiable
fool to try to marry you Can 1 ever forgive
myself?'
50 You are at least forgiven. was conf
dent of Mr. Hudson's laundering that he had
been learning his Lesson from somebody elss
and had learned it i'll. I had reason to be-
lieve, too, that you were his instructor. He
acknowled as much in struggling to conceal
it. The poor fellow was too transparent, too
inabecile to excite Indignation. lie praised
you to the skies, and interested me III you BY
what he suggested rather than by what he
said. confess now that l was very anxious
to meet you. Except for Mr.. Hudson, per
hapg, we never should have met. But what
good can come Of it all, If we are never to be
married You can't mean, Robert, whaI
you say?
''Would you have me called a pettiooai
pepsioDer Helen ?"
'.Would you rather I should be unhappy
than that men should give You vile nam'
which you are conscious you do not deserve ?
No; a thousand times not
SD you not see, Robert, that in objectint
to nay property you make it superior to my
self? Am [ inferior to so many dollars ant
cents? You would BE delighted to have m'
if I were poor. You hesitate to take me be
cause 1 am rich. You think more of wha
your acquaintance might say than of what
should suffer? Is this manly, Robert? L
this generous? Is this chivalrous? Can yoI
sincerely say Helen, love you, and be in
Aaenced by considerations SO thoroughly self
ish?"
You make me see the question in new
light. Confound your fortunes Let 1t go
I only know love you, darling, with M
whole soul. And vet, aud yet wish tina
you were poor-poor as myself.
Would you like me to relinquish m!
fortune, to give it away, to transfer it to othe
hands?"
"Yes, dearest 1 would. 1 should b
glad, delighted to have you owe every ma
terial thing to me. It's weakness, NJ
doubt but cannot help it"
81 GciU give 1t away, Robert"
so my precious one :" and he caught he
passionately in his arms. Their lips met lonl
aud deliciously, and the stars winked merrill,
at a scene and situation they had witnessed
from the beginning of time, and will witnes
to It's end.