Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-12-13

The first really hot weather had sent
the Danverses out to their country home
an old stone house among great pine
woodland John spent most of his time
with them But not one word of love
did he say during those charmed weeks
of hot summer-tide. They wandered
through the pines. and played with the
baby, and sailed down the river in the
cool mornings and the moonlight nights,
and John said nothing beyond the
| pleasant, courteous words of an in
innate acquaintance. In those days
Elizabeth was often very weary. II
must wear my mask, she though; she
must not know how really weak and
| tender I am. Oncei ahi once. But
what did it bring me? Contempt. If
women show they have heart, they in
vite a betrayer."
It was the last day of August, and
Elizabeth was to return to England
early in September. It had been a still,
hot, eXhausting day. Fanny had bad
headache, John was in the city, and
Elizabeth was slowly walking her little
namesake to sleep IN the darkening
parlor. By-and-by John came home
and sat down. Elizabeth smiled family
at him, and continued her monOtonous
walk and lullaby. John followed her
every movement. Then the child was
| asleep, and she was leaving the room.
He stood before her, all his soul in his
face. You will come back, Elizabeth?
l want to speak to you"
! twas the first time he had ever called
| her Elizabeth. She knew what he want
ed to say, and vet she answered, almost
in whisper: Il will come back"
He was awaiting her return with the
greatest Impotence. Now that he could
no longer withhold speech, he was eager
| for his opportunity. He met her as she
entered, and drawing her passionately
toward him, said: ''Oh, Elizabeth, you
must not leave me now. l have loved
you, darling, loved you and sought you,
! for eleven years"
'eOh, John, love you, too! But you
must know the truth: I have loved some
one else the greater part of those eleven
years-sOme one who basely won my
! childish heart, and then left me to such
! hopeless misery as makes me tremble
yet to think Of I was simple, loving,
romantic soul, and he thought it but a
holiday to take all the glory out Of my
life, and all the trust out of my heart. ]"
care You sure of that, darling?"
"Quite sure. He left me in Rome
one 1st of November; l never saw him
again, and he never wrote me q line.
HE Waskilled three days afterward,
deaFest, in q pass of the Apennines.
| There was a long letter to you in his
pocket, but it was unfinished and had
no address. I have it here. Will you
read it?''
''NO, no, John; it is too late now.
|
''He was my dearest friend. We
were travelling together. I knew that
he was deeply in love with young
English girl, but he was very secret and
Jealous about this matter / did not
care to irritate him with questions, for
he regarded the subject as too sacred a
one for common conversation. Sooner
or later [ was sure he would give me his
confidence. Alas! he had only strength
after he was stabbed to whisper some
words which were quite inaudible, and
explained nothing. The brigands who
had attacked us suffered me to redeem
my friends body and my own life, ano
[ kept as a sacred trust and relic the
letter he had intended for you, andyoul
picture. The lovely face gradually be
came a dream and hope to me
sought you all over Europe; have
not found you now only to lose you
have [, Elizabeth"
She answered at first by passion o
tears and sobs. 1t was gracious rain
and washed away all the sense of wrong
that had imbittered so many years. /
was Just, also, that she should first give
this tribute to the memory of a lost anC
wronged love. John understood thC
, feeling, and shared it. After all, i
was a short sorrow, from which was II
spring for them long years of conf
dent jOy.-HagpeT' IS Weekly.