Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-10-27

refiectively. Remember that party at p
Mrs. Edwartls'?" tEnr-t.l --ss
A sudden rush of blood TO my face ut
terly confused me. stamnnered reply,
and Tom, to my relief, went OH with sonnet
rambling "reminiscences. 1t was some
seconds before | dared 10 look at Matel.
Surely she was blashing too. .- H.
The next morning we all went on trip
up the slopes of the mountain. Mabel In
short, gray suit, alpine hat and stout boots;
Tom carrying her drawing materials.
Thus We made this and many another de-
lightful expedition. j
Life took on new eolors for me. There
was a radiance and glory about it that L
had never dreamed of before. Every day
l found fresh reasons for a,lmiring my
beautiful companion, and our walks g
through the deep valleys and up tue rough n
mountain sides were tn me like enchanted
Journeys through realm OF fairies. In
this loveliest country ia the world, with
this most glorious woman by my si'ic,
was, indeed, as one transilgured by the
light of the grand passion that took pos r
session Of my soul. aa Isia
Atti,st knew not What had befallcu me.
thought only that my pleasure In Mabel'S
society sprang from similarity OF tastes o..
and pursuits and the charm of her con- i.
versation; but gradually awoSc to the H
overwhelming fact that loved her with q
the one great love Of my life, that seemed
10 me now to date from the days Of long
ago. 10 have been always with Inc, and To
stretch out in the future 20 make IL trans
ccndently glorious, or long despair.
And vet rs soon us had learned my
own secret, my former bashfulncss came
back upon me with tcnfold intensity, AMI
I found myself often embarrassed In her
presence, while at the thought OF telling
her my hearts story, though my brain
was smittcn through with dazzling de-
lirit at the dream of successful wooing,
vet | was so overwhelmed that uttcrapcc t
would, as was sure, be an impossibiliV.
And Mabel? Her eyes were very kind
to me. They turned to me with soitched
lustcr that thrilled mc with hope; and
vet If attempted even u compliment,
blushcd, llouLGercd, and was lost. .. r-..
One evening We were talkingof all man
ner of subjects, grave and gay, and SO
strayed to marriage, in general, and es- .i
pecially to the matrimonial lotoi some ol
our old friends. ....l |f.. ~
"You remember Boyd, dontyou, llfln
asked Tom. .l-ai sea a,i 4. ..r...-..y 900
"Tall, bashfnl fellow like me" added. n
eyes" replied Tom, laughing, "lic i.
married Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher. always thought she proposed b
to him." .I H. ~ 80.
"Sensiblc girl! l exclaimed. 81 think s
it is positively a woman's duty sometimes %
TO helm man out. You remember that %
book of the late DR.. Horace Bushnell, pub
lished some years ago, called a Reform
against Nature?' In it he denounced tho
whole wOman's rights movement, bur
maintained that every woman ought TO
have the right to propose marriage TO thc
man she liked. think he was scientific
ally correct" ae. .t . ..int.
spoke with great eagerness, looking all
ways at Tom; but at the last words my
glance turned to Mabel; hor eyes were
fixed on mine, and the look j met tbcro
sent the blood to my heart with such .
swift, tumultuous rush, that grew faint
with confusion, and presently rushed out
of the room and to bed-thongh not to-
sleep. s...i.s s.. t..< .srE t..".-s1
The next day went out In the afternoon
by myself for a scramble through damp
and very rough gorge, where Tom aud
Mabel did not care TO accompany me. II
was half glad to be alone, for was ner- y
yous over my audacity Of the night before;
vet Mt thought Of Mabel's kindly eyes, so
overwhelmed me with binding happiness,
that had to look many times at o bit OF
rock before | could sec the STRIFE that de-
noted glacial action. .yt,-.t. ...t, ....,,s
1t was late sunset when ] reached the
inn. The last rosy light was flushing the
distant mountain peaks with that marvel
Gus beauty which Is ono Of the wondrons
charms of Swiss scenery. | made my way
without pause to Mabel's parlor, led there
by force that seemed TO draw me by
power beyond my control. The room was
quite dusk and she was alone. AS en-
tered she came toward me with quantity
of letters and papers in her hands.
"rhese camc while you were away,
she said. i' -h.'''' F.' '"N'"
Mechanically took the papers. Among
them there was large package OF which
I dinly discerned the word DUG" fol- d
lowed by an iIlegible stamp. ~ "'''
"You have paid something on this" T.
said: show much was II ?" and looked up. .
postage not stated" replied Mabel. sh +"
Promptly, smilingly, she uttered the
words. Then her dark eyes softcned aud
faltered. The papers and letters were scat
tered over the floor. / had caught her IN u
my arms with all the audacity that had 70
been once before mine la my boyish days. .
Only now, as pressed passionate kisses 3
OIL her brow and lips, / found voice at
last to utter the yearning that was con-
suIning my heart. i11l lofl- 1iIiah Ial
An Insult TO ihe Profes~ten.