The Penn's Grove record., 1883-09-15

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From the gay worsteds she was sort
ing, she looked up with a m~ischiev0us
expression BETTING her words, yet I'M
deriving it a goodly measure of the
rare tenderness that only a woman's
face can wear
Hers seemed a strange face for a
lover to fro WIN upon ; but frewn he did
-unhandsomely, emphatically.
~ am in no mood for TESTING, Sal
dee he continued, glumly, "nor prob
ably will you be, when | tell you that
what we have so long debated must be
leclded between us now
The sunny smile died from her coun.
tenance; the rare tenderness seemed
but the rarer for it's gravity.
II am so sorry, Wilfred," she an
swered softly II so hoped you would
see its impossibilitv and agree with
me"
He could but read how she loved
him. but he read something else now
in look and tone-something that mo-
mentarily banished the frown and
paled his handsome face. With a pas
sionate impulse he arose, and, cross
ing over to where she sat, took her
hands in his, and gazed down into her
brown eyes long and steadily.
.,Saidee, do you care at all for me p
he asked, finally.
"Do 1 care for you, Wilfred ?" she
murmured, reproachfully, yet with the
rapture of his touch reflected in her
face. "Do care for you? oh, how
can you ask me that, when you know
hat there is only you-only you in the
whole wide world for me !"
His hands fell he turned away
from her impatiently, with a bitter
smile.
"If | am all the world to you, Sal
dee. you Ger ainly have a strange way
OF showing it. Your words are pref
ty, but they do not weigh at all with
me. If you would have me believe
you, come and promise to obey me as
, woman should the man she loves"
He extended his arms toward her as
he spoke there was a look on his
Gace she could not mistake She knew
It would be the last, time but still
she took no step forward she simply
stood terrified, appealingly gazing mp at
him.
"Wilfred-"
He was frowning again, 10Y deeper
than before.
"lknow what You would say, Saidee,'f
he interrupted, sand it is only a waste
of words. AS | said before, your words
have no weight on me , it is enough
for me that you are ready to have me
go tomorrow, we might a. well say
good-by.n
She had not taken her eyes from his
face, and he still looked back at her,
steadily, relentlessly. AT his last word
she shivered, a death-like pallor spread
over her countenace, and she answered
b~rokenly
"Wilfred-"
He did not interrupt her now he
bent forward with conscious eagerness
lor her words. His own were honest,
but he felt certain of their effect he
did not doubt that in this decisive mo.
ment, he would gain her to his will. She
would surely not let him go; she was
about to yield to him, to say that there
could he no good-by between them that
sooner than this, she would abjure al
and follow him. Aud 80 he bent for
ward for the answer, eagerly, with
certain hope.
"Wilfred, if you so will, you mus
go, but | can eve say good-by t.
you.n
That was what she said, brok
emily, tenderly, yet with he gentl
frmness that had so startled him jus
now.
"If you so will you must CO."
A moment he stood regardin
her, shaking with pain and disal
pointment; a %momentary passion swaye
him; a heeting, wavering in
pulse, but he quickly crushed theI
down.
II will do so, Saidee," he replied
with scornful emphasis ''and sine
you object to goodbye, let us make
ood-afternoon."
This was their parting 20 he left hel
striding out and past the window b
which she sat.
And this is the end of it all, y sh
murmured; when he knew how
love him, when he knows how | woul
die for him. Oh Wilfred my love, m
dearest, how could you leave me so !"
1t was not strange that that othe
time should rise vividly before her
that day six months ago, WHEN, in thi
very room, in the first blissful realizs
ton of their mutual passion, he ha
fallen on his knees before her. an
solemnly affirmed that, come wha
would, NJ power on earth should eve
separate him from her.
"If ever a woman was SUR of a mar
Saidee, you are sure of me I"
What music the words were, thong
neither of them could forsee and tn
sore test that awaited them. All scenes
bright ahead ; they were to be maj