Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-10-18

Every day I found fresh reason for adj
miring nv beautiful companion, and
our walks through the deep valleys and
up the rough mountain sides were to
me like enchanted journeys throughsa
realm of fairies. In this loveliest coun-
try in the world, with this most
glorious woman by my sile, l was, in
deed. as one TRANSPORTED by the light
of the grand passion that took possession
of my soul.
At first knew not what had befallen
me. l thought only that my pleasure
| in Mabers society sprang from SINH
larity of tastes and pursuits and the
charm of her conversation; but gradu-
ally l woke to the overwhelming fact
that loved her with the one great love
of nv life. that seemed to me now to
date from the days of long ago, to have
been always with me, and to stretch
out into the future to make it transcend
emily glorious, or long despair.
And vet as soon as had learned my
own secret, my former bashfulness came
back upon me with tenfold intensity,
and found myself often embarrassed
in her presence, while at the thought Of
telling her my hearts story, though my
brain was smitten through with dazzling
delight at the dream of successful WOO
ing, yet was so overwhelmed that ut
terance would, as was sure, be an i'm
possibility.
And Mabel? Her eyes were very
kind to me. They turned to me with q
softened luster that thrilled me with
hope: and yet if I attempted even 3
compliment, l blushed, f1oundered, and
was lost.
One evening we were talking of all
manner of subjects, grave and gay, an6
so strayed to marriage, in general, and
especially to the matrimonial lot of
some of our old friends.
"You remember Boyd, don't you.
Hip" asked Tom.
"Tall, bashful fellow like me-" l adj
ded.
Yes" replied Tom, laughing. "He
married Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher. l always thought she proposed
to him. ,r-.-....
Sensible girlr' T exclaimed 81
think it is positively a woman duty
sometimes to help a man out. You re-
member that book of the late DR.. Hor-
ace Bushnell, published some years
ago, called "A Reform against Natures
In it he denounced the whole wOman's
rights movement, but maintained that
every woman ought to have the right
to propose marriage to the man
she liked. l think he was scientifically
correct"
spoke with great eagerness, looking
always at Tom: but at the last words
my glance turned to Mabel; her eyes
| were fixed on mine, and the look met
there sent the blood to my heart with
such swift, tumultuous rush. that
grew faint with confusion, and present
| ly rushed out of the room and to bed
| though not to sleep.
The next day went out in the after
noon by myself for a scramble through
damp and very rough gorge, where
Tom and Mabel did not care to accom-
pany me. was half glad to be alone,
the night before;. yet at thought of Ma
bels kindly eyes, so overwhelmed with
binding happiness, that l had to look
many times at a bit of rock before l
could see the striae that denoted glacial
action.
1t was late sunset when l reached the
inn. The last rosy light was flushing
the distant mountain peaks with that
marvellous beauty which is one of the
wOndrOus charms of Swiss scenery. !
made my way without pause to MabePs
parlor, led there by a force that seemed
to draw me by power beyond my con-
troll. The room was quite dusk and
she was alone. AS entered she came
toward me with quantity of letters
and papers in her hands.
''These came while YOU were away"
she said. n
Mechanically I took the papers.
Among them there was large package
on which / dimly discerned the word
''Due," followed by an illegible stamp,
"You have paid something on this"
| said; show much was it?n and looked
up
Postage not stated" replied Mabel.
Promptly, smilingly, she uttered the
words. Then her dark eyes softened
and faltered. The papers and letters
were scattered over the floor. 1 had
caught her in my arms with all the au-
dacity that had been once before mine
in my boyish days. :;
Only now, as l pressed passionate
kisses on her brow and lips, | found
voice at last to utter the yearning that
was consuming my heart.-Dio LewiS'
Monthly. -, -,