Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-06-29
LYDIA'S LOVER

The tender gray twilight of June
evening was settling down upon eartl
as Natalie Mcintosh threw shaw
over her pretty white shouldere whose
rounded curves and soft flesh tints
contrasted 80 we'll with the brilliant
colors of the garment, and stepped
out upon the lawn. where the star
eyed pansies and modest pinks We're
rearing their heads alongside the
velvety green of the close trimmed
grass plot that stretched away to the
westward. the picture was indeed a
pretty one. Passing through the
flower beds and down the graveled
walk until she came to a clump of
willows. whose light branches were
Just stirred by the whisper of the
night that came from the south, the
girl paused and stood there peering
wistfully into the cleaning. Brush
ing away with her dimpled hand the
fluffy mass Of golden hair that the
signing wind had blown over her
white forehead, Natalie drew the
shawl more closely about her and sat
down on little rustic bench, whose
cozy look made it tit place indeed
for loves tryst and vigil.
Presently George ". Simpson en-
tered the gate and was soon by her
side. For an instant no word was
spoken between them, and as they
stood there, her arms about his neck,
her head upon his shoulder, Natalie
felt that without the love of this man
her life would be starless blank.
Here was deep, trusting. if the rope
breaks-we are gone love that made
her voice falter and die away when
she spoke to George about it, and
yet back of it all there was ever q
nameless fear, vague terror. that
seemed to rise like black pail from
out the mystic dreamland that was
part of her very nature and tinged
the brightest and happiest moments
of her life with sense of melancholy.
"You love me?" she asked, looking
up to George with eyes in which there
shone the radiance of a tender, beau
tiful passion; "love me better than
all the world beside; better than you
have ever loved any one in your
whole life!"
George did not answer, for as
Natalie spoke there came tc him
haunting memory of dark, splendid
eyes, bright face. smiling and ra-
diant, and dimpled, and dewy, scarlet
lips that had often met his own in
sweet, clinging, don't-let gc-if you
value-your-life kisses. He thought of
all this as he bent tenderly over
Natalie, her golden hair touching his
cheek, and the perfume from the
lilies she Wore mingling with his
breath.
The girl noticed his silence. why
do you not answer me?" she said.
George did not reply, but, drawing
her still closer to him, would have
kissed her again.
Il want no KISSES" she exclaimed
passionately, withdrawing herself
from his arms, from lips that are
not sacred to me alone. l have given
you all that C woman can give-the
love of her whole nature My heart
has been lutte for you to play upon,
my whole existence constant striv-
ing to make my love for you holy,
and beautiful. and pure one. For
your sake have looked remuneration
i'll the face with fearless eyes, have
given up much that is dear to me,
and yet when | ask you if you love
me there comes no answer from your
lips, and your eyes do not look into
mine"-and drawing herself up in
the imperious, whoa-Emma way that
beftted her so we'll she sat down on
the rustic bench with dull, sicken-
ing thud that told all too plainly of
a broken hustle.
In an instant George was by her
side and Natalie was sobbing as if
her heart would break. Forgive me,
darliug." he murmured in low. book
beer tones.
II do" Natalie replied; but tell
me, sweetheart, tell me truly, did
you ever love another?' .
DO not ask me that" said George.
But / demand an answer" ex-
claimed the girl passionately, land
again ask you if you ever loved
another"
Il did, he replied. "Loved her
wildly, madly"
who was it ?" she asked, her cheeks
afame with the hot flush of anger.
Bending low over her. George
whispered into her left ear the fatal
words: Lydia Pinkham!' and with
a hollow, mocking laugh, fled into
the darkness.