The Penn's Grove record., 1883-10-13

rough mountain sides were 10 me IKE
enchanted Journeys through a realm Of
fairies. In this loveliest country OF the
world, with this most glorious woman
by my side, 1 was, indeed, as n
tfansfgured by the light of the grand
passion that took possession Of my
soul.
At FIST | knew not what had befallen
me. / thought only that my pleasure in
Mabel's society sprang from a similarity
of tastes and pursuits, and the charm
of her conversation but gradually ]
woke to the overwhelming fact that !
loved her with the one great love of my
life, that seemed to me now to date
back from the days of long age, to
have been always with me, and to
stretch out into the future to make ii
t~ranseendently glorious, or a long des-
pair.
And yet as soon as 1 had learned my
own secret, my former b~ashfulness came
back upon me with tenfold intensity,
and | found myself often embarrassed
i'm her presence, while at the thought of
telling her my hearts story, though my
brain was smitten through with daz-
zling delight at the dream of successful
wooing, yet | was so overwhelmed that
u~tteranee would, as ! was sure, be an
impossibility.
And Mabel ? Her eyes were very
kind to me. Theyturned to me with d
softened luster that thrilled me with
hope and yet, if l attempted ven a
compliment, blushed, loundered, and
was lost.
One evening we were talking of all
manner of subjects, grave and gay, and
50 strayed to marriage in general, and
especially to the matrimonial lot of
some of our old friends.
"You remember Boyd, don't you,
Hill ?" asked Tom.
"Tall, bashful fellow, like me,
added"
"Yes," replied Tom, laughing. "He
married Miss Cutting, our former
school teacher. always thought she
proposed to him.
Sensible girl ~ I exclaimed, 81
think it is positively a woman's duty
sometimes to help a man out. You
remember that book of the late DR..
Horace Bushnell, published some years
ago called "A Reform Against Nature p
it he denounces the whole woman's
lights movement, but maintained that
very woman ought to have the right
o propose marriage to, the mai she
liked. I think he was scientifically
correct"
| spoke with great eagerness, looking
at Tom but at the last words
ny glance turned to Mabel, her eyes
fixed on mine, and the look met
here sent the blood to my heart with
UGH a swift, tumultuous rush that
rev faint with confusion, and pres
ntly rushed out Of the room and to
oed-though not to sleep.
The next day | went out in the after
by myself for a scramble through
damp and very rough gorge, where
rom and Mabel did not care to accom-
,any me. I was half glad to be alone,
or l was nervous over my audacity of
he night before yet at the thought of
Mabel's kindly eyes, so overw helmed
with binding happiness, that / had to
ook many times at a bit of rock before
could see the STRIFE that denoted gla-
cial action.
1t was late sunset when | reached the
inn. The last rosy light was flushing
the distant mountain peaks with that
marvellous beauty, which is one of the
woundrous charms of Swiss scenery j
made my way without pause to Mabel's
led there by a force that seemed
to draw me by a power beyond my COLI
blOi. lliC AOOHi Woo 4uioO ouoh alo ohO
was alone. AS | entered she came to-
ward me with a quantity of letters and
papers in her hands.
"These came while you were away
she said.
Mechanically l took the papers.
Among them there was a large package
which / dimly discerned the word
"Due," followed by an illegible stamp.
"You have paid something on this"
/ said ''how much vas it :" 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. l had
caught her in my arms with all the au-
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.