The Brookhaven leader., 1883-10-18

Every day found fresh reason for adj
miring my beautiful companion, and
our walks through the deep valleys and
up the rough mountain sides were to
me like enchanted Journeys through n
realm of fairies. In this lovcliest coun-
try In the world, with this most
glorious woman by my sile, was, in
deed, as one transiigurcd by the light
of the grand passion that took possession
of nv soul.
At first | knew not what had befallUh
me. | thought only that my pleasure
in Mabcns society sprang from SINH
larity of tastes and pursuits and the
charm of her conversation; but gradu-
ally 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 n 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 SmittCn through with dazzling
delight ut the dream of successful WOO
ing, vet | was SO overwhelmed that ut
tcrancc would, rs | was sure, be an inn
possibility.
And Mabel? Her eyes were very
kind to me. They turned To me with
Softencd luster that thrilled me with
hope: and vet if | attempted even Il
compliment, | blushcl, floundcrcd, and
was lost.
One evening we were talking of all
manner of subjects, grave and gay. and
SO straycd 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" I adj
ded.
Yes" replied Tom, laughing. "He
married Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher | always thought she proposed
to him.
Sensible girlr' | exclaimed. 81
think it is positively a woman duty
sometimes to help Il man out You re-
member that book of the late DR.. IIor-
ace Bushnell, published some Years
ago, called ~ Reform against Nature?
In it he denounced the whole woman 5
rights movement, but maintained that
every woman ought to have the right
to propose marriage to the man
she liked. | think he was scientifically
cOrrect.'
spoke with great eagcrncSS. looking
always ut 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 a swift, tumultuouS rush, that |
grew faint with confusion, and present
ly rushed out of the room and to bed
thOJgh not to sleep.
The next daV | went out in the after
noon by myself for scramble through
Il damp and very rough gorge, where
Tom and Mabel did not care to accom-
pany me- was half glad to be alone,
for | was nervous over my audacitv of
the night before; yet at thought of Ma
bcTS kindly eyes, So overwhelmed with
binding happiness. that had to look
many times at a bit of rock before
could see the STRIFE that denoted glacial
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
wondrouS charms of Swiss scenery. l
made my way without pause to Mabcl's
parlor, led there by a force that seemed
to draw me by a power beyond my con-
troll. The room was quite dusk AMI
she was alone. AS entered she came
toward me with a quantity of letters
and papers in her hands.
These came while YOU were away"
she said.
Mechanically | took the papers
Among them there was a large package
on which dmly discerncd tho word
"Due," followed by an illegiblc stamp.
"You have paid something on this
l said; chow much was it?' and looked
up
Postage not statcd,' replied Mabel
Promptly, smilingly, she uttered the
words. Then her dark eyes softencd
and faltered, The papers and letters
were scattered over the floor. l had
caught her in my arms with all the au-
dacity that had been once before mine
in my boyish days.
Only now, as 1 pressed passionate
kisses on her brow and lips, ! found
voice at last to utter the ycarning that
was consuming my heart.-DiO LeWiS'
Monthly.