The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-15
He had Loved Another.
"rie nn the doc y

"Tie up the dog
The tender gray twilight of June
evening was settling down upon the
earth as Natalie McIntoch spoke these
words, and as she threw up light
shawl over her pretty white shoulders,
whose rounded curves aud soft flesh
tints contrasted so well with the bril-.
liant colors of the garment, and stepp-
ed out upon the lawn, where the star.
eyed pansies and modest pinks were
rearing their heads alongside the vel
vety green of the close trimmed grass
plot that stretched away to the west
ward, the picture was indeed pretty
one Passing through the flower beds
and down the graveed walk until she
came to clump of willows, whose
light branches were just stirred by the
whisper of the night wind that came
from the south, the girl stood there
peering wistfully into the cleaning.
Brushing away with her dimpled hand
the fluffy mass of golden hpir that the
signing wind had blown over her white
forehead, Natalie drew the shawl more
about her and sat down on a little rus
tic bench, whose cosy look made it a
fit place indeed for loves tryst and Vi
gil.
Presently George w. Simpson enter
ed the gate, and was soon by her side
For an instant no word was spoken be-
tween them, and rs they stood there,
her arms about his neck, her head upon
his shoulder, Natalie felt that life with
out this man was a starless blank Here
was deep, trusting, if-the rope-b breaks
we-are gone love that made her voice
falter and die away when she spoke to
George about 1t, and yet back of it all
there was ever nameless fear, vague
terror, that seemed to rise like a mys-
tic dreamland that was part of her ma
ture, and tinged the brightest and hap
piest moments of her life with a sense
of melancholy.
"You love me ?" she asked, looking
up to George with eyes which shone
the radiance of tender beautiful pas
sion 'love me better than all the world
beside, better than you ever loved any
one in your whole life ~
George did not answer, for as she
spoke there came to him haunting
memory of dark, splendid eyes, bright
face, smiling and radiant, dlmpled and
dewy, scarlet lips that had often met
his own 10 sweet, clinging, don't-let- 90
-if-you-value your life kisses. lie
thought of all this as he bent tenderly
over Natalie, her golden hair touching
his cheek, and the perfume of the lilies
she wore mingling with his breath.
The girl noticed his silence. "Why
do you not answer p she said.
George did not reply, but, drawing
her still closer to him, would have kiss
ed her again.
Il want no kisses she exclaimed
passionately, Withdrawing herself from
his arms, from lips that are not SACRED
to me alone. have given you all tha
woman can give-the love of hei
whole nature My heart has been {
lutte for You toplay upon, my whole
existence constant striving to max,
my love for you holy, pure and beau
tiful one. For your sake l have look
ed remuneration in the face with tear
less eyes, | have given you much that i
dear to me, and yet when | ask you i
you love me there comes no answe
from your lips, and your eyes 10 no
look into mine" and drawing herself "
in the imperious, whoa Emma way tha
beftteG her so well, she sat down OF
the rustic bench with dull, sickenn,
thud that told too plainly of a broker
hustle.
In an instant George was by her side
and Natalie was sobbing as if he
heart would break. "Forgive me
darling he murmured, in low boo
beer tones.
81 do" Natalie replied "but tell mt
sweetheart, tell me truly, did you eve
love nother?"
''Do not ask me that, said Georg,
"But | demand an answer exclain
, ed the girl, passionately, "and | agai
ask you if you ever loved another
81 did" he replies, ''loved her wildly
madly.'
"Who was it p she asks, her cheek
atlame with the hot flush of anger.
Bending low over her, George viii
t pers in her left ear the fatal word
= Lydia Pinkham !" and with holloy
mocking laugh, hees into the darI
l ness.