West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-10-19

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
realm of fairies. la this lOvelest cOun-
| try I'm the world, with this most
glorious woman by NV sile, | 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. thought only that my pleasure
in MabePs society sprang from SINH
larity of tastes and pursuits and the
charm of her conversation: but gradu-
ally woke to the overw Ginning fact
/ that | loved her with the one great lovn
of my life. that seemed TO me now To
date from the days of long ago, 10 have
been always with me, and To stretch
out into the future % make il transcend
emily glorious, or long despair.
And yet as soon rs | had learned my
own secret, my former bashfulncss came
back upon me with tcufold intensity.
and found myself often embarrassed
in her presence, while at the thought of
! telling her my hearts story. though my
]
delight at the dream of successful WOO
| ing, yet ! WAS so overwhelmed that ut
| tcrancc would, rs | was sure, be an inn
! possibility.
And MabelP Her eyes were very
kind to me. They turned to me with II
| softencd luster that thrilled me with
hope: and yet if | attempted even "a
compliment, blushed, iloundercd, 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 10 the matrimonial lot of
some of our old friends
You remember Boyd, don't You,
Hill?' asked Tom
Tall, bashful fellow like me, " al
ded.
Yes" replied Tom, laughing. "He
married Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher. 1 always thought she proposed
10 him
Sensible girl / exclaimed IL
think it is positively womans duty
sometimes To help man out You re-
member that book of the late DR. Hor-
ace Bushnell, published some years
ago, called "A Reform against Nature?'
In 1t 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. think he was scientifically
| correct
/ spoke with great cagerness, 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
GXUift Al. 4
grew faint with confusion, and present.
ly rushed out of the room and to bed 49,
tho 1gh not to sleep.
The next day | went out i'm the after
noon by myself for II scramble through
n damp and very rough gorge, where
Tom and Mabel did not care TO accom-
| pany me. | was half glad to be alone,
Tor l was nervous over my audacitv of
the night before; yet at thought of Ma
bels kindly eyes, SO overwhelmed with
binding happiness, that had to look
many times at II bit OF rock before |
could see the STRIFE that denoted glacial
| action.
1t was late sunset when ! reached the
mn. The last rosy light was flushing
the distant mountain peaks with that
marvellous beauty which Is one of the
wondrous charms of Swiss scenery. I
made my way without pause TO Mabel's
! parlor, led there by force that seemed
to draw me by Il 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.
| Mechanically | took the papers.
Among them there was a large package
on which dimly dscerncd the word
Due" followed by an llegiblc stamp.
You have paid something on this"
! said; "how much was 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. | had
caught her in my arms with all the au
dacity that had been once before mine
in my boyish days.
Only now, as | pressed passionate
kisses on her brow and lips, | found
voice at last t. utter the warming that
was consuming my heart - Do Let0is'
Monthiy.