The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-01-08
't GoOd-bye McNultv ~

nv MIuph u n N u nDMLbNu
Goodbye, McNulty -
The tall lissom form Of Esmeralda w.
Perkins was sharply outlined against Wv
ian McNulty's left ear as he stood that
beautiful June evening in the doorway of
Brierton Villa hoping against hope, and
praying that somethng-he knew or
cared not what-might occur to sweep
from the horizon of his life the awful sor-
row that was hanging over it like a pail
a sorrow that would make every day an
con of misery, every word Of JOY that
others might utter knel of despair
They had quarreled, these two--they
who in the beautiful days of autumn,
when the leaves were turning golden,
when the leaves were crowned with am
Der light and the valleys seemed like huge
cups brimminG over with purple haze,
and when the trotting record was lowered
to 2.0st, had plghtcd their troth so will
ing and yet so solemnly, thinking, and
rightly too, that this blending forever of
two hearts was solemn, holy act, one
that should ever be looked back upon in
silent gratitude-and now they part for
ever, take separate paths on the eventful
journey of lite-that journey which they
had hoped by constant companionship
and enduring love to make one ceaseless
Joy and sweet content But now all was
changed, and the rose tinted future which
they had often pictured to themselves and
talked about in the calm hopetulncss that
only young man on S75 a month and
pure passionless girl who can eat the bot
tom crust of pie without a quiver can as
sumo had passed away forever, and in its
place there was a yawning chasm of de-
spair and grief.
81 cannot marry you," Esmcralda had
said to him that night as he entered the
house, and then, having uttered the cruel
words which she had been schooling her
self all the day to say, and seeing how
they had pierced like a dagger that brave,
manly heart, she had thrown herself into
his arms, and as her white face, down
which the tears were streaming, lay upon
his heart, Vivian McNulty knew that the
words which Esmeralda had spoken did
not come from her heart-knew that some
terrible mystery was enshrouding both
their lives in it's darksome folds And as
he held her sobbing in his arms the light
from the chandelier above them streamed
down in golden radiance upon the broad,
white brow from which the fair hair
waved away, fell across the long,
strangely dark eyelashes, giving just a
gleam of the beautiful blue eyes beneath,
across the sweet red mouth quivering like
a grieved child's. And then, as he bent
forward tenderly to kiss away the tears,
the girl had drawn back-not in anger,
h,.f ,x,;th of Tor III.
pain on her face, and spoken the three
words with which this chapter opens:
Goodbye, McNultyw
For an instant the man could not reply.
He had not felt such a shock since meet
ing his father in the giddy whirl of a
poker game and going home with nothing
but Il contrite heart and a lead-pencil to
show for his months wages He still
held Emerald's hands in his, and the girl
was looking up to him with eyes that
were fearless now, but in their depths
there was a look Of frozen horror, my
bustle-has g0t-loose expression that
pierced his very soul And when he had
asked her for an explanation of her words
not demanded it as a right, but pleaded
for it as a favor-she had only shifted un-
u
storm of sObs.
81 can only tell you," she murmured,
when finally his agonized entreaties had
moved her to speech, "that our marriage
would render your life one of constant
misery; that it is better we should part
now than commit an error which eternity
alone could efface You will never know
how | love you, Vivian-never know the
dreadful agony that this separation is
causing me- God knows l would greet
death with smiling face and outstretched
arms tomorrow, now that you are lost to
me forever, for what is.life without your
love, your presence, your kisses, but an
unceasing torture? If loved you less,
if your love were not enshrined in my
heart as something to be worshipped ever
more, would not take this step. 1t was
wrong, very wrong, know, to allow this
love to overmaster my whole being, but
it is better to wreck one life than two,
and so again say goodbye" and lifting
her pure, sweet face to his, Esmeralda
kissed him gently on the lips and turned
to 60.
rious, whoa Emma manner. 81 pleaded
with you for an explanation, but now |
demand it. 1t is my right" and drawing
himself up proudly, he broke his left sus-
pender.
"You speak truly" replied the girl
Gan explanation of my action is due YOU
Know, then, that am victim OF hered-
| ity."