Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-06-07

"Naler1e, you nave Deen lllr
She yielded unwillingly to my en-
brace. A horrible Jealousy sprang
upon me. 'Lr-t1 i-tlH.
"Who is that manp" cried fiercely.
A faint color stole into her face.
"My cousin" she said; "you have
often heard me speak of my cousin,
Harold Masters. He is to spend the
autumn with u.s." .....
..But why" think my voice must
have sounded pitcous; "but why did
you not write in SO many daysp Oh,
Valerie, If you should cease to love me
should go mad!'
"Hushl' she said in tone of alarm
"mamma is coming"
l went away little comforted that
night At least Valerie was living and
still mine. Death was the ony foe to
dread. And should Valerie die, could
| not follow her at oncep l remember
what peace felt in my calm and de-
liberate resolve not to live one hour
| longer than my beloved.
"Her cousin--much like brother!'
The words of Valcrie's mother still
ing soul, had she but known.
He was there, under the same roof
at her side. My jealousy grew fierce
and terrible. l scarcely could speak
to him in civil tones. He seemed to
comprehend and mock me with his
| smile.
I urged an immediate marriage.
Valerie appeared unwilling. Great
Heavens Had she ceased to love mep
For many days that agonising fear
pursued me, sleeping or waking.
Had she ceased to love mep
Did she shrink from my caresses'
.Valerie!' paused at the sound of
stifled sobs. She was weeping; she,
for whose every tear my heart bled
drop for drop!
had come in softly; the drawing
room was yet unlighted. She was
| alone in the dark, by the window.
where cool breeze swung the curtain
' softly inward. She was there alone;
I she had flung herself, face downward,
into great armchair. l tried to lift
her. valerie! You to weep! What has
happenedp"
She resisted me, answering indis-
tinctly:
ut is nothing; lit was lone
| some"
A sudden fury seized me. dragged
| her from the chair, crying out hoarsely:
THAT is not true! You cannot de-
ceive me! Something has happened.
Some trouble is yours. Answer mel"
l had forced her to her feet; l held
her wrists in al iron grasp. was wild
with the great pain gnawing at my
heart-the awful pain that none can
imagine until he has once felt it.
"You hurt me-" she falterod. re-
laxed my hold, and she sprang away
from me and from the room.
l remained there in the gathering
dusk. By-and-by heard voices out
side and near the window.
The servants came and lighted the
lamps. The central radiance of the
room was rosy strong and hopeful; but
on stand not far from where | sat, a
blush globe filtered another flame upon
vase of pallid fragrance. Her lilies
and her hyacinths.
looked at them quietly. l was very
quiet now-now that | knew the worst
now that l knew she loved not me,
but her cousin. How calm | was, with
all that crushing knowledge!
By-and-by another thought seem d
to gnaw deeper than my own agony of
loss. Did-he-love--her? Why had
she wept so? Why should she weep?
Not at any thought OF me; that was not
human.
Well, l could easily determine.
would give her her freedom at once,
and wish her well. If she still wept, l
knew other things that should do.
How my own misery paled in the
light of my fiery zeal for her welfare!
A half hour later had asked her to
walk with me in the grounds. led her
a safe distance from the house.
valerie" said, '.it is my dearest
wish, my only dream on earth, to Sc
cure your happiness. Tonight, by
chance, not purpose. l overheard a
conversation. l know that you love
him. will not stand between you. l
give you back your freedom, and the
blessing of a-brother. Valerie, take
heart, for you shall wed him."
| She trembled; she did' not answer.
Heavens! My horrid suspicion. Why
did she not thank me? Why did she not
show joyp
Valerie" cried, ''why are you
silent?"
But she only bowed her head upon
my arm and sobbed. Then l knew all.
But she should not, must not know
my thoughts. l disscmbled, speaking
cheerily.
"You are nervous, Valerie; come
back to the house, all will be WELL"
And in my heart ! swore an awful
oath, that he who had stolen her love
from me should keep his vows or die.
| left the house at once, that might
avoid seeing her mother or him. |
would give him fair chance until the
following day.
| had no weapon. | went to meet
him, unarmed save with my great love
| for her whom he had wronged, in some
measure-how deeply l scarce could
tell.
| l had stayed all night at little hotel
there in that suburb, and going up to
the villa late in the afternoon, discov-
cred that he had gone to the city, to
return by the evening train. l had
seized upon this opportunity to con-
front him alone.
went slowly down the slope. slowly
along the quiet road. There were no
houses near. 1t was very quiet The
new moon peered with pitiless profile
over the distant hilltops. waited for
him to come.
l spoke calmly at the outset, as IL
taking for granted his love for her.
abdicated in his favor, speaking pleas
antly as could force myself to speak.
He laughed.
ssYou ara yarv vond ~ ba ,a;,J .,h,,t