Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-12

uareu you approach Cne woman you
loved with a falsehood upon your
lips?"
Catherine! you take away my
BREATH"
II beg your pardon, sir. Iapolo-
gise. I spoke warmly, sir, because my
own heart felt very full. Your story
reminds me of my own, and it recalls
past days when-if I was not entirely
happy-at least the hope OF happiness
lay before me. 1t was a cruel thrust
which took that hope from me. Heaven
help the poor lady whom you say you
loved. if she has suffered as l have"
"Whom I say I loved! Catherine,
you go too far! Whom 1 say I loved /!
Why, 1 loved her so we'll that it is for
her sake 1 have shut myself up here.
seeing no one, going nowhere! Cath
crime. l believed you were my friend"
Il am. indeed, your friend, sir. But
l am a woman, and my heart aches for
the woman whom my friend and mas
ter has given pain. I-who have en-
dured the lucknow how deeply you
must have wounded her."
He sighed. '.But she was over hastv
with me. She went away at once, out
of my reach. Imeant no harm"
"Sir, the boy who plays with a pistol
means no harm. But he may shoot
some one to death, Notwithstanding"
"She has made me no sign since"
t'What sign would you have a proud
woman make to a half-hearted lover,
sir?"
Catherine, your words are very hit
ter, but your face is kind. We wre
cousins. She might have sent for ne,
or written to me-"
"May 1 remind you again that men
do not understand women? Two
am also a proud woman and who have
also endured insult from a an-sem
to know nor of your cousin than ysu
do"
Catherine. your tongue is shan.
But tell me-for it kills me to dwdl
upon myself-what man has dared 3
insult you?"
"The man I loved, SIR"
''Is it possible"
''Yes, sir. 1 had loved him all my
life. lonly waited for him to speaL
I loved him, sir, with a love of which
you have no idea. The very worn
was sacred to me, because no dwelt il
it. l thought of him morning, nool
and night. 1 fell asleep with his in
age before my eyes, and I awoke with
his name upon my lips. If he gave ne
q rosebud I treasured its wither.d
petals; If he touched my n%eedle-wo1k,
it became hallowed to me. When he
smiled, I was in Heaven; when he
talked, the society Of the gods vas
mine. l saw no man but him. All
other men we're pigmies in my sight.
He so possessed me that when I Looked
in the glass, I marveled that my face
was mirrored there and not hist"
"And this man did not return YOUR
love. Catherine?"
HE returned it, sir, as men do re-
turn love. He liked to menopolise ne.
He couldn't bear to see me talking to
other men. He heaped me with pre,-
ents and pretty things. He thought,
poor fellow! that women like fans and
gloves better than esteem and conf
dence. But he doubted me, sir. He
PLAYED with my finest feelings. He
tried to test my love-he, who did not
know what love was!'
..He was a villain. Catherine. But
how did he test your love?"
''Sir, he had been unsuccessful. Sud-
denly he achieved a triumph. l heard
| of it and my heart leapt; and Who
believed in him-thought he would
come and offer me his fulness. He
said: 4 am a disappointed man; will
you share failure and modification with
me?' Oh, sir, it was a base and I'M
worthy trick! 1 would have shared a
| howell with him. But when he had a
| wide house."
"He was a brute, Catherine! He
deserved to be horse-whipped!"
"Ah, do not say so, sir! He was to
me only what you were to your cou-
SIM"
.Catherine!"
..Yes, sir. You-both of you
handled the love OF a woman to try
its strength and its worth. Your touch
was agony"
..Oh, Catherine-when I loved her so
much!"
when you doubted her so much,
sir! You thoughts many men
think-that a woman who weds a rich
man weds for riches"
The master groaned.
catherine, for the first time since
you entered my services you have been
cruel to me-" he SAID.
IL ask your pardon. sir. I have
overstepped my province. 1 must beg
you to forget what l have said. 1 will
leave you now, SIR"
NAY, wait a moment. I told you
this was my birthday. 1t is also hers.
She is exactly eight years my Junior"
sis she, sir"
81 have a feeling that she may come
and see me to-day. For many years
we have kept this day together"
'.Indeed. sir!!
II would rather not see her, Cath
crime. As you say, I doubted her and
I offended her. l believe that she will
come. But she will come with re-
proaches, not with love. 1 a not re-
fuse to see her; but l would rather not
look upon her face"
''It is not for me to offer advice, sir;
but before you take a decided step, let
me implore you to remember how little
you know of a woman's heart. You
angered your cousin, but no doubt she
has long ago forgiven you, and would
ro tn the North Pole mr. tourney