Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-09-03


81 have not.n
"Then why may we not marryT
''The fact is all you need know" said
Vanity; ''the cause is my affair"
''To get rid of the cause shall be nv
affair, replied Willie pluckily. "And surely,
Vanity, you cannot think it improper curl
osity If l press you to tell me more about
this secret difficulty"
He pleaded with her, and he soon saw in
her manner some fruits Of his entreaties.
She softened, she warmed; but still she
would say nothing. For oil that, she seemed
to feel pleasure in being pressed to speak;
and Willie. finding that he had power to
move her, and that her resolution wavered
more and more, besought her to trust him.
At last, much as if she felt that his caressing
speeches were giving her dangerous plea
sure, she drew herself up, and her frmness
returned.
'You must ask me no more"
But, having accomplished so much, was
Willie likely now to despairl He renewed
his entreaties.
There can be no obstacle to our mar
riager' he cried, vehemently, mo possible
obstacle which my love and energy will not
overcome"
Vanity fixed upon him searching look,
trying to gauge his sincerity.
He understood what the look meant.
eyes, you may believe mel" he cried.
"Nothing could alter my love-nothing in
the worldr
"Are you sureF'
Gas sure as that live"
There was grassy bank beside the gate,
and there Vanity sat down, Willie standing
bard by, and she plucking at a few tall blades
Of grass growing at her side. She did not
look up
"Willie, if I loved you"
'You have told me that you do"
"If let my liking for you grow into love-"
she went on, in a low voice, ~ would love
you till died. You would take me out Of
myself and hold me as your own. Do what
you would, be what you would, l could
never take back the heart had given"
She paused. He felt she had more to say.
''Well, Vanity, what theng'
"You could never love me So"
'Why do you say thatw asked Willie,
wondering.
Because you are manly, affectionate
boy; but you are afraid Of what the world
says. You would make your love for me
second, and your love for the good opinion
Of your friends first"
II should not. What do you meanT said
Willie-two matters in one breath.
Vanity sat plucking the grass. She spoke
with the most curious air of preoccupation,
frivolity and disdain. Who could read the
secret of her subtle mannerl
IF you knew that there was fact in my
life-an ineffaceable fact-which would
leave me open to sudden shame; something
that children ought never to know about a
mother, that friends ought never to know
about friend, that husband ought never
to know about his wife, unless he loved her
with love that was nquenchable--what
then?n
II don't quite understand you," Willie re-
piled, hesitating. "lfy love is unquenchable y
IF all that were true of me, would you
still say what you said just now--that moth.
ing in the world could alter your love"
''Y-e-s," answered Willie slowly; II be-
ieve So" Then, after pause, he added,
'Of course it would be nothing really dis.
graceful"
Vanity rose with a sad smile. She touched
him on the cheek. She seemed the elder and
the stronger of the two.
'Good-by, Willie. We must see each other
no more"
''Vanity, what do you mean9 Have I Of
Tended youa" All these exclamations came
in breath he could not interpret her man
ner
There is some one waiting to marry you
that girl Miss Steele. know all about her, ;
said Vanity, trying to smile, with her eyes
full of tears. "She is respectable; you will
get good wife and run no risk. Everybody
will say how sensible you are, and praise you
and look up to you. That will be nice, you
know"
There was touch Of scorn in her ''That
will be nice"-Oh, such a fine, delicate, sting
ing scorn Quite right, Mr. Shakespeare
the mocking wench had, tongue with 6
razor edge.
II see how it u.s." Willie said, with a morti
fled air; you never really cared for me-"
Listen" she answered in tone that sunk
tnAo his very soul. 'If you had been brought
upsi your life long amongst people who WERE
sWie thoughtless, some vicious, some selfish
until you hardly knew there was such 6
thing as goodness; and if, all of sudden
you saw somebody who seemed to live 6
higher life and breathe purer air, who haG
grown up surrounded by truth and virtue
until he was good without knowing he wa,
good; and if he was as handsome as virtuous
SO that nothing was wanting to make hin
desirable" She paused.
'Of whom are you speakingF' asked Willie
She went on impetuously:
you found that you had drawn forth 6
pure and noble love, which flowed out fol
you like delicious stream, promising tx
gladden. hard, scorched life; and if, just a.
you were going to drink, something told yor
that you had no right to that love that yor
had awakened it only by seeming to be wha
you were not; that the dreams Of your life
were as fair as heaven, and the realities bass
and wretched; that, Willie, Willie!' sbe
cried, starting up wildly, ''if the veil were
torn off me, you would hate me. If yor
married me, and the veil were torn off then
you would curse me! Go, and let me go
Tell nobody what have said; let it be Sc
cret between you and myself forever. DOM
write to meas you value my life, dont
write to mel o Willie, Willie, my heart il
broken!n
The forced calmness with which she begar
had changed to frenzy, and the frenzy nov
changed to weeping. Vanity turned away
and, resting her hands on the gate, bowet
down in fit of crying.
Willie had listened to her with amazement
and fear; but whatever prudential motives
may have been at work in his breast CAV,
way at the sight of her great sorrow.
''You are nervous and excited, he said
soothingly. "You must be distressing your
self without reason. There can be nothin,
70 bad as you describe. III heard this secret