St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-10
HIS FIRST LOVE.
The Terrible Truth Told BY Dia-
ulOnd Ring.

on fiat stone beside the road.
eyes. so [ understand.
''And is that all you have to say, BELIEF"
81 wish you pleasant journey and safe
return" she said, bending over her flowers
to arrange them. "When do you think you
shall be back, William?
This was not what l wanted. Cousin
Belle was too quiet and calm. wanted her
to feed my craving vanity by some look or
word, or tear of love, that l could carry
away with me to feast on-and she would
not. 1 determined to touch her some way,
even at the expense of the truth.
perhaps never, Bell! If succeed in
business shall most probably settle there,
marry there, and live and die there"
She did not answer.
''Would you care for that, my pretty
cousin?"
Hum! 1 don'tknow wish could
find another violet to match this. Look,
what a beauty"
''You would care-you do care-though
you sit there talking about your flowers!"
l said, hastily. Tell me, don't you love
mea little bit, dear Bell?''
drew her nearer, and softening, yield
ing look came over her face.
''And if / did, William"
II WOuIu ludiAG ulc HdpIJlSl III OuO Way
Bell, for l should feel that my journey was
only taken for your good, aud that in time
you would thank me for making it."
''What do you mean, William? Have
you lost your senses? What have / done,
or said, or looked, to make you think
what---what yOu have just Said?"
Il was saying it all for your good"
! Numbered out. sull1ily. And going away
for your good, too"
Because you thought 1 loved you too
much--was that it?"
Yes"
''And so you were kindly going to take
yourself out of sight until L had forgotten
you?"
/ was silent.
''Oh, grant me patiencer' she exclaimed;
and then, as if had stung her to the very
heart, she buried her face in her hands. AT
last she looked up.
Il do not think you are to blame for this
I suppose all men are So" she said, so
gently that she took me by surprise.
But l think we had better part now. /
hope when wemeet again you will know
women better than you do now"
''Will you give me a flower, Bell?' l
asked, feeling with strange perversity,
just at that moment, that l would have
died to win her. She smiled and pushed
them toward me with her foot.
Help yourself, William
took upa daisy and violet and put
them in my bosom.
wrote to my cousin several times after
/ had established myself in my new home
in Ireland, but as she contented herself by
sending messages in answer in my sister
Maggie'S letters l took the hint at last and
followed her example. But her silence
and her anger did for her what her affection
had never DONE and if ever dream of a
happy home came into my mind as l sat
alone it was sure to be the face and form of
Bell that beautified it. She still remained
unmarried. Three years passed away and
during the summer of the fourth went for
visit to my country hOme---thinking
fondly to myself that l would bring my
cousin with me when i returned, and keep
her there with me forever
1t SO happened that Bell had Just
returned from her spring trip to town when
l arrived, and my favOrite sister Maggie
was only too glad Of an excuse to call upon
her and see the recent fashions she had
brought
81 am obliged to have an excuse, nova
days." she said with merry laugh, ''for
Bell is very proud, and seems to forget that
we used to play together day after day at
school. l often think should like to re-
mind her OF IT, but she has grown such
fine lady hardly dare
Bell proud and a fine lady! l could
hardly imagine that.
1t was in the orchard that we met.
''Well, cousin" she said smilingly.
''when you have looked at me long enough.
perhaps you will talk to me. A penny for
your thoughts"
They were not very gallant ones, l am
afraid. for was thinking that though you
have grown very beautiful, Bell, you have
also grown very heartless.'
She laughed carelessly.
And a perfect woman of the world"
''Thank you, sir.'' she answered. with
a graceful bend of the head. You are
quite as complimentary as you used to be.
| see. But never mind what l am, have
been, or may be. Tell me what you have
been doing all these years"
Thinking of you, Bell" said, bluntly
but truely.
She changed color little, but soon re-
covered herself.
sit strikes me that you might have en-
ployed yourself better. L think the air is
growing chilly-shall we join our friends
and go back to the house?"
placed myself in her way as she turned
Don't 60 just yet Bell You are not
cold, though you affect to shiver, and YOU
must hear what | have come all this dis
lance to say. VIII you?"
She shrugged her shoulders, leaned against
tree, and looked out towards the sunset
west.
do you remember our evenings long
ago." l asked as our eyes turned toward
the sinking sun. Those were pleasant
days"
s'Yesn
"And now, after so long an absence. 1
am standing here with you again. Why
did you not write to me. Bell?'
She sent shower of blossoms to the
ground and said: Don't know: been
busy"
''You would not write--but have Won
ever thought of me?"
''Sometimes-when l have nothing bet
ter to do"
"Ah, Bell, be serious and listen to me
exclaimed; Il want to tell you how stu
pid | was three years ago.
There is no need" she said with a Sar-
castle smile. Il hope you are wiser now.n
And do you quite forgive me for wound
ing you, as l must have done?"
''Oh, dear. yes!"
Il ought to have asked forgiveness long
ago. l was but boy then. and little knew
what was throwing away"
And you think you know now.n she
said, looking me straight in the ewes with
all indiscribable glance
My heart beat fast; the blood flew to NV
temples. Did she love me, after all? /
caught her hand in mine and murmured.
''Oh, Bell, my darling, none can know bet
ter"
''Well, what do you think it was?''