The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-06-18
FOR VALERIE'S SAKE.

! FOX NALEEiiECS SAKE.
1t seems as if my love for her had
existed for ages, and would endure
! throughout eternity. 1t seems, more
| over, as If it We're idle TO attempt por-
trayal of this loYe-a passion without
stint or limit, an all-absorbing passion,
beautiful, yet terrible in its intensity.
As | close my eyes upon the glare of
! the lamp | see strange shadows. First,
her fair unearthly face arises, cold and
! pallid as the crescent in the wintry
| sky. Haunting and reproachful is her
| glance, and hers are lips that move to
! frame appeal. There is a mass of
dead-black hair that ripples to her
waist.
Other pictures rise before me. A
night scene! | know villa shrincd in
! odorous LEAKAGE. Long lawns, and
winding walks, and pathways fit for
| lovers lettering footsteps. In the dis
! tance the murmur of the sea. All, it is
summer, and there is starshine over
all.
There are othe lights twinkling
| from the windows Of the villa. twink
! ling until they draw me nearer and
nearer. 1t is her home-my queen! AS
| proceed along the grayelIed walks, L
| know the look OF the deep drawing
room, in which she waits for me-
The dark wood floors are strewn
with rugs of velvet; luxurious seats are
there, and costly pictures grace the
walls. Long mirrors reflect the tints
of light shining through colored glass.
| White flowers CLEAN in fragile vases,
| ho,. liliag ,rl he ,I lo
herself, my love, my darling, waits for
! me.
As | draw nearer to the threshold, l
! hear strains OF music, delicate, pathet-
ic; she is playing her favorite minor
waltzes, sad and wistful whisperings.
! The tears stand in her eyes.
All, hush! All is over; l only
dreamed. l am back again in the glare
of the lamp of my sick-chamber; | am
stretched upon my dying bed, and you
are waiting to hear my last confession
The only child of a fond widowed
mother, the rare and beautiful blossom
of that luxurious home, Valerie was
my promised wife. l had been for
three years her friend, and also her
mothers. The latter had given me
many proofs of friendship and esteem,
even that most glorious and content
ing, her favor in my suit for Valerie's
| love.
Valerie seemed to love me well;
| adored her. The marriage would take
place some months later; my darling
was still quite young.
/ was not poor as TO worldly posses
sion; yet it seemed to me | could not
gain too great 4 wealth to lavish upon
my wife. | WAS over thirty. and still
ambitious. This was the cause of my
leaving home-thc city, from which
| Nalerie's house was but 4 half-hour's
| journey by rail-to 90 hundreds of
miles away, and so remain, perhaps
one month, perhaps two, perhaps Ion
ger.
The thought of separation grieved
me sorely; yet we should write daily,
and my love was safely sheltered with
| the tenderest of mothers.
Goodbye, good-by, life of my lifen'
l strained her to my bosom. Good
by" l said, ii leave my heart with
you, my darling"
'Good-by," she answered. Her eyes
We're smiling through their tears.
"Good-by, dear PAUL."
Heavens, How plainly l can see her
pure sweet face! And with that sight |
feel a strong conviction of her dear and
faithful purpose.
We were parted! Miles and miles
away, amid strange scenes, / toiled for
! her by day, and dreamed of her by
night. Sometimes, in fancy, | was at
! her side, her hand in mine, her fra
! grant hair upon my shoulder.
Each day | wrote to her, finding al
ways thoughts wherewith TO crowd my
comfort me- And so a month passed.
/ was not yet ready to return still it
seemed as If | must. Was it the altered
words less warm-less frequent? What
horrible fear was this? Nothing, moth
ing! Absurdity, that was ALL
| And yet her letters came less frequent
| ly and grew perceptibly shorter.
! Heavens, was she Ill? What could it
| mean?
Another month dragged by.
Valerie letters ceased.
/ waited a week Then | was frantic
| telegraphed to her mother. The lat
ter replied in a few hours-hours that
! seemed eternal. Valerie was well and
| would write.
Was we'll! Would write! | repeated
the words over and over in a stupefied
way. | had heavy feeling, as of
something terrible approaching.
made preparations to return home
at once. My business must conclude
itself. What was business or fortune,
save for Valerie?
1t was night, and | walked swiftly
| up from the station-swiftly up the
| quiet road and the sloping hillside, and
! on into the odorous leafy shade about
the villa. My heart beat hard and fast
to see the lights twinkling, as so many
times before. My breath was quick and
painful as | crossed the threshold of
| the drawing room.
Valerie sat at the piano; by her side
stood tall and fair-haired man. He
was beginning a song. Their backs
were towards me.
made desperate effort to speak.