Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-06-07
FOR VALERIE'S SAKE.

FOR vALERIE's SAKE.
1t seems as if my love for her bad
existed for ages, and would endure
throughout eternity. 1t seems, more
over, as if it were idle to attempt por-
trayal of this love-a passion without
stint or limit, an all-absorbing passion.
beautiful. yet terrible in its intensity.
As l close my eyes upon the glare Of
the lamp l 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 mass of
dead-black hair, that ripples to her
waist.
Other pictures rise before me. A
night scene! l know q villa shrined 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 other lights twinklng
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 gravelled 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,
her lilies and her hyacinths. And she,
herself, my love, my darling, waits for
me.
As draw nearer to the threshold,
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. am back again in the glare
of the lamp of my sick-chamber; l am
stretched upon my dying bed, and you
are waiting to hear my last confession.
The only child of q 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 Valeric's
love.
Valerie seemed to love me WE'LL !
adored her. The marriage would take
place some months later; my darling
was still quite young
was not poor as to worldly possess
sion; yet it seemed to me | could not
gain too great wealth to lavish upon
my wife. was over thirty. and still
ambitious. This was the cause of my
leaving home-the city, from which
Valerie's house was but half-hour's
journey by rail-to 60 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 life"
! strained her to my bosom. Good
by" l said, II leave my heart with
you, my darling"
ooou-pys SuC duSWcEcu. xIcT eyes
were smiling through their tears.
'Good-by, dear PAUL."
Heavens! How plainly can see her
pure sweet face! And with that sight
ieel 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, l 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 nv
pages. And her sweet letters came to
comfort me. And SO q month passed.
was not yet ready to return; still it
seemed as if must. Was it the altered
tone of Valerie's lettcrsP Were her
words less warm-less frequent? What
horrible fear was thisp Nothing, moth
ing! Absurdity. that was all!
Andy her letters came less frequent
ly and grew perceptibly shorter.
Heavens! was she illp What could it
mcanp
Another month dragged by.
Valerie's letters ceased.
! waited 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 well! Would write! l repeated
the words over and over in stupefied
way. l 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 ValerieP
1t was night, and l 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 tho lights twinkling, a. SO many
times before. My breath was quick and
painful as ! crossed the threshold of
the drawing-rOOm.
Valerie sat at tho piano; by her side
stood a tall and fair-haired man. He
was beginning . song. Their backs
were towards me.
made desperate effort to speak.
Valerie sprang round with . strartled
cry.
paul! is it youP'
Her companion turned also. saw
now how handsome he was, and how
much younger than !. Singularly
enough, l looked at him, not at Valerie.
He returned my stesdfast gaze.
We stood thus for moment--I, With
the fixed and horrid glare Of Jealousy
upon mr. .soss ~ with the shadow ci