The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-06-25

W
Heaven! Had she ceased to love me?
For many days that agonising fear
pursued me, sleeping or waking.
Had she ceased to love me?
Did she shrink from my caresses?
''Valerier' 1 paused at the sound of
stified sobs. She was weeping; she,
! for whose every tear my heart bled
drop for DROP
l had come in softly; the drawing
room was yet unlighted. She was
alone in the dark, by the window.
where cool breeze swung the curtain
softly inward. She was there alone;
she had flung herself, face downward,
| into a great armchair. l tried to lift
her. valerie! You to weep! What has
happened"
She resisted me, answering indis-
tinctly:
1T is nothing; lit was lone
A sudden fury seized me. 1 dragged
her from the chair, crying ont hoarsely:
THAT is not truei You cannot de-
ceive me! Something has happened.
Some trouble is yours. Answer mel"
l had forced her to her feet; l held
her wrists in an iron grasp. was wild
with the great pain gnawing at my
heart-the awful pain that none can
imagine until he has once felt it.
You hurt me" she faltered. re-
laxed my hold. and she sprang away
from me and from the room.
| remained there i'm the gathering
dusk. By-and-by heard voices out
side and near the window.
The servants came and lighted the
lamps. The central radiance of the
room was rosy strong and hopeful; but
on a stand not far from where l sat-
blush globe filtered another flame upon
vase of pallid fragrance. Her lilies
and her hyacinths.
i looked at them quietly. was very
quiet now-now that knew the worst
now that | knew she loved not me,
but her cousin. How calm was, with
all that crushing knowledge!
By-and-by another thought seemed
to gnaw deeper than my own agony of
loss. Did-he-love-her? Why had
she wept SO? Why should she weep?
Not at any thought of me; that was not
human.
Well, | could easily determine. l
would give her her freedom at once,
and wish her well. If she still wept,
knew other things that l should do
How my own misery paled in the
light of my fiery zeal for her welfare!
A half hour later had asked her to
walk with me in the grounds. l led her
a safe distance from the house.
"Valerie," | said, sit is my dearest
wish, my only dream on earth, to Sc
cure your happiness. Tonight. by
chance, not purpose, | overheard a
conversation. l know that you love
him. | will not stand between you.
give you back your freedom, and the
blessing of a-brother. Valerie, take
heart, for you shall wed him."
She trembled; she did not answer.
Heavens! My horrid suspicion. Why
did she not thank me? Why did she not
show Joy?
"Valerie," 1 cried, why are you
silentP"
But she only bowed her head upon
my arm and sobbed. Then knew all.
But she should not, must not know
my thoughts. l dissembled, speaking
cheerily.
You are nervous, Valerie; come
back to the house, all will be we'll"
And in my heart 1 swore an awful
bath, that he who had stolen her love
from me should keep his VOWS or die.
left the house at once, that might
avoid seeing her mother or him.
. would give him a fair chance until the
: following day.
1 had no weapon. 1 went to NEE
? him. unarmed save with my great love
, for ner whom he had wronged, in some
measure-how deeply l scarce coulC
t tell.
1 had stayed all night at little hote
+ there in that suburb, and going up t
t the villa late in the afternoon, discov
= cred that he had gone to the city, t.
return by the evening train. l hat
: seized upon this opportunity to con
:. front him alone.
t went slowly down the slope, slowl,
along the quiet road. There were NJ
houses near. 1t was very quiet. Tn
new moon peered with pitiless profil
:; over the distant hilltops. l waited 70
: him to come.
t | spoke calmly at the outset, as
d taking Tor granted his love for her.
abdicated in his favor, speaking pleas
d antly as | could force myself to speak
Il He laughed
If You are very good" he said, "bu
YOU are mistaken. Valerie is very mic
e but | am not marrying at my age
e Don't You know | am only twenty
2, three? Besides, she is my cousin
Fancy marrying ones cousin" ii
laughed again, aud would have passe
" on, but stopped him.
- Wait, | said, controlling myse
a with difficulty. There is more to thi:
n | happen to know certain things;
- happen to have overheard a converse
~ ton. Whatever your purpose be
ID denying your position of lover to Val'
nf rie, it is u useless attempt. Cousin {
no, you have won her love; you sha
,s not wrong her while live!'
Ia .'Ha! You threaten, do your" II
"a laugh had an angry ring. ''Yo
threaten, you coerce? l tell you, if
r live to be a hundred | shall nevs
I'd marry Valerie!"
/ sprang at his throat.
You fend!" l shook and choke
w him. You shall marry her or die!
WV And having shaken him twice or thric
lv l flung him from me to the ground
- Even as he fell heard a pierciu
scream, and turned to see Valeri
tb She, too, had come to meet him!
sv You have killed him. she shrieke
of ''You have killed him.
al She fell on her knees beside hin
He did not move. She called his nan
w. over and over in piteous entreaty b
bv he lay dumb, with his white face al
~ golden curls upturned to the night.
'er And still she shrieked that b.
killed him.
IL leaned over him and listened. q