Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-09

but very faint idea. I had AWAY.
secuted love as thing for poets to ravs
about, as something more mythical thar
reol, as something that could be cultivat
ed but that would soon die for want o.
attention. 1 believed firmly thatI could
never love unless / forced myself to &C
and that should be constant only be
cause of q continual self watchfulness
and effort in that direction.
In that one night my creed was eX'
ploded. l loved. The object of my
alteration was the younger daughter Of
the family with which seemed to have
spent the pleasant week. She was just
Is; but she was not to be compared fol
one moment with the chits ofgirls whom
had been accustomed to associate with
that age. She was woman and all that
the word women implies. Moreover, she
was q beautiful women; beautiful With q
chic, piquant beauty that have never
seen or heard aptly described. She was
gentle, amiable and loving, and felt
that there was nothing in the world !
would not do for her.
Itseemed that l was at the end of my
weeks sojourn. l must perforce leave
on the morrow. Together she and !
strolled out upon the chalet bordered
road, past the Swiss householders who
sat smoking their pipes, up through the
dust and over the rocks into the gorge
the river foaming below US, and the
moon flooding all the scene with its cool
glow. Before us lay the bridge I had
sketched, and toward it, hand in hand,
We made our way. At length we stood
upon it, gazing down at the phosphores-
cent glitter of the rushing waters below,
1 spoke to her. Then and there I told
her the story of my uncomfortable love
for her; then and there I asked her to
promise me that she would be my wife,
and she-sensible girl that she was-and
she never seemed more sensible, more
true and loving, more womenly than at
thai moment-told me in return, with
out any mock 1odesty, without any at
tempt to belittle her passion, that my
love was returned in all the fullness of
her young hearts desire. Would she be
my wife? Did know what was ask
ing? Was l quite sure that loved her
as much as said did? Would my love
not waver after parting from her?
Would it not be better that l should wait
and see? All this she wanted to know.
We talked it over quite calmly togeth-
or, though our hearts beat fast, and even
in the white light of the moon could
see the blood mantling her cheek and
brow. At length yielded to her. She
was right. had known her so short a
time l could wait. She would be home
the following November. It was then
June. must not see her again, I must
not write to:her but if after six months
I still loved her as then should come to
her. should spend the holidays at her to
fathers house in New York. She repeat
ed her address to me. It seemed quite
familiar. l clasped her close in my arms
/ leaned down to kiss her. opened my
eyes 1t was broad daylight. L was
staring at the canopy which stretched
across the top of my four-post bedstead.
I had been dreaming.
For weeks 1 tried TO Danish that
dream, but it was useless. It was SO
real, so intensely real, that I could not
rid myself of of the impression it left on
me. 1t was certainly strange exper-
fence. was in love with a woman I
had seen only in my sleep; in all proba-
bility with woman who never existed.
Her name and address, however, were
ever before me; I remembered them
quite distinctly.
1t was the week before Christmas. Al
most a month had passed, and 1 was
still filed with a longing to see once
more the object of my strange vision.
1 prayed that I might dream of her
again, but my slumber was as blank as
q snow-covered plateau. As sat at my
desk thinking, thinking, thinking, her
image ever before me, her voice still
ringing in my ears, sudden impulse
seized me; an impulse which had come
time and time before, but which each time
I had put off as unworthy the notice Of a
sensible man. 1t was to write to the
address which so well remembered. 1t
can do no harm said to myself, I will
do it.
I wrote-as though the dream had
been reality-told her that my love had
never wavered, that I longed to see her
once more, and that, if quite convenient,
l would be with her on Christmas Eve.
1 sent my regards to her father and
mother, aud mentioned her younger
brother, who had won my especial es-
TEEN because of his love for art. After
had posted the letter I laughed at my
own Stiffness How foolish! said. It
will 90 to the dead letter Office. In spite
Of this / hoped against my better judg.
ment for an answer.
Two days later as I sat down to break