The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-01
The stars studded the vaulted heaven

Grating influence of baln,y evening in
May, Harlow unbosomed his heart to
her. He told her in lmpassioned but
guarded tones of his alterations; how
lille without her would be a dismal
blank; how he had watched her night
after night, and felt happy to know
that he WAS close to the woman he
loved; how eagerly he had looked for
ward to the time when he could tell
her all. She listened demurely, with
downcast eyes, but uttered not a
word. That she did not demonstrate
with him reconciled him to the be-
lief that the affection was mutual. At
last she spoke, and her melodious
voice thrilled him with delight.
She told him she dearly loved him,
loved him for his kindness to her; that
ever since she first saw him his image
was indissolubly mingled with her
day-dreams; every moment in his
presence seemed an hour OF happiness
to her.
These endearing words threw of the
restraint he had sustained, and in the
ardency OF his fondness he drew her to
his side, and repeatedly kissed the
pale, upturned lips.
Cora, you will be my wife," he said,
looking down upon her with unspeak-
able Joy, as if the answer he sought
was already his.
She drew herself gently from his en-
brace, and the gaze in her lovely eyes
appeared to pass over him to space
beyond. She spoke as if in dream.
| "That can never be,y she uttered,
l af ffn +Lro1y;,,o
| about him and sobblng bitterly, as if
in deep anguish.
To be refused by a woman who just
avowed herself in love seemed astrange
anomaly to him. A hundred coniec-
lures filled his brain at that moment.
| Was her heart preoccupied? Was
there man on earth who adored Cora
Lane more than he did? Why could
she not be his wife,
Then he curbed his heated imagina-
tion, and, subsiding into sober rea-
soning again. pleaded his cause in
powerful terms, but every word, he
felt, Jared her sensitive nature and
augmented the depths OF her dis
traught feelings.
"Don't ask me why, John. 1t is
better for us if we see each 9TH
er no more. Forgive meif Imake you
unhappy, but it never can be; to be
your wife would only bring sorrow and
distress to our home"
Her enigmatical words puzzled him.
Cora, dearest, | will forgive every
thing. We will start lie anew; blot
the past from your sight; only say
you will be mine"
She strove to answer, but the pro-
found anguish in her bosom Knocked
all efforts to scorn. The look OF mel
ancholy sadness that overspread her
entire features told Harlow that his
love was hopeless.
row OF bitter disappointment sunk
deep into his breast she exacted a
vow from him never again to broach
the subject OF matrimony; but he
left her with the sorry assurance that
she loved him better than any one on
earth.
For week Harlow never left his
room. His sprightly, gay spirits van
ished, and long fits OF detection super
vened.
If Bertha suspected the cause OF
the change in his appearance she
never betrayed it. He pleaded an
attack OF malaria, to which he said
he was victim; this was all he offer
ed in explanation OF his moodiness.
At the end OF his hermitage a long
ing desire to see his love again reas-
serted itself. He tore himself from his
seclusion and went to her house.
When he entered, to his bewildered
cGpsternation, he learned she had left
the city.
A note was handed him by the lady
of the house, which she gave him at
Cora's request. He tremblingly tore
open the envelope The note read as
follows:
| In three years. CORA
l Every one of those words seemed as
written in fire. He was mystitied be-
yond reason. The thought "Was she
trihing with his affections?" took the
| place OF oil other considerations. But
where was the motive? The more he
cogltated over the short note the
more he clothed it with an occult
meaning.
Was she acting part? To bring
himself to this belief seemed unchariS
table. No; to think she was insineere
| ''''' w oS!iSNC tliC sun ilSNCl loSG.
Why did he pledge her to speak OF
are fragile; they are easily broken.
He left the house, repaired to his
room, and in the wreck OF his LIES
happiness wept poignant tears ofwoe.
The Occident had no more charms
for him; he determined to return to
his home, but the thought OF Cora,
ever present in his mind, drew veil
OF sadness over his whole life. Some
month"; afterward he finished his law
studies and entered upon his chosen
profession.
Many and many time, as he sat
wondering OF the fortunes of his lost
love, he could hardly restrain the
desire to fly from home and seek her
out, even should he have to traverse
half the earth. Then he would con-
jnre up the mystic words, and their
hidden import would dlssipate his
hasty, wild-formed projects.
AT the end ofthose years his life was
just as void OF Happiness as the day
when Cora told him it could never be.
1 He resolved at last to once again
visit the West and learn, if possible,
her whereabouts.
The end of his problem, if such it
could be called, was drawing to an
end.
Would he after all win the woman
OF his heart? Was there not a silver
lining to the dark, thick clouds that
had lowered over him and darkened
an epoch of his life9 Was the fresh
hue of health which was beginning to
reassert itself harbinger of happy
news, or some unforeseen wretched-
ness that would forever cling to him
like an avenging nemesis?
These were his thoughts as he sped