The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-23


NaiIist tree, looking at tpeo@t m,
finish figure before him, o9II1i some-
ting of smile on his handsome SUM-
brnt face, but at her last words he
cale swiftly to her side. Placing a
had on either shoulder, he looked
kelly at her for a moment without
speking. The smile had faded from
his Ups aud his brown cheeks had
grow pale with vague fear and
dreat
"Yu wish to 60 back" he said at
last, q if in answer to the mute ques.
tionin of her tear-dimmed eyes.
She1rew her breath quickly, and
her cps dropped before the utter
miserJin her own.
"If have made mistake. under
stand bat it was because loved you
so," h said, his hands Tightening
about er shoulders. 81 loved you
too we to give you up-and yet I
never dceived you in anything; you
know that, dear. / pictured to you
just whit life shared with me would
be, yet !ou were willing and eager to
come"
"Beca,se 1 was foolish enough to
believe hat love could brighten the
rudest hut into a bower of beauty !;
because Twas weak enough to imag-
inc that life with you, even in this
dreary wilderness. would be para.
dise.'
She spoke with exceeding bitter
ness, meeting his look of sad reproach
with one of scornful anger and dis
dSin,
.And only year of this life has
+ n e. ocd c,% tasl,on VINCE ,,~r Of vr 5I-ifeh
sIimced To eonvi inco you or , JGr mis-.
take. Am 1 not right ?" he asked
With outward calmness, though his
Heart was beating wildly with a
strange new pain.
''It has taught me this, that even
your love aid tender care can not
satisfy the cravings of my heart.
What right had you to bring me
here"' she asked with sudden pas.
Bion. "You might have known that
! could never learn to be satisfied in
this wretched place."
II musthave been mad !" he cried,
more to himself than to the woman
before him. Then with sudden, re-
morseful tenderness, he drew her
close to his heart. and, looking down
into her tear-stained face. said:
"Believe me when I tell you that
the one wish of my heart has been to
make you happy. Has my love been
so selfish. dear. that it has failed to
satisfy you? Can it be that in my
own blind happiness have cheated
myself into the belief that you, too,
were content? With the knowledge
of your unnappiness before me, |
would give my life to undo the
wrong 1 did you in marrying you
and bringing you to this lonely place
yet | can not believe that you really
meant all you said moment ago."
The last words were spoken with
almost a sob. He had Withdrawn
his arms from her shoulder and stood
tall and erect before her, his face
grave and white with inward pain.
1T is too late to wish for freedom,
you know that" she exclaimed bit.
ter Y.
81 have been dreaming for a year
dreaming that you cared for me;
that you were content and happy
and now"
He broke off suddenly and leaned
against the tree again. His face wore
the dazed look of one who had re-
ceived mortal blow. The world,
which only little while ago looked
fair and smiling, had suddenly grown
gray. Even the songs of the birds in
the trees overhead seemed to his dull
ed senses but harsh. discordant
sounds.
"The fault was mine as we'll as
yours. l suppose, and yet l can not
retract the words 1 have just spok-
en-" she said coldly, moving a step
further away. "Oh. if you could only
be made to understand just how bit
terly my heart rebels against this
wretched existence" she added, in
quick, passionate tones.
III think understand" he said
brokenly,. looking straight into her