West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-01-22

would say; "but I'll wait-it is better
lit will soon be over
Aud Dora, working herself TO @
shadow over her painting. would think:
The end can not be far off He will
soon bee free"
Early in the summer Fred found him
self again i'm the old fQnRliar hamits.
hut, alas! the old joyous light was want
ing everywhere. a shade. a mist.
seemed hanging over everything, and
Dora was farther away than ever.
There were no merry guests TO divide
her attentions; but, so absorbed, so
silent. did she seem, he could hardly
believe II was the same Dora he had
knoYt I'm other day.. SRI
A week passed by-a week of mingled
paradise and torment Sometimes he
would be on the point of SAYING to her:
Dora, | viii stand i'm your way no
longer but faint hope still fingered,
and he could not crush il so ruthles,ly.
At other times he could almost believe
himself mistakcn-all these months a
fearful drcam-when her ewes met his
so earnestly and seemed filled for a
moment with the old, warm light
They sat together one day upon a
little rustic seat, chatting and resting
after a walk. Fred had taken some
letters from his pocket which he wished
TO show to Dora. A picture fell from
among them. Dora stopped TO recover
If. Cousin Florly,' she murmured.
And Fred began making some common.
place remark upon It's correctness
Then, CHANGING at his companion 5
face, he was startled at its deadly
pallor. "Doraw he cried, "you are ili
We walked TO far You must rest
mo, I'm not i'll" she said. almost
sharply. How lovely Florence is
Yes indeed. She is well-nigh per-
feet But there is only one Dora i'm all
the world, taking her little cold hand
i'm his. without Dora the world is
meaningless to me"
Dora's eyes were scanning the dist
ant hills. She made no reply She
WINS steeling her heart against him.
Gle wants to be true she thought,
but | will have no such love"
Dora, you are not happy"
She started. mot perfectly so.
What mortal isP'
ut seems to me would be if only
things could be as they once were
between us.
This was the first allusion he had
made to the fact that he had noticed
any change in their relations.
Dora realized that a crisis was COM
ing She simply awaited it i'm silence.
She would neither strive to avert nor
to hasten il.
II have sometimes feared that YOU
and l have been mistaken. That is the
right word, think. II SO, | love YOU
too well TO ask you to keep IA promise
which has become hateful to you"
Dora rose from her seat; sudden
fire famed in her pale cheek. She
held her hand out toward him-thc
dear little hand that wore his ring.
Something i'm her air bewildcrcd him.
He stood moment motionleSs, then
seized the hand i'm both of his own.
She shook him of impaticntly and drew
the ring from her finger. Now he UNI
dcrstood.
Without word, Dora?" he said.
struggling for sclf-command as a man
might battle for life against the waves
of a sea.
"What is there TO sayp" asked Dora.
her voice clear as silver bell, while
her eyes shonc like two stars. And
again he told himself that lie: "Shc is
@ladm
AND so they parted. The tie formed
almost i'm childhood was broken, and
they went their separate ways
Day after day Dora's pale. resolutc
face bent over her canvas. and she
steadicd her trembling hand for greater
achievements. She worked too hard.
they said. She was too ambitious; she
put too much of her lifc-blood into the
strokes Of her brush, and q few months
ended the struggle
He came again to the dear old house
beside the river; q crowd of friends had
gathered there. lat Dora gave them no
welcome. Pale aud silent she Law and
stirred no, finger nor an eyclash for
any of their tears. He stood there with
Florence. and that still form between
them; its smiling lips were no more
silent now than they had been i'm life.
A dumb patience was marked on the
sweet face, but they never guessed it,
meaning
II she might only have lived!"
sohbed Florence.
Fred spoke not, but the bitter cry of
his heart was: IF / could only b,iotC
that She loved met
And they never dreamed, these two
her nearest and dcarest-tha Mey
had slain her - Chicago 1j1JuRe.