Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-07
a beggar on my knees before you.


 kissed her waving locks with soft lips of gold, the breeze half stirred her delicate draperies around her. The blackbird's note was broken and halting as my own speech
 "Claire, have you not guessed? Will you never guess? Oh, have pity on meP
 I could see the soft bosom heaving now. The little hand was pulling at the gown. Her whole sweet shape dropped away from me in vague alarm-but still no answer came.
 "Couragel Courage P, chirped the bird and the river murmured responsive Courage" "Claire," and now there was ring of agony in the voice; the tones became alien and scarcely recognized" -"Claire I have watched and waited for this day, and now that it has come, for good or for evil answer mel love you"
 o time-honored and most simple of propOsi tions! II love youv' Night after night had lain upon my bed rehearsing speeches. ten der, passionate and fiorid, and To to this had it all come, to these three words w"i"n, as r"-' lips uttered them mad
 oi their crude and na
 And she? The wo1
 of, erased for
 from her check. E"l n. .r.4' ,- .. -. lly~vc1 wildly then ti4r co,y1 camca.owiy o..,.; ;ian eobed again. A oyft trem0r s.luo: the bending form, the little hand ciutcEId tho gown, but she made no answer.
 Speak to me Claire 1 io"e you! With my life and soul love you. Can you not care for me?" took the little hand. "Claire, my heart is in your hands-do with it what you will, but speak to me. Can you not-do you not-care for mel"
 The head dropped lower yet. tho warm fin gers quivered in mine, then tiShtcHed, and
 What wgs that whisper, that less than W-l,;s- per, for which I bent my head? Had he"rd or ritrbf Cr " thnf ba f1ipOr Il closer, and the birds note spran8 up jubiiant?
 Caire!"
 A moment-One tremulOuS heart-ShakinS moment-and then her form bent to me, abandoned, conquered; her face looked up, then sank upon my breast; but before it sank 1 read upon it d tenderness and a passion in- finite, and caught in her eyes the perfect light of love.
 As the glory of delight came flooding on my soul, the suns disc dropped, and the first cold shadow Of night fell upon the earth The b1ackbirG uttered q broken "Amen, and was gone no man knew whlther. The golden ripple passed up the river and vanished ill a leaden grey. One low shuddering sigh swept through the trees, then all was dumb. I looked westward. Towards tho horizon the blue of the sky was fading downward through indistinguishable zones of purple, amethyst, and tho palest rose, the whole heaven archillg in one perfect rainbow of love.
 But while looked and listened to the beat ing of that beloved heart gird!ed with my arm, there grew a something on the western sky that well-nigh turned my own heart to marble At first q light shadow--a mere breath upon heavens mirror, no more. Then ns l gazed, it leepened gathering all shadows from around the pole, heaping, massinS, WreathinG them around one spot in the troubled west ,-l,r hot md h-n.1 na1 ICfin grew, until looked 0n--what2
 Up from the calm sea of air rose one soli- tary island. black and looming rose and took shape and stood Out-the very form and selu- bance of Dead Mans Rock Sable and real as d,ath it lowered there against the pale eve ming until it's shadow, falling on my heart itself and on the pale brown head that bent and nestled there lay round us clasped so, and with its fro1rn cursed the morning of our love.
 Something in my hearts beat, or in the stiff ening of my arm, must have startled my darl- ing, for as I ,aZed felt her stir and looking down, caught her eyes turned wistfully up wards. My lips bent to hers.
 Alno, Claire! Mine forevcr!"
 And thcro beneath the shadow of the Rock our lips grew closer, met, and were locked in their first kiss.
 When looked up again the shadow had vanished, and the west was grey and clear.
 So ill the trnnruil evening We rowed home wards, our 9 O full for speech. The wan moon rose alti lrOI the waters, but we had no thoughts, no eyes for her. Our eyes were looking into each others depths our thoughts no thoughts at all but rather a dazzled and wondering awe.
 Qnlyas light two gleamed out, and Streatley twinkled in the distance, Claire said:
 Gan it be true? You know nothing of ma ?
 T know you love me What mt.a should ! know, or wish to kuow:'
 The red lips were P lyr1'l in a manI'r Il. spoke whole tones of wisdom.
 ''You do not know that ] work for my liv;n all the wcek?"
 When you are mino you shall work no more..
 "'But sit on a cushion and sew gold seam? An, no; have to work. It is strange" she said, musinRiy, "so strange
 What is strange, Claire?"
 That you have never seen mo except on my holidays, that we have never met. What have you done since you have been in London?"
 II have lived very quietly" I answered, But Is it so strange that we have never m et?''
 She laughed a low and musical langh, and as the boat drew shoreward and grounded, replied:
 "Parhaps not. Come, let us go to mother, Jasper"
 O sweet sound from sweetest lips We stepped ashore and hand-in-hand entered the room where her mother sat.
 As she looked up and saw us standing there. together, she knew the truth in a moment Her blue eyes filled with sudden fear, her worn hand went upwards to her heart. Until that instant she had not known of my presence there that day, and iR fash diYined it's meaning,
 ''I feared it." she answered at length, as l told my story and stood waiting for an answer "I feared it and for long have been expecting it. Claire, my love, are you sure? Oh. be quite sure before you leave me-" For answer, Claire only knelt and flung hel white arms round her m others neck, and hid her face upon her mothers bosom.
 You love him now you think; but, oh, be careful Search your heart before you rob me of it. I have known love, too, Claire, or thought did and indeed, it can fade, and then, wha1 anguish, what anguish2"
 Mother, motherl will never leave you. Mrs. Luttrel sighed.
 "'Ah, child, it is your happiness I am think. ing of."
 "I will never leave you, mother" "And you, sir" continued Mrs. Luttrell 'are you sqre2 I am giving you what Is