The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-24
FOUND AT DRURY'SBLUFF.
RY PHILIP JARVIS.

MY God! l wish him luck in winning
the woman who was all the world to me-
The one woman whom l had loved from my
boyhood's days! All the savage in MY ma
ture was aroused into fury at the thought
that he dared to aspire ID what was minis,
by the right of long years of devotion.
could have throttlsd him as he stood there
so handsome and debonair-so self reliant
and confident Of success.
Yet what claims had | upon her affec-
tionsl The hot blood grew cold; my fierce
wrath died out. How could be sure she
might not love him best! Was he not finer
looking, more agreeable than !, a man in
every respect better cal culated to with
girls fancyl
Mildred and had been friends from our
school days, the most intimate friends;
and on my part that frieddship had grown
into part of life itself. l had no hopes,
no ambitions, which had not her happiness
for their object. Yet no word or token of
love had passed between us. was shy
and reticent on this one subject that lay 50
near my heart l shfank from declaring
myself her lover, doubtless feeling that IL
she could not return my love, should
destroy forever our friendly relations.
So matters stood between Us, when she
was twenty, and | twenty one in the fall
of 80 when Carl Maxam came to our vii
lage. He and were associated in business
and soon became friends, as friendly init
macy goes between men. He was five
years my senior, and had read and travelled
much and had acquired the ease and dish
of man of the world, while l was shy and
reticent in society. 1 felt he had every ad-
vantage in his favor, in his intercourse
with Mildred, but until today had never
had a jealous feeling.
In the spring of '61, came the fall of
Sumpter, and the declaration of war; We
both enlisted, though in different regiments,
and were ready to leave for Washington.
We had returned to our homes for the final
leave takings with friends, in my plain
suit with only sergeant's chevrons on my
sleeve he in the gil. and epaulettes of a
lieutenant, looking hsndsomer than ever
in his fine uniform.
On the morrow we were to rejoin our
regiments, and on this last afternoon mad
met for final friendly chat. We had
talked on other matters Of mutual interest
and at the last moment, as we stood at the
gate, he had said;
"Aud now comes the toughest part of It,
I'm going to ask Mildred Graves to marry
me before 60. Phil, my boy, wish me
good luck, can't you"
Filled with surprise and anger l could
make no reply; but it passed unnoticed as
he went on without looking at me. II
have been half in love with her ever since
| first met her, AMI long ago decided she
should be my wife il l ever got ready to
marry, that is, of course" with nervous
laugh, IF she'd have me- l don't know,
she always seemed TO like me, ami fancy
I've the inside track there; at all events
Pm not going off for year or two and
leave her for some other fellow to win.
If she'll promise to marry me, can trust
her to wait my return, if it were ever so
long"
At that moment, to my great relief, the
captain of his company drove by and
stopped to take Carl in.
'Well, good by, old fellow, hope to see
you later" and with wave of the baud he
was gone.
HE shall never have her." l said say
agely to myself, as he was driving away;
TAT least, will know first if there is any
chance for me-" and hurried off to Mil
dred's home
But when once in her presence-fool that
I was-I talked Of everything else, past.
present and future, all save the one sub
| iect that lay nearest my heart; my tongue
| M 1od xvhn 4 M
A half hour passed, other visitors came
and l rose to leave Mildred followed me
| to the gate,
81 shall miss you so much" she said, as
she held out her hand at parting. There
were tears in her eyes, and tremor in her
voice. My heart leaped; surely she mus,
love mo little, and the words had tried
50 hard to utter came to my lips; but she
added, you have always been as a brother
to me-" and felt as II cup of cold wate
had been dashed in my face
| All, yes, a brother! she had neve
thought of me as lover: could declare
myself one and lose all this friendly re
garda 1 hesitated-others joined US, and
| said 'good-by," and went home inwardly
| raging az my own STUPIDITY.
"But perhaps 1t is better So" though
at last; "she would remember me as I
friend, love me as such, which as re. ect
ed lover she could never do"
Then thought of all her kindness dur
ing the long years of our intimate friend
ship; might it not be possible that under
meath all this sisterly regard, there nigh
he the germs Of deeper love' And coul
not awaken it to life by long and careful
wooing' l would be so patient if there
were only one spark of hope that she woul
ever love me-. l would, like Jacob of ole
serve seven years, oh, so willingly, could
but win her. Was l not coward, afte
all, to yield my one chance of success t,
another by not putting my fate to tn
test!
Under the influence of this feeling,
dashed off an yrdent, impulsive letter. Al
the love could never speak, found ez
preston now.
''Can you not, dearest Mile" conclt
ded, find down deep in your heart, under
meath all this sisterly regard you hav
given me, one spark of something dearel
sweeter than sisters love! Will you nj
give me Just or word Of hopo that, in timt
you may learn to love me better than
/ brother or frienla'
sent the letter by a sure messenger, un
waited impatiently for reply. Now
was done and had risked all on one thro
of the dice, felt all the gamblers unres
My blood was alternately at fever heat I
ice cold. The moments seemed hour
Hope and fear alternately held sway, unit
l could scarcely endure the suspense. /
last the answer came. Hurrying to m
room, tore open the envelope. There
Miles handwriting, 1 had learned to lo'
so we'll were the words: Dear Friend
q cold hand seemed to clutch my heart as
read: "Your letter was a great surprise
me- ] have always regarded you as
friend, and as such, you will ever have n
highest esteem, but my love has long be-
given to another. Forgive me If / gil
you pain by this avowal, and | pray G.
may bless and keep you, in the danger in
which you are going. sincerely your frien
Mildred Graves"
] The letter fell from my hands, my he
dropped upon the table beside me. L
worst had GOMEZ All the hopes and feal
the sweet dreams of lifetime were ov'
Carl had won her, and l had lost all tn
made life endurable.
The memory of every hour of sweet CO
panionship-every gracious smile shs h
ever given me-every kindly word, cal
Z back with re-doubled sweetness, now tt