The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-15
let your friends know of the treat in

let your friends know of the treat in
store for them"
"Now please don't guy me. Miss
Knowlton," said Rush. MY departure
from the other side was sudden; didn't
know until forty eight hours before L
sailed that was to come. The chief
sent for me to meet him in Paris. There
he told me he wanted me to become
managing editor of The Dawn at once;
so hurried back to New York by the
first steamer.
Managing editor of The Dawnl You
take your honors coolly. That is as fine
position as a journalist could have. 1
congratulate you; but l am rot sur
prised. From the way heard people
speak of your work in London, was
prepared for anything"
People were very kind to speak well
of my work. L. they had only known
my incentive, however, they would have
wondered why didn't do better. But
enough about me; tell me about yourself;
that is much more interesting subject.
You looked sad as l entered, and you
breathed a deep sigh. Has anything
gone wrong? 1 wish you would make
me your confdant; you must know that
1 would not only share any of your
troubles, but take the burden of them
upon my own shoulders most cheerfuily. :"
A troubled expression passed over
Helen's face, and yet with it there was
little twinkle in her eye, as though some
thing amusing had happened.
Il saw Mr.. Hastings leaving your door
as l entered. Had you said anything to
make him very happy-or very unhappy?
His face wore a most peculiar express
sion."
81 don't know whether he was happy
or unhappy in his mind. The only SEN
sation he expressed before me was one of
surprise" And she smiled at the thought.
"You will forgive me if l ask you a
question point blank. I have feeling
that Mr.. Hastings made a proposal of
marriage to you this afternoon. Am 1
right" said Rush, as quietly as a man
COllu Witch NGl y IAuCl SAClIGu.
Mr.. Hurlstone," said Helen, rising,
''you forget yourself. Your question is
impertinent.
mo, it is not impertinent. No man
who loves woman as love you would
ask her an inlpertinent question. Unjust
be answered once and for all. Every
one says you are engaged to Mr.. Hast
ings Is it true"
Rush's heart beat so hard and fast that
it almost choked him. His eyes were
fixed intently upon Helen's, as though
he would read every thought that passed
through her brain. She hesitated mo-
ment before answering him; and then
she said, slowly, in a low, soft voice:
mo, am not engaged 10 Mr.. Hast
ings. have never been engaged to
him, and L never shall be-"
Then, Helen" said Rush, taking her
hand, "will you listen to me? 1 have
loved you devotedly for five years-ever
since my eyes first saw your beautiful
face have had no thought but of you
during all these years. l did not tell
you of my love, because believed that
you were not to be taken by storm-at
least not by.me, who at that time could
be nothing more to you than boyish ac-
quaintance But l lived every day of
my life with the one end in view. You
are to me life, and love, and everything
that there is in the world. If you will
be my wife you will have lover for q
husband to the end of your days. If you
say no to me, God help me! am not
man enough TO bear such blow quietly.
But you will not say no, Helen-you
cannot say no to man who adores you,
who worships you, who lives only for
you l must know; cannot live any
longer in suspense. Helen-darling-
will you be my wife,"
Rush spoke every word slowly, and
with an intensity that there was no mis-
taking. Helen stood pale as death before
him, and in a voice scarcely audible, said:
1T cannot be! it cannot be!''
MY God, Helen, what do you mean?
Do you love another MANI"
"No, love no other man; but it can
not be; you would repent in sackcloth
and ashes before you were 80. Don't
you know I am five years older than
you? l would be an old woman while
you were young man."
"And would you let such thing as
that wreck mans life? I couldn't love
woman younger than myself. A wo-
man is not interesting to me until she is
so, though began to love you when you
were 25. Is this question of years the
only obstacle in my way, Helen?"
at is insurmountable," said Helen, in
a whisper, turning her head away.
my darlingF' And Rush's strong
arms were around her in a second, and
her head was resting on his broad
shoulder. The long twilight shadows lay
across the floor; but Rush saw only the
glory of the October sun as its rays fell
upon the face of her whom he had at last
won after years of patient waiting.
THE END.
a New Game Bird.