Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-03-21

And sing he sWeetly as me Nightingale
As morning roses newly tipped with dew
as morning roses tipped
AIR Dudley" exclaimed an almost
breathless voice beside me-
L ceased singing and stood still
Please walk on slowly; wish to speak
with you.
It was Edna Lynton.
I offered her my arm, but she declined.
May ask you something something
that wish very much to knOw?"
"Of course you may.
And you viii not think it mere idle
curiosity on my part? You viii not mis-
T will answer to the best of my ability
any question you may put. As to imput-
ing to you an unworthy motive, think
you should know me little better than
to fear that.
How long have yOu known Miss Har-
greave, Mr.. Dudley?"
All, now it was comingl I must take
care. George particularly wished that
Edna should not be told our secret, and
somehow L felt it would be extremely
awkward to tell her myself
Since last Saturday week. I believe
my acquaintance with her began the same
day as your own" This question, at any
rate, was easily replied to.
But she is-yOur cousin2"
NO"
She IS not related to YOU?
Not in the very least. Has some one
told you SOP"
Yes. But have begun to doubt it, or
would not have come here to meet you
now. I came to tell you that-On Satur-
day entered the sitting room to bring
something L had forgotten, and saw
saW-you understand"
What do you mean? Why do you
speak Of this?" L asked, making an insane
ATTEMPT to laugh,
Because what I saw should not have
been, unless"
Edna"
Don't. Please don't make it more diff
fcult for me. Oh, the pain of 1.-THE
pain of it. 1 was about to say-when you
stopped-that what I saw should not
have been unless-unless there is more
between you and Miss Hargreave than"
kept silence. For some seconds we
walked on thus. I was in false position.
Tossing the truth, and that must not do.
please answer me" at length she
pleaded. DO you wish to marry her?"
You are right-as you always are. 1t
should not have been unless"
But you Will not ask her yet? YOu
would not-cOuld nOt-be so rash! A
few days acquaintance Onlyl She is so
beautiful. 1 can imagine man admir-
ing her immensely. But you must take
time to make quite sure you love her and
she is-wOrthy of your love. Promise
you will take time-Only promise you
Will take time"
And this from Edna Lynton, who, six
years before, had cOldly, heartlessly,
after encouraging my love, refused it!
Women are indeed strange beings, whom
we poor men strive in vain, sometimes,
/ to understand.
why do you exact this promise from
me?" I asked, gently, and stood still. We
] l.. al,g NV
! the faint glimmer of the lamps above
| them. Am to believe that at last you
| care whether I am happy or miserabIe?"
| Believe what you like; but wait.
! And with her hand on mine, standing
! out there in the fog and darkness of that
| cold November night, I promised what
! she asked-that [ would do nothing
| rashIy, that I would take time to consider
things, and wait. Her face couldnOt see,
| but her hand trembled, and Z know she
was strangely moved. We separated
within the gates. There was a sob in
| her voice as she said goodnight.
I walked very slowly up the avenue
after this. What did she mean? Why
/ should she concern herself in my affairs :?
| Was it possible she knew anything
| against-NO, no! That was entirely
| out of the question to be thought of.
George Hargreave was all the world to
| me-my love, my ideal, my incompatible
| queen! I almost wished this encounter
with Edna had not taken place.
It revived a past which was best-far
! best-fOrgOtten. Even now, when I
believed the old love not only dead but
| supplanted, the mere sound of her voice,
the touch OF her hand, her apparently
newly awakened interest in my welfare
brought back a host of old memories, of
| tender recOlectiOns, that"
But pshaW! Why waste time to write of
| them? They all vanished like mists be-
! fore the sun when 1 saw GeOrgie-When
she came forward to meet me in the
| spIendOr of her magnificent beauty.
We were alone 1 took her in my arms,
| and, giving myself over to the force of a
| passion that overwhelmed every other
| feeling, I swOre to her L loved her as
never woman had been loved.
Some days went by. One evening on
my return from town George inquired
archly, You must be growing tired of be-
ing my lover. How much longer do you
think you can play the part-a week."
Till I become your husband, too,
George. 1 am afraid, however, that will
scarcely bo-in week, 1 answered, with
sigh.
Il am not so sure of that. she said,
with playful mock occurrences. But
here comes mother. will leave you
for a few minutes together while she ex-
plains.
George disappeared beneath the pOr-
there as her m other entered.
ITO BE Continued