Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-30
FOR THE OLD LOVES SAKE.

''And she has crossed my path again
more peerlessly lovely than ever-ny
spoiled. willful, pretty little love, fo1
such she is to me, Just as absolutely and
truly as when we parted more than yeaI
ago. have tried to cheat myself with
the belief that | was forgetting her.
know better. ! know now that she is the
only woman who ever did or ever can fill
nv heart: that to forget or cease to love
her is impossible.
Springing from the low rocker into
which he had thrown himself when first
ushered into the cool, inviting chamber
which had been assigned him on his ar
rival at the hotel fifteen minutes previous
Tracy WaldrOn begin to pace up ano
down the room with the quick, nervous
strides of man laboring under strong ex
element, that ere many minutes broke out
again into speech.
Il thought | had steeled my heart
against her, and that, even if | could not
altogether forget her, / could at least
reconcile myself to parting with her; but
this sight of her, so unexpected, when
supposed she was miles away, has shaken
every resolution, every atom of fortitude
with which | imagined | had strengthen
ed myself, to its very center. And if the
expression Of her face, as | caught IN q
glimpse through the half open door, Is any
reliable index, the year that has elapsed
has not brought her much more happiness
than it has me. She is not yet engaged
nor married-for as she lifted her hand ]
saw that there was no ring upon it-sO he1
aunt ambitious schemes have not yet been
realized Poor, foolish, ambitious little
Dora If that worldly-minded aunt OF
hers had never come down to Thorncliffe
to ELL her credulous little head with daz
.zling visions of city life, brilliant conquests
and a fashionable marriage, we would
have been enjoying a dear little home Of
our own by this time; but she listened tC
her until she was drawn completely under
her influence-and then it was very easy
TO take advantage of a trlflng quarrel tC
give me back my ring and cancel our en-
gagement-the very week after which hel
aunt bore her away In triumph. Now she has
had year experience, and it has brought
her very little peace or happiness, it | car
read Alright, and strangely enough we
cross each others path again. Shall | &c
away without trying to see or speak with
her again, or shall | stay and see If she
still has one kindly thought for me, JUS
for old love s sake?
Once more he broke into his restless
walk, then paused before the window
looking out with yearnlng gaze upon the
young moon just risen above the tree tops
II will stay, he decided aloud, his face In
stinct with an expression OF wlstful tender
ness, land learn whether it is fate, or thai
kind spirit called Providence, that has
directed my steps hitherward, believing hel
to be far away ! will speak to her tomor
row by the right of that love she confessed
to me, and which | have never ceased t.
feel for her-a love which, if yet living IL
her heart, is mine by every law of trutl
and honor; but if it be, indeed dead anC
forgotten, | will bear the blow as best
may and see to it that our paths never
cross again. But until that point is de
cided will remain, for strange, WILD
hope has arisen in my heart that will no.
be stilled by anything less than "a repeti
ton of the words that parted us yeal
ago.
When the gong summoned him to sup
per that evening he looked eagerly up anC
down the long room, but failed to distin
guish Dora's graceful figure among the
other boarders. He looked Unto the long
parlors in the evening, but she was no
there, and having paced up and down fol
while on the spacious piazza, he at length
returned to his own apartment. Can i
be that she knows | am here and is avoid
ing me?" he unused resentfully, the hot
fierce pain at his heart sending Pushes tC
his cheeks and fire to his eyes. IF | be
heged that But no; many man has
wrecked his happiness forever by allow
ing his pride of vanity to misconstrut
what otherwise might have been easily eX
planned, and might have brought him the
comfort he thoughtlessly sacrificed. Oh
Dora, my little love! what an Eden wa.
our life until the spirit of pride and am
bition invaded it. How can | ever for
get it, or put you out of my life?" AnC
once more springing to his feet, he paced
the floor until far into the night
But the next morning he was early
astir, and, going down to breakfast h,
once more cast a scrutinizing glanc,
throughout the room, but with no bette
success than before-the one form upon
which his eye thought to rest was no
there what does this mean?" he asked
himself impatiently, as, rising from hi
scarcely tasted meal he paced up and dow
the broad walks that surrounded the hotel
Il could almost imagine my eyes deceivet
me, and that | mistook another for her il
that brief glimpse last night. But no
alb no! there is not another like my Dora
| could not mistake her. There is SOM
mystery about this which | will ind out
or know the reason why" But the morn
ing passed without bringing him an,
nearer to the object of his search, until a
last, weary and resentful, he turned hi
back ON the hotel and set off forsa stroll
Returning at the expiration of an hour o
so, he was approaching the hotel when hi
eye caught the fiutter of white dress a
the farther end of the long piazza. Quick
ening his steps, he drew nearer. 1t wa
Dora, seated In a low rocker with a bool
lying open upon her lap, and pensiv
wistfulness upon her face that told to-
plainly that its contents had failed t
amuse or interest her. Tracy stopped t
look at her for moment, his heart beat
ing madly-then springing up the steps
he went toward her. She had resumed he
book and did not look up as he pauset
before her. Good afternoon, Miss Mur
ray, said Tracy. with a frmness born 0
the very excess of his agitation. 1T is a.
unexpected pleasure to meet you here.
The book fell from her hand-she raise,
her face, pale as marble, instinct with al
expression of mingled JOY and almost fear
then the self-possession acquired durin;
that year of fashionable tutelage came {
her aid. The pleasure is mutual Nh
Waldron.' The tone was quiet to
quiet to denote the ease she vainly strov
to affect-while the little hand extended t
meet his fluttered like bird in his cool
firm clasp. And Tracy, looking into tn
pale face, read its secret-a secret whic
made his heart bound with renewed hop
and courage. rs not your aunt here wit