Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-12

hand IN MS again.
"Do you know why came backr' said
John Fletcher abruptly one morning,
when he chanced to find himself alone
with Winifred.
They were in that rigidly arranged
parlor, with the same table between them
across which he had stretched his hand,
that she would not see, two years before.
Winifred looked up, but before she
could framea reply he went on, hurried
ly:
"You know l did not have an oppor.
tunity to say good-by."
"Ah, then, you came back to say good
by?" exclaimed Winifred.
ITO say good-by, IL that be your pleas
ure," he answered gravely; "but-to say
something else first. came to confess
myself--a coward"
Winifred looked at him in surprise.
"When saw you last" he went on,
impetuously, "in this very room, beside
this very table, let a mere uplifting Of
your hand impose silence upon me,
though had right to speak-the right
of every man with heart to feel l was
coward not to tell you then what have
come to tell you know. Alien though
you deem me, love you; were you to
proclaim a thousand times that the war
is not over, still, still love YOU"
Winifred turned her face away.
Between you and me there is a great
gulf fixed" she faltered.
81 love you," he repeated, and came
s.nd stood beside her chair. II love you
,sith love that can bridge over any
gulf"
"You forget-you--forgetr she sigh
ed; but her voice died away; she coulo
not say again that the war was not over.
II do not forget l told you that
should never forget Col. Thorne's un-
compromising daughter Whether you
wish it or not-you are all the world
TO me-"
Winifred uttered little cry and raised
her hand, as if in protest; but John
Fletcher did not choose now to obey that
gesture; he clasped her hand in both his
own and Winifred did not take it away.
She said TO herself that all this availed
nothiug-that they must part, must
surely part presently-must say good-by
forever, since all the world, on her side
| and on his, would be against their union;
but she would not deny this little mo-
ment its Heeting happiness. She shiv-
cred, but she did not take away her
hand.
How had it come to pass that this
! man, but little while ago a stranger,
should stand between her and all that
she held dearest--father--bro her--home?
How had he kindled in her passionate
and devoted heart tenderness that
dwarfed every affection she had known;
She had not been willing to love him, she
had struggled hard against it; but she
did love him, alas! Why had he not
stayed away? And yet, though her heart
should break in parting from him now,
all her life long she should rejoice and
be glad that he did come, that this
moment at least had been her own in
which to enjoy her empire. Come what
might, this moment at least was hers,
now and forever, and she bowed her
| head upon the two hands that clasped
hers and cried out, with passionate Ia
| ment:
''If YOU knew how have hated you"
"That makes no difference, if you love
me nowr John Fletcher declared, with
an exultant smile.
81 have not wished to love you," Win
withdrew her hand.
''Must l say good-by then-forever?"
he asked.
She turned her face away, and there
was long silence. John Fletcher wait
ed he desired that Winifred should
make her own decision. At last, q can
not help it," she exclaimed. 1t Mds not
radiant face that she turned toward
him. but John Fletcher knew that he
need not say good-by. 81 never should
have hated you SO if had not loved
you!"
She turned very pale and bowed her
head on the arm of her chair. She had
braved the shadow that waits on Love,
and she was ready to defy Sorrow for
Loves dear sake, but Loves glad eyes
she could not meet.
John Fletcher bent over her with a
smile ineffable, and laid his hand upon
her head. Dearest, look up" he whis-
pered. "Do you think cannot under
stand? Some must be the first to clasp
hands across the bitterness of these sad
days; why not you and I!'
"Yes," said Winifred, and she put her
hand in his again.
Just then-just then
Enter the colonel!
He stood within three feet of them
and stared as if petrified. "What does
this mean?'' he asked in deep voice OF
ominous calm.
1T means that / love your daughter,
Col. Thorne," John Fletcher said, on.
treatingly.
Winifred stood up. "And love him."
she said, in low but distinct Tone She
met her fathers angry eyes unflinch.
ingly, though the color surged over
checks and brow at the boldness of her
confession.
The colonel regarded her an instant
with stony stare. "You are fooll
You are a child' he exclaimed, furiously.
"No, my father" said Winifred; 81
am not a fool; l am not child"
The colonel softened. my little daugh.
ter" he said, with tremulous smile,
"this is all nonsense; a passing fancy;
am not angry with you."
"It is no passing fancy" said Wini-
fred.
John Fletcher essayed to speak, but
the colonel would not hear him.
"Ingrate!' he stormed. Would to
God you had died with rebel bullet
in your traitorous heart, or persisted out
there on the roadside, before you came
under my roof to rob me of my child"
Winifred threw herself upon her ia.
theirs breast and he folded his arms
around her.
"Oh, no! no." she cried. "Bless himi
Bless him, oh, my father! You know not
what YOU owe to him. for II was in car.