The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-08-20

DEAR FRIEND My heart is overfowing
with gratitude to merciful God. have
just been made conscious of the fact that
in ono short hour will be out of this cold
cherries world, and will be in the land of
plenty and continual happiness.
My thoughts turned towards you and
could see no better way of spending the
hour than to tell you something of my
past life, leaving it with you to do as you
will. The time is short and l must be
brief.
was born and reared in a large Eastern
city. My father was largely possessed of
this worlds goods, and l had every adj
vantage, socially and otherwise. With
my disposition it is but natural that l
became wild. Up to my twenty fifth
birthday and little more, my highest
ambition was to get the good things out
of this world, paying no attention what
ever to the future.
One night, in small Western town, I
met a fair, young creature. The instant
/ saw her my eyes and attention were
fixed. What was this herculanean but
softly mysterious feeling that swept
through my every fiber! What meant
this sudden weakness and then heavy
throb of my templess This trembling of
the knees2
And what meant that alternate paIing
and flushing of her checks! Those spark
ling, mesmeric eyes set upon mine? Was
it fate that we two should meet? Half
consciously we wandered out to a lonely
spot. Then comes an almost blank.
/ remember how in state of almost
wildness we both we're. How at the lin.
gering touch of her lips my soul leaped
forth, and heavens doors could have
tempted neither to depart. How my heart
beat like heavy engine, and the heavy
throbs swelled the elastic arteries to al
most bursting and then relaxed them to
emptiness. How in this embrace our
hearts throbbed in perfect unison, pro
ducing a thrilling and overpowering in
toxication, performing their physical
functions together as they were together
in love.
All this l remembered and was on the
eve of returning to her, when note was
handed me.
Mechanically opened it. JOY! 1t was
from herl No! Misery! Read it:
81 can not stay here. leave for fal
off land before this reaches you. / pray
God we may never meet again. My duty,
as a Christian, allows no human idol
Thou shalt have no other God before me.
Such love that burns within me for you is
sinful, and must put it away. I hardly
know what happened last night, but
know that our frenzied passion is toe
great. Oh love, darling fate, it is death
but duty and Christianity"
That was ALL The note was covered
with blisters from hot, passionate tears
Cruelty of cruelties, my heart was break.
ing and this was Christianity For the
next three days can not account. o.
| the remainder of the week know but lit
| tie. At the end of that time, still as in
dream, found myself in little, peaceful
village, thousand miles away. Why o.
how went there know not.
had hardly reached it before like ont
| in trance, walked out into the country
| On I went for mile. Finally stopped
| before little three roomed cottage.
| entered the yard with no purpose what
ever in view. ] stepped upon the porch
Then, without thought, l opened dool
| into room.
My heart stood still There she was
| NY love, nay fate; before me, and alone
| With q pitiful, passionate han moan sh,
threw herself into my open arms. "'Why
| did you Gomez" she cried. 81 knew yol
would. have been expecting you, but 1
| is death, death, DEATH"
For minute, hour, day, know no
how long, we sobbed in each others arms
Then / felt a dead weight. She ha'
swooned. Yes, that was all, though
tried for hours to awaken her. Her limb
grew stiff and cold; her face bloodless;
could feel no pulsation of the heart. Coul'
she be deadl
The thought struck me like thunder
bolt. Crazed and almost fainting rushe'
out into the open air, and on out into tn
country I must have gone miles when
came partially to my senses and found my
self sitting on the road side, hot, wear!
and dusty.