Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-11

must he so The whole is greater than its
parts: two loves together are greater and
stronger than each cnuld pe of itself The
strength of two strands close twincd to-
gether is more than twice the strength of
each
She said nothing. By merest chance he
HAD said words that had walked the doubt
again. 50 that ii grew Il little and took u
tirmer hold in her unwilling heart. TO
love a shadow he had said ito wake and
find self not self az all. That was what
might come, would come. must come, sooner
or later. said the doubt. What matter
where or when or how, The question came
again. vaguely. family, as d mere memory
but confidently. as though knowing its own
answer. Had she not rested IN his arms
and felt his kisses. and heard his voice .
What matter how. indeed? It matters
greatly, said the growing doubt. rearing its
head and finding speech al last. II matters
greatly, it said, for love lies not alone il
voice and kiss and gentle touch but il
things more enduring, which to endure
must be sound and whole and not cankered
to the core by living lie. Then came the
Old reckless reasoning again: Am | not | ,
Is he not he. Do 1 not love him with my
whole strength. Does he not love this very
self of mine. here as it is. my head upon his
shoulder. my hand within his hand And if
he once loved another. have | not her place,
TO have and hold, that may be loved III her
stead: Go, said the doubt, growing black
and strong: go. for You are nothing TO him
but Il figure in his dream. DISGUISED in the
lines Of one ne really loved and loves-go,
quickly, before il is too late; before that
real Beatrice comes and wakes him aud
drives you out of the kingdom You uSurp.
But she knew it was only doubt, and
had it been the truth, and had Beatrice'S
foot been on the threshold. she would not
have been driven away by fear. But the
fight had begun.
speak to me, dear, she said. i must
hear YOUR voice-it makes me know that ii
is all real p"
How the minutes fly he exclaimed
smoothing her hair with his hand. 1T
seems to me that | was but Just speaking
when YOU spoke. -
1t seems so long She checked her
self. wondering whether an hour had passed
or but j second.
Though love be swifter than the fleeing
hours. doubt can Outrun u lifetime in one
beating of the heart.
Then how diyinely long it all may
seem. " he answered. But can we not be-
gin to think and 10 make plans for to-mor
row. and the next day, and for the Years be-
fore u.s. That will make more time for US,
for with the present we shall have the
future TOO. No-;hat is foolish again. And
vet it is so hard TO say which | would have
Shall the moment lin@er because 1t is 50
sweet. Or shall it be gone quickly because
the next is to be SWeeter still Love. where
is YOUR father"
Uuorna started The question was sug-
gested perhaps. by his inclination to speak
of what was to be done but it fell suddenly
upon her ears. as 4 peal of tnunde" when
the Sky has no clouds Must she lie now.
or break the spell! One word. AT least. she
could yet speak with truth.
Dead "
Dead - the Wanderer repeated thought
fully and with faint surprise. is ii long
ago, beloved; he asked, presently, in Il
subdued tone, as though fearing to wake
some painful memory.
Yes. she answered. The great doubt
was taking her heart in its strong hands
now and tearing it and twisting it.
And whose house is this in which | have
found you, darling! Was it hisz''
1t is mine " Unorna said
How long would he ask questions to
which she could find true answers! What
question would come next There We're
many he might ask, and few to which she
could reply so truthfully, even in that
narrow sense of truth which found its only
meaning in a whim of chance. But for Il
moment he asked nothing more
Not mine, = she said. 1T is yours. You
can take me and yet call anything mine
Ours, then. beloved. What does it mat
ter! SO he died long ago-poOr man! And
vet. it seems but little while since some
one told me-but that was Il mistake, OF
course. He did not know. How many
.cars may it be, dear one! | see you still
wear mourning for him "