The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-12-09
soul. Seeing that she was not going to
speak. Paul continued:

soul. Seeing that she was not going to
speak, Paul continued:
"For Gods sake, Louise, say some
thing. This suspense is worse than
death. Tell me what you mean, and
why you act as you do. I do not be-
lieve you have forgotten your love for
me. There must be some secret cause
for all this. Tell me what it Is"
ooh, Paul." cried Louise, "do not ask
me. I can tell you nothing, nothing.
Only spare me, Paul. Go away and
spare me the bitterest trial Of my life" !"
The girls tone was piteous. 1t was
as that Of one pleading for life. Paul
was struck by it, and forgetting the
pancs that were wrenching his own
soul, he felt his heart go out to her in
pity as well as love.
Louise" he said, "Iwould spare you
all pain possible, but I cannot leave
you like this. love you to-day more
than ever loved you before, and l feel,
know that you love me. Imust know
the cause Of your action. will not
leave you until l do know"
81 cannot tell you, Paul. ! must not.
You must go away from me and never
see me again. That is all can say"
''Be reasonable, Louise, and remem.
Der that I have heart. Remember
that can feel and that every word you
speak pierces me like knife"
'"Then leave me and do not make
me say more. God knows I would
spare you the agony of this meeting"
"Must we part, Louise?'
Eyes, yes; and never meet again"
"Is it your wish?" ::
sit is"
"And you will not tell me why?n
''No, cannot do that"
"Then it shall be as you wish.
will go away, and promise not to see
you again. But Louise, I will never
forget yon. You have this day broken
my spirit, destroyed my happiness and
wrecked my brightest hope, but will
love you still little thought that the
great purpose that has checred NE on
to the greatest efforts was capable of
making should come to this. For your
sake and in the hope of one
day claiming you for my wife, have
applied myself well to my studies, and
I have graduated with honor. 1 have
done everything for your sake, and the
guiding purpose Of my life has been to
gain home fit for you. But now, that
is ali at an end. My hopes are blasted
in one short hour and my castles have
fallen down. You say that you will
never be mine?"
II can never marry you, Paul"
"Then good-by, Louise" and as Paul
spoke ne advanced and reached out his
hand.
Louise could almost feel his pres
ence, and she longed to throw herself
in his arms and cry her heart out. But
she restrained herself, and never SO
much as looked up.
won't you tell me good-by.
Louise?' Paul asked.
"Good-by," she murmured.
He said nothing more, but after look
ing at her long time he tore his eyes
from her and strobe rapidly away. She
Fheard him pass through the gate, and
"a moment later heard his horse clat-
ter away across the prairie. Then sh
lifted her head from her hand, AM
with longing eyes looked after his re
treating form until it faded out in tn
distance, and when she saw him N
longer she placed her hand on he
heart and moaned in the deepest an
guish.
That meeting had been sore tria
for tho poor girl, but she stce,cd he
heart against itself, and with the great
est effort withstood its pleadings. Sh
felt more than once that if the inter
view was prolonged she must breal
down and give way to her love. Blu
she had come through it safely and th'
worst was passed.
All day she watched and waited fo
Pearson's visit, but night came on ant
Pearson failed to appear. Was it pos
siblc, she wondered, that he hat
changed his mind, and that after al
she would escape him? But Pearson
had not changed his mind. He remained
away for another and d more urgcn
reason.
AS Paul galloped back in the direc
ton of Magic. City he met Pearson on hi
way to Green's. Pearson recognized
Paul and stopped to speak to him. HI