Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-12


 man drew near. Louise, who had rested her face in her hands, looked up again, and as her eyes reached the ap- preaching figure she received shock that took her breath away. Her heart ceased it's beating and her form trem- bled so that she could hardly support her weight. The man she saw was Paul. Paul come back to her with all his great love beaming from his eyes. But how different was his coming from what she had thought but a few hours before. Then she looked and longed for it as the happiest hour of her life, but now she would rather have seen anyone else. She had hoped, after mak- ng up her mind to accept Pearson's of- Ter, to be spared the pain of meeting with Paul.
 She attempted to run away and hide somewhere from his eyes, but her limbs refused to beur her, and with shame, re- morse and grief gnawing at her heart she awaited his approach as a doomed man awaits the end of his sentence.
 Paul sprang from his horse and -th a smiling face came forward to greet his love. He opened his arms expect ing her to nestle within them, but she moved not, and looked not at him. He came up quite close to her and stopped. He spoke her name softly, but she made no reply.
 "Louise," he said again, "do you not know am here?'
 Still she neither spoke to him nor looked at him, but sat with her face buried in her hands while the tears streamed through her fingers. Paul was nonplused completely. He knew not what to make of this reception. ''Louise," he continued, after short silence, "what does this mean? Have you no welcome for me? Will you not speak to me?"
 "Oh. Paul, Paul." Louise cried. "F>-N did you come? Why do you stay J | break my heart now? Oh, God! oh, l God! this is more than can bear!" Her words were so impassioned, her. manner SO vehement, that Paul was struck with awe. He could not under stand her meaning, and was at a loss to account for such irrcconcilable conduct. She showed plainly by her tone and actions that her love for him was not dead, while by her words she only too | plainly manifested a desire to escape him. knew not what to think of her what to make of the change in her. | After a short silence, he said:
 "Louise, I cannot understand you. There Is something wrong with you | but am unable to account for it. never dreamed that I should receive such Q welcome as this on my return to you. Never day, since left you, has passed without thoughts of you and this meeting thronging through my mind. have dreamed of it by night. But I never thought we should meet thus. Louise, tell me what has wrought this change"
 He paused for reply, but none came. She longed to tell him all aus9 show to him that her heart was uH- changed, but she dared not. Her lips must remain sealed, and with greG effort she kept down the longing of hea 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 ~1- lieve you have forgotten your love < me. There must be some secret cause for all this. Tell me what 1t is."
 'Oh, 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. It wac as that of one pleading for life. Paul was struck by it, and forgetting the bangs that were wrenching his own soul, he felt his heart go out to her in pity as well as love.
 "Louise," he said. ''I would spare you all pain possible, but cannot lee-~ you like this. I love you to-day m than ever loved you before, and I feel, know that you love me. must know , the cause of your action. I will not leave you until do know" II cannot tell you, Paul. must not. You must go away from me and nev@1 sec me again. That is all can say. "Be reasonable, Louise, and remem- | Der that 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 would spare you the agony of this meeting" 'Must we part, Louise?"
 "Yes, yes; and never meet again" "Is it your wish?"
 Ut is."
 ! OOAA "No, cannot do that"
 'Then it shall be as you wish. will go away, s77 promise not to see you again. But Louise. will never forget you. You have this day broke, my spirit, destroyed my happiness aS
 wrecked my brightest hope, but I wifi love you still. little thought that the great purpose that has cheered me or 1 to the greatest efforts was capable ot making should come to this. For you sake and in the hope of one day claiming you for my wife, I have applied myself well to my studies, s,1
 have graduated with honor. h done everything for your sake, and tl.i guiding purpose of my life has been tt I gain a home fit for you. But now, tha a is all at an end. My hopes are blasted
 in one short hour and my castles hav' a fallen down. You say that you vii