The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-07-16

us have done with mysteries. No more
never agains' and Just this onces,' if
you please! First, want you to tell
me whether you love me-"
She drew her breath hard.
Il can tell you nothing, Mr.. Gains
borough
You shall not call me Mr.. Gains
borough If you can't call me Tom
call me nothing; but | will never be Mr..
G;linsborough to you again.
Il thought we were to have no more
never agains?" she rejoined. with
passing sparkle of the old playfulness in
her air
None of yours, l meant"
Il will call you Tom, if you please,
on one condition.
What condition.
That you let it be Just this once"
kate, do you love me-"
"Oh. you are cruel!' she cried with
passionate emphasis, slipping her hand
from my arm and facing me with glow
ing looks. II wish l could say | hate
you. You are II man of the world. and
Il poor girl from convent, who knows
nothing. | am trying to do right, and
you oppose mc-you make it hard and
bitter to me. If you loved Inc as las
would love if | were n man. you would
not press me so. tell you it must not
be-"
What is. shall be, Kate, Dear Kate,
we love each other, and who in the world
shall prevent it or forbid our being mar
ried!'
Hush! hush!" She came a step nearer
to me and caught my sleeve with her
little hand us timorous child might do,
CHANGING nervously over her shoulder rs
if something fearful were hidden among
the trees. Did you hear nothing" she
whispered. did not some one call me-
'.Only | have called you, dear.
called yon Kate and now | want to
call YOU wife"
She continued to stand motionless.
with that frightened, listening express
sion still Oh her face; and yet my words
had apparently passed unheard. What
was it. then. that her ears were strained
t. catch: TO my sense the forest was
full of shadowy stiffness, tempered only
by faint whispering of leaves. and now
and then bird note high overhead.
Gradually the strange preoccupation
left her. Her breathing. which had
been irregular and labored. now came
evenly and gently once more. She
glanced sidciong at me for moment.
then with swift, tender movement she
came yet trihe closer and laid her
other hand upon my arm.
''Tom-Tom. dear! | will say it. for
VIC shall be parted soon; and then, if
am alive. | shall be comforted little tc
think that | did say it. Listen-Tom
dear, | love you! Never forget that
said it-Tom, love YOU"
was taken delicioasly by surprise.
You must not expect me to tell how
felt or what said. 1 can only remem-
Der that | took her in my arms and
kissed her. The bird that warbled over
our heads seemed to utter the ecstasy
that felt.
Presently we began to move on again.
/ don't know why | didn't speak. Per-
haps thought that our kiss had been
the seal of her surrender, and that there
fore words were for the moment ilnperti>
nent. By and by the converse would be
renewed from fresh basis. Besides,
my thoughts were flying too fast just
then for speech TO overtake them. was
thinking how singular had been the
manner and progress of our acquaint-
ance. 1t was scarcely in accordance
with what | believed to be my normal
temperament and disposition to plunge 50
abruptly and almost recklessly into
new order and responsibility of life. |
had fancied myself too cautious, too
cool headed, for such an impulsive act.
But it was done. and the fact that Hates
feelings had responded to my own
seemed to justify the apparent risk;
We were meant for each other and had
come together in sheer despite of all
combinations of circumstances to keep
us apart.
Knowing, rs we did, scarcely anything
of each other as worldly knowledge goes,
we had yet felt that inward instinct and
obligation to union which made the
most thoroughly worldly knowledge