People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-10-21

amazed, but was alarmed, and a dread
apprehension stole into my heart, filling
1t with an unaccountable fear. | could
not speak and l could hardly think.
Mr.. Bernard saw that ! was alarmed
and fastened to reassure me, saying,
quietly:
Remember, Miss Owens, that speak
as friend, relative, and, in a sense,
as a guardian. In nothing, however.
shall seek to compel your acquies-
cence in my views. shall only try to
influence you. do not know whom
you may marry, but | would not have
you throw yourself away. Mr.. Cornell
may be very well in his way, but you
owe it to yourself to aspire higher"
l was somewhat collected now, and
steadying myself with an effort l said:
81 have had no thought of marrying
Mr.. Cornell, and, as far as | know, he
has had no thought of marrying me.
think you need not be alarmed on that
score"
rs that really true?" he asked, eye
ing me inquiringly.
ut is" | replied.
He evidently believed me, for his face
cleared up and he appeared greatly re-
lieved. He said nothing further regard
ing Charles Cornell, but for a time en-
gagged in commonplace conversation
touching my work at the Office and 9TH
er triling matters. Then suddenly he
leaned forward and abruptly asked
do you know, Miss Owens, why |
take such interest in you?"
| was startled and alarmed again,
but managed to say:
Because | am alone"
Eyes, he replied, that is it in part.
but it is not all. There is something
else besides that and relationship. You
remember l said the other day that |
knew your mother years ago and that
we were very good friends?"
nodded and he went on.
I'VE were more than friends. Miss
Owens, at least | was more than a
friend to her. / was lover, and |
loved her with all the ardor man can
feel. l worshiped her, in fact She
did not return my love, and when she
married | was a sadly disappointed
man. l have never forgotten that love,
and to-day your mothers memory is
fresh in my heart. l married, hoping
to forget, but l could not forget. |
loved your mothers shadow better than
l loved my wife, and | do vet"
He paused, resting his head in his
hands, and as looked upon him, read
ing in his attitude and actions the grief
that was in his soul, l pitied him deep
ly, and at once forgave him all he had
said about Charles Cornell.
81 have never, never forgotten nv
love for your mother" he resumed.
after awhile, land it is because of that
love | am so interested in you. You
are so like her, both in looks and char.
acter"
Again he paused for moment. then
continued, half speaking to himself:
"Was it wrong to love a woman so
well that my love could not die? Was
it wrong to love her memory more than
l love the woman who is my wife? Is
it wrong to love the dead, and the liy.
ing counterpart of the dead? Is il a
crime, sin for a MAJ to love that
which he cannot resist? Can a man
control his heart? Can he bride his
love and turn 1t here and there at his
will? Can he be anything but human?''
In his agitation, which increased
alarmingly every moment, Mr.. Der.
nard arose and walked the floor his
face drawn and white and his hands
clutched firmly. He did not look a,
me, and seemingly rather avoided nv
presence. His soul, l knew, was ex.
periencing the most exquisite agony
but l could not account for the cause
: Surely the remembrance of one he had