Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-01-21
LOVE FOR A DAY.
CHAPTER II-CoNrlSuEp.

sNothlng OF that KIND can ever happen
between Mark and me-"
"Some loves" said my mother, 'Iast for
yver, some for day; and, oh, my dear Mel
Ne, it seems to me that this last is, in these
peosalc times, the com m"neSt form OF love.
"Love for day." | echoed "Ah, thank
Heaven, that is not Marks love!"
My mother looked at me anxiously. l
wonder how many mothers have given to
their daughters just the same sensible adj
vice, and just as much in vain!
"Do you quite understand, Nellie, asked
my gentle loving mother, what l mean,
what want you to do? Mark is to be alb
sent four years. do not say that this love
will change or grow less; but beg of you
70 leave yourself one chance. Do not give
him such entire love that, if he should die
or forget you. or any circumstance should
part you, your whole life would be ruined.
Love with caution, Nellie"
There is no need Tor caution with
Mark" cried my happy heart. To Mark,
my handsome lover, | might give in super
abundance the lavish love that filled my
heart; and the words of my mothers warn
Ing fell on needless ears
l can remember warm day in June,
when Mark and sought the shade of the
tall trees that grew by the river A refresh
Ing breeze came over the water, and the
birds We're silent in the great heat. We
were talking OF our marriage, of that bright
future which, like the June sunshine had
no shadow. Suddenly Mark asked me
Have you any relatives, Nellie? You
and your mother seem to be quite alone i'll
the world"
told him that my father was an only
child, my mother also, and that l was the
same. The only relatives had ever heard
Of were some distant ones in America; out
I had none in England.
"It must have been lonely for you, my
darling before came" he said.
I told him how my home-duties and my
love of nature, OF flowers. trees, and birds.
had filled my life. l had lived then in the
gray Of the twilight; lived now in the
light Of the glorious sun.
"How little | dreamed that morning,
that fair May morning that was to meet
my tate!' said Mark Nellie, | shall
never forget how your hair cleaned in the
sunshine"
his praise was so sweet to he.
1--WE were talking about relatives, Mark,
said Have you many?'
Ours is very peculiar family he said
mothers side who are very poor; they live
some distant relatives who are very rich;
but we do not correspond with either.
These rich people have a title too; but l
shall never trouble them 1fever l have
title, it shall be through winning it; ii ever
I have fortune, | shall have made it,
Nellie"
My noble Mark. My whole heart bowed
down before him; he was SO brave, so gal
liant SO independent, as all true men are"
never recalled that conversation. those
few words, until knew who Mark Upton's
relatives were
CHAPTER III.
When the corn was cut down, and the
npe fruit gathered in rom the orchards;
when the free and happy barley lay I'M
der the scythe, Mark had gone.
When the hour of parting came, l be-
lieve Mark would have given up the APP
Pointment, with all its advantages, rather
than leave me. Twenty times he kissed
me with dispairng passion and love, LETT
me, and returned. He could not leave me;
I could not let him so. My mother said it
was useless to prolung the agony of part
Mark looked at her with white set
face.
II cannot go, he said hoarsely.
He had to leave Gracedieu by the last
train that evening. and sail from London
on the morrow. He had spent the whole
Of the previous day with us, and he was at
the cottage early on this morning of his
last day. Outside the very glory of sum-
mer lay over the land. We stood watch
Ing the golden sunshine with the chill Of
than the chill of death Mark had loosen
ed my hair, and cut off a long shining
tress.
'That shall lie next my heart Nell even
when l am dead" he said Promise me
that no hand but mine shall touch these
golden curls of yours while ! am away.
You are very beautiful Nell, although you
do not seem to know anything about it;
and men will admire you; but you must
not listen to them. You are mine, all
mine-nine only"
told him. ruthfully---that all other
men were to me like shadows.
"Promlse me, Nell, he said. as he kissed
my lips again and again, that no one
shall kiss you while am away"
Dear heart what iear!" l cried. Then
in my turn l began to exact promise
"You will love and think Of me too, Mark?'
II shall think, ofno one else, Nell"
"And you will not call any one else
beautiful, Or
He interrupted me with laugh:
perhaps | should be happier if could
think less Of yon. Nellie he said. My
life will be one unceasing longing for you"
"My dear Mark" said my mother, if
you areto catch the six o'clock train, it is
time you went"
His face grew white, and dark shadow
came into his eyes.
Nellie, Just come a little way with me-"
where we first met"
Once more we stood by the lilac-trees;
every flower was dead, but the green leaves
were there still.
II shall leave YOU here my darling"
said my lover in low voice. Il shall be
four years away from you, Nellie. Promise
me that when l return you will meet me
here, in this same place. Here, where I
met the sweetest love ever given to man.
here shall return to claim my wife. Good
by, Nellie"
"Good-by Mark, " whispered.
For one brief moment he put his face on
mine; he kissed my brow and my lips; for
one moment, sweet and bitter as death, I
lay with my head upon his breast and
then he was gone. There was a binding
mist all round me- surging as of great
waters in my ears A sharp and bitter pain
seemed to pierce my heart; felt my whole
frame tremble. Then the blue sky, the
green earth, the trees, and the river were
all one, and l reeled and fell upon the
grass. could not weep; could not cry
out. No word came to relieve my dumb
anguish and despair.
"Oh child, be warned" said my moth
er that evening, "be warned! You must
not give to any creature the love that be-
longs to One only"
7 lived through it-thrOugh the rest of