San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-12

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whispered. Ibid not some one cali meY'
"only have called you, dear.
called you Kate, and now | want to
call you wife,"
She continued to stand motionless,
with that frightened, listening express
sion still on her face; and yet my words
had apparently passed unheard What
was it, then, that her ears were strained
to 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 sidelong at me for moment,
then with a swift, tender movement she
came yet a trife closer and laid her
other hand upon my arm.
"Tom-Tom, dear! | will say it, for
we shall be parted soon; and then, if l
am alive, shall be comforted little to
think that did say it. Listen-Tom,
dear, love you! Never forget that /
Sdlu IL OIll, love you.
was taken deliciously by surprise.
You must not expect me to tell how |
felt or what | said | 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 imperti-
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 SO
abruptly and almost recklessly into n
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, as 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
look like folly. What would my mother
say to it? How would the news be
relished by her father? | cared not. |
foresaw difficulties enough in store, but
none that appalled, me. After all, an
| honorable man and woman, honestly in
love with each other, are a match
| against the world, or superior to it
| Union is strength, and the union of low
ing hearts is the strongest strength of
| all.
"And do you want to marry me,
really, Tom?"
We had gained the summit of the
steep hill and were now pacing along
the ridge. The narrow, winding valley
lay sheer beneath us on the right, with
the white road and the dark stream ly-
ing side by side at the bottom of it. The
crest of the opposing hillside seemed but
short stones throw distant; the aroma
of our privacy was the sweeter for the
pygmy drosky, with its manikin inmate,
which was crawling along through the
dust so far below. We commanded the
world, while we were ourselves hidden
from it.
81 should rather think did, Kate"
81 thought Englishmen only married
as matter of business; that they mar
ried settlements and dowries, and rank
and influence, and added women merely
as matter of custom and politeness.
Il am satisfied to marry for love: if
that's un-English, so much the better
for me-"
You would take me without any
thing but just myself"
"What is worth having compared
with your
"Oh, Tom! But then you cannot have
just myself alone. Nobody in the world
is independent of everything even
an American-nOt even an American
girl who has lived seven years in a con,
vent! may not be able to bring you
anything good-anything that would
make me more acceptable; but what if ]
were to bring you something bad-some-
thing terrible-something that would
make you shudder at me if were ten
times as lovable as you say ann
"Why, then should have to love you
twenty times more than ever, suppose
that's air. answered with laugh.