The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-03-24

where he dropped into the grass beside |
her and looked up into her face, drink |
ing in its rare beauty with the same |
sense of ecstasy which certain music |
had often reused within him. A riotous /
stirring of the heart and wild throb- |
bling of his pulses accompanied this |
ecstasy. and a trembling joy mingled |
with an uncertain feeling very like pain. /
He could not have expressed in words |
the new and suddenly acquired wealth
of feeling of which he found himself
possessed, but he felt great wave Of
happiness sweeping over him, a divine
content, and realization of the mere |
joy of living and being beside such in
comparable loneliness. He knew now
that he loved; that something had come
into his life that filed and rounded it
out and made it worth living. OF the
signs of love he knew nothing, yet he
knew somehow that Leila loved him.
She sat with averted face for sever
minutes, then slowly turned her head
and rested her eyes upon his face in q
straight, earnest gaze. Her eyes were
full of soft, tender light, deep, ques-
tiontng yearning, and as they met his
true, tender gaze her head slowly sank,
she drew long inward breath, her
bosom rose and fell in quick throbs, and
it seemed to Gilbert that she was about
to faint. His hand stole over hers, which
came to meet its warm grasp, and as the
wild thrill rushed through him he drew
her to him, and her golden head fell upon
his shoulder. She was really almost
faint with emotion, and her eyes closed
oa Cd eli rh 1o6
lips. Their lips came together as two
long parted mates and mingled into
one with wild, delicious food Of bliss.
In another moment she had turned,
and her shapely arms were clasped
tightly around his neck, and she was
kissing him with hunger and a fury
that made his blood dance in his veins.
Then as suddenly she drew away and
covered her burning face with her hands
in maiden1y shame, yet her bosom pal
plated and her breath came in quick
gasps. He drew her hands down and
gazed into her eyes. They met his with
such pure, deep tenderness, such steady
calmness, that he drew her to him again
and kissed her noble forehead in rever-
entail awe.
They sat there hand in hand, while
the light fell on her hair in gilded CLEANS,
and gazed into each others eyes, read
ing there the story that needs no Ian
guage-both so filed with unspeakable
happiness that it seemed difficult to
breathe freely. After awhile he drew
her closer, and she rested her head upon
his shoulder again and laid her soft
cheek against his. Her breath was like
some sweet wild flower as it came from
between her perfect lips in long, happy
sighs.
What need for words when two such
hearts met and when two pairs Of eyes
could speak such volumes of love? Yet
Gilbert murmured ''my darling" again
and again into her ears, and the words
sounded sweeter than music to her hun
cry heart. She felt their meaning and
repeated them after awhile with soft,
lingering infection that made Gilbert
clasp her closer to him. So they sat un-
til the deep shadow about them told that
night was close upon them and they
must return. Taking her hand, Gilbert
rose and led her toward the city. They
had wandered far down the canyon, and
the way led through winding paths
among great powders and dense woods,
puG Ao1d ku0W every 1OOG VI 4G1 dL1A SAO
guided her lovers steps.
Gilbert took Leila to her home, and
then sought his own quarters and went
to bed, too happy to sleep. He lay far
into the night looking out upon the stare
and wondering at the great bliss that
filed his soul and thinking of the hap
Ply future-a future in which every day
would hold her in its golden frame and
every hour be one of Joy unspeakabIe.
He saw her sweet face in the darkness,
with its luminous eyes looking into his
with unspeakable tenderness and devo-
ton, and he seemed to feel again the
pressure of her hand upon his own and
her kisses upon his lips until he fell
asleep and dreamed of her the whole
night through.
TO BE CONTINUED