Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1893-12-07
HER BURDEN.


formal intruducuon: in fact, they had
bcvrr personally met Vet, to Con-
stance lf8ithful's heart there was no
time IN her life that he had not
rcigucG its king. All time before that
great event had faded into the dim,
shudowy past, and paled before the
glorious sunshine of the biissful real
Jay. only few short months but TO
The drcainy, fancifu girl it was an
rierAity; an eternity filled with per-
frct light, tho light that never shone
9u and Or sea"
And he is coming to met she
m1scd, enc balmy spring day, in her
fnir Southern home; Ibis last letter
his dear letter says, q will be with
Ypu my sweet, true Constance, in less
than week Before the fragrant
roses bloom IN the little garden you
have 90 beautifully described to me;
TON garden, sweetheart, which | can
zee ~ fancy, and the great live oak
trcr with the rustic seat under it, at
iht end of the garden walk. l can see
7nu too there, dear dressed in the
pretty gown which you wore when
Won nod your picture painted for INC.
can see your face, my darling, with
thc >cft white moonlight falling upon
IL, lighting up your blue eyes, your
wavy brown hair your sweet red lips.
An, in little while-yet how long
10 ~ eager heart-I will hold you in
NV arms, your rightful place, l will
rcss kisses upon your lips; | will read
toe sweet secret in your dear blue
eyes will see you at last Oh, Con
stapce, that will be best of all! The
world may smile at our love, since we
nave never personally met, but be-
tween two congenial hearts there
need be no ceremonial of the worlds
mabisg. Through the medium of
letters we know each others natures;
we have learned to love each other.
end now we will meet: and the ideal
will fade before the glory of the rcul.
win come direct to you; be waiting
Tor me at the oak tree Your
Harold"
ilow often she had read and re-read
that lntterl How slowly the days had
dragged by, bringing nearer the meet
img-days whose feet seemed clogged
With iron shackles. How she loved to
gaze with silent rapture on his
pictured face, the picture of
her boy, her bonny, bright,
handsome Harold What though he
had won brilliant name in the far
oH North-what though the name of
HarGld Burgoyne, the rising young
journalist, was upon every lip-he
was, hers He filed her sad lonely
life to overlooking, and made up for
every loss that that life contained.
~ last the day came when the meet
ing took place. 1t was all just a9 they
bad planned it; down in the moon
ht garden, beneath the live oak tree
She stood there, waiting for his COM
ing; one swift, eager glance, and both
bands were outstretched; then, his
arms went about her and her head
dropped upon his shoulder, and all
was still. 1t was the meeting of twin
sOlls-hearts that were ma tes-in II
love too pure for earth.
There were days of happy compau-
ionship after that; days never to be
forgotten, but alas! all too brief. But
nothing on earth can last-nothing so
fair, so like u dream of heaven-and
the sad, sad parting came all too soon
Constance, / will come back to
ron" he said, great tears in his beau
iifnl dark eyes, as he held her to his
heart in that last sad farewell-a
fuYewell destined to be eternal. II
win come back to yea, my dear one,
before the autumn leaves deck the
trees. This is April will be with
YOU DIlOEc i1I OIhNo uIAA
strong, true heart, for | shall not
change / shall live to make you hap
by. 1.-Two for me- my Constance, for
your love is very dear TO me! There
Is none like it upon earth,
She smiled into his eyes, her own
full of tears. Perhaps some preset
e1ee of the future crept over her
hepgb and gave her warning-a vague,
subtle warning-that that love would
be her doom-that the man 30 madly
wOrshlped would bring her deepest
sorrow, black despair.
He loved her with all his heart, but
he did not understand this woman's
nature, its warmth, and sensitiveness,
Its depths of intensity and despair.
They parted He, to go back to the
excitement of his career-she, to bear
al the sorrow and desola tion of her
Lot alone, in dull, uneveutful round
Of lifo's daily duties-duties which
sometimes seemed too heavy and
cumbersome for her and her heart
wins no longer in her work.
Time went by. The sultry summer
weather was wearing slowly on to
early autumn. 1t was August; but
harold was too occupied with his work
SO dare hope for IA vacation.
He broke it to her as gently as pos
sitlc. 1t meant so much to him--tc
them both, for surely they belonged
to each other II he did his worl
well now, at this particular juncture
his future was assured; aud that future
wauld be hers, also, for were they no
going to pass their lives together
20 he wrote; and Constance submitted
with patience. His success was hers
No sacrifice would be too great to at
tain that end, And she never TOLD
him Of her own failing health, Of tn,
weakened heart, the feeble strength
She would not trouble him or bring {
cloud to his brow--her bright, bonn!
bOyi SO dearly loved.