The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-09-16

playing a popular piece: but they might
| have been wooden puppets in Punch
| and Judy show for all Madge knew or
cared just then.
In flash. Il breath. the whole world
| was changed fcr her, and she was be-
wildered 10y something. she knew not
what
She was only CONSCIOUS of that
strange new feeling, half of bliss and
half of pain. which had seized and over
powered her despite her will and real
son.
Day after day and evening after
| evening. since That night iii the theater,
she and Sidney CLAY crins had met i'll
| their walks. or their drives, or ut places
| of amusement
And this girl who lad Knocked at love
| VI allied ut last that she loved him bet
| ter than the world, more than ler own
| life.
| 1t was a bitter knowledge, and To
| know that he loved her with an affec-
| Ii N equal to her own, had only added
| to the bitterness.
| Not that he had ever uttered IA sylla-
BILE of tenderness. he was too manly
and upright 10 hirt Of his own love for
| her whcu She was the bctrothed bride
| of another. and had he been tempted
TO do so. he knew That proud Madgc
would hot haze permitted ii.
But love has Il language all its own,
| more eloquent than thousand tongues.
| Though the lips may be guarded or
mute, sigh, a glance. the mere culver
| of an eyelash. will sometimes betrsiy
| the hearts dear secret
Somebody has written: Between
| them who love, n look sutfices: the
heart of each is always open to the
other"
And thus it was from the first be
tween these two hapless lovers.
Both fel, that they ought TO shun
| each other; it would be wiser and kind
| err To themselves! But it was not al
ways possible without causing COM
mcnt. And besides, Guy Severne had
| conceived an almost brothcrly regard
for young Cluyeriug and frequently
planned some little amusement which
he must share with Madge, ana which
hc could not decline without seeming
churlish
The girls horror ut her own disloy-
| atty almost maddcncd her mt times; but
her most poignant agony was in her
pity for her bctrothcd.
IF poor Guy can only be spared the
sorrow of knowing IL, | will bear any
punishment heaven inilicts upon me"
lie ever care for me? oh, why did he
not fix his affections upon some other
onci There is dear, pretty, fascinating
Dora Mcuforth, who worships the very
| prints his feet make in the dust-why
couldn't he have cared for herr
And thus the slow, miserable weeks
| Jagged by until the afternoon before
the dawn of her appointed marriage
| day.
The nearer that dreaded event was
the more distracting WAS her trouble.
And finally she begun to reflect how
she, too. might have IL right TO little
of the pity which she had so unspar
ingly bestowed upon her un,Oyed
tiAnCo.
81 shall be unhappy rs long as |
! live" she sighed. My misery will be
come more unbeamblc with every
passing year. And Sidney will he just
MS wrctched rs / am; and we could be
so happy, So blisSfully happy, To-
gcthcr-my beloved and l. oh, my
darling. my heart is breaking! Oh,
love. love. what will become Of u.s.
She l0athcd herself for her ulden
moclScry of love.
Fool that | waste think | should be
exempt from what is the destiny of
every one who has n heart to thrill or
SNIlcr, she Ciltu uSIin WIFI IL TuSn
uffriufrrs-
She was still weeping when Sidney
Clavering was announced.
She was startled and displeased ut
his coming.
IT was the first time he had ever
called except when Guy Scverne's ar
fragments had made II call unavoida-
BILE.
Forgive me- he began with an agi-
tation he could not control Forgive
me- Nladge, for | am only here 10 bid
you farewell / am going away-we
Shall never meet again in this world.
1 could not 20 without some little eX-
preston of what has been stiied so
long. oh. love-oh, heart Of my heart.
why must fate be so unliindE
and is not fate unllnd To the man
who is betrayed by the friend he loves
who is deceived by the promised wife
he tiustsl" Madgc demanded bitterly.
MY beloved, do you think l am ike
lv To ignore that for n seCond:' ClaNer-
Ing sadly answered. DO / not abhor
myself for it? But Guy is Just and
noble: even if he knew I'LL he would
not blame us for this one poor, last Mt
lie half-hour together. Must we not
bid each other farewell as happier peo-
pie take leave of their lead:
Mndge WIS weeping UNWILLING, SlrdI--
ling tears of dumb misery.
Before she could command her voice
the parlor door was abruptly opened
by an evidently excited lad. who step
ped hurricdly toward young Clavcring
Yer wanted. sir-over ter stony GIN
right off. the boy announced breath
lcssly.
stony Cliff iIadgc and her compan-
ion echoed simultaneously. with startled
voices.
stony Cliff WAS IA wild and dangerous
elevation of the rivcrbank. on Il lonely
road between the Faync .nunsi) m and
the village.
The descent from the summit TO the
water measured some two hundred feet ;
IL was nearly perpendicular, and il WAS
marked by ragged lodges. which We're
overgrown with brambles and rank
vines. a number of tragedies had
been enacted there, and many people
regarded the place with supcrstitious
disfavor.
"Who wants mc:' Clavcring present
ly inquired.
at WIZ Mr.. Scvcrnc sent me. sir.
| And he wants somethin that's 'poitant.
fer he promerscd me er dollar when |
gifts back wild Yer. BE yer comm, mis-
| teri" the boy painted.
| Yes. my boy. Say to Mr., Severne l
will be there at once" the Young man
answered.
! tThn lad houuued AWAY like n deer