The record-union., 1893-06-24


SO strange before. At times she is gay
and bright, almost feverish; at times
gloomy and sad, and again pettish and
impatient. There must be something on
her mind, but what it is l cannot tell.
Dld l not know she was the soul of
honor | would say she loved her young
Professor. But bound as she is-oh,
heavens! what am 1 writing? Bound!
Has not he been bound for four years,
and have l not always worshiped him in
my heart? Let me never speak of honor
and Katherine
december 25th.-Christmas Day, and
l am, oh! so miserable and unhappy.
My surmise is true and Kathie loves
Phillip Brompton. Poor gilr! How [
pity her. But she must bear it for her
fathers sake. When L told her, OH l
shall never forget the cry of anguish as
she threw her arms abOut my neck and
told me that l was right. L do love him,
kelba. l love him with my whole soul!
How can | bear it? Poor papa! How
grieved he would be to know that the only
thing he ever asked of his daughter was
the one thing that would break her heart
and ruin her life. Help me, Reiba, to
Keep my sorrow. Promise me you will
never tell himp OF course 1 could prom
lse her. She will never know my secret,
thank God; nor will any one else while
there is lie and strength in my body to
prevent it. God help heri Strengthen her
IN this her first trial. Ills sad Christmas
Day; but in few months more sue can go
to her father, and hope the sight Of him
may help to give her strength"
From kathie's Diary: september 3,
1S--.In one short month my studies
will be completed, and | shall 60 home.
On Christmas Day l am to be Icons
bride, and heaven help me. / shall be a
loveless bride. l shall leave forever the
choice of my heart to we'd a man who is
good and noble, but whom l can never
love as wife should. My head is throb-
blng and my brain seems on fire. l can
write no more tonight"
Reiba speaks: 'September lSth.-I am
so troubled about poor kathie! Her face
IS so pale and drawn, her eyes so big and
sad. What shall l do? 1 cannot see
what my duty is. l shall pray for help,
and may God show me what is right and
the best for the happiness of my poor
girl. Shall l tell her father, or shall l let
her marry man she will never love and
ruin her life to unite two estates and graf
lily a whlmY l must think of it more and
see how she bears the parting"
kathie's Journal: October 10th. To
morrow the examinations take place, then
Reiba and l go back to our old home.
Tomorrow l take leave of my teachers
and all things which have grown dear to
me during five years. Can it be that | will
look my last on his dear face? All, well,
this life is filled with sorrows, meetings
and tarewells and heartbreaks. and scat
tered along with these are a few joys so
brief, so fleet, as to seem like a passing
dream of hea- Here | was called to the
schoolroom to receive some instructions
for tomorrow. Can l write all the joy
and heartbreaks crowded into one brief
halt-hour? We stood alone for one sweet
moment, my love and l, and then | knew
of the silent agony my love had also
borne during that year of sorrow. He
loves me even as l love him? Kind
Heaven, that though we are parted, our
souls will ever be one. | could not bear
to know he would ever forget me, al
though l can never be to him what l
would wish. 'Kathie,' pushing the hair
from my forehead and looking tenderly
and sOrrowfuily into my eyes, 'Kathie,
you must keep your wordl But promise
me you will never forget me; that you
will always keep in your heart tender
thought for him who would gladly have
died to give you happiness
Did L promise? Can you ask? Would
l ever forget him?
''It was all over at last, and with a ten
der embrace and a parting caress fled to
my room and"
Reiba speaks: October 1Oth.-Well. it
is decided. l know my duty. Tonight
Kathie was called from the room, and
while she was gone I went for walk in
the garden. An hour later | returned
and found her in dead faint on the floor,
her journal clasped tightly in her hands,
and on her face such look of pain and
suffering as l pray l may never see on
human face again.
"When she was herself once more she
told me what had occurred. Poor Kathiel
But l decided at once, that even though
l must break solemn promise, l would
tell her father. 1 know his kind heart
too we'll to think that he would condemn
the idol of his heart to life of misery.
Would 1 be true mother and friend to
allow her to sacrifice three lives? She
must not marry Leon Humphreys! There
must be a sacrifice on my part. l must
prevent this marriage, though love him
myself No one knows my secret, and
no one shall. l will tell Kathie's father,
and she shall have her hearts choice.
Phillip Brompton's name is old and hon
orable, and Kathie has money for them
both. Now L must say good night, as to-
morrow will be very trying day. If
kathie can only bear up until after exam
ination all will be well.
October llth.-It is all finished at last.
This evening we say good-by to all, and
under Icons care we travel back to our
old home. Yes, Leon came to-day in the
EarIs place to hear the exercises and see
us safely home. He looked at me very
strangely. l think there was reproach
in his glance on account of Kathie's
white face, l suppose. But if he only
knew he would reproach himself in
stead of me. In a few short days he
shall know all from my own lips. |
shall tell the story in the presence of the
Earl, Sir Leon and his son. Then we
I'LL rl,.,ttN l,,
pray heaven he does not, as | could not
bear to give him pain, and the story must
be told. Good-by, journal. God only
knows when l may open these leaves
again."
The next morning early Reiba and
kathie, with Leon for their escort, seated
themselves comfortably in the carriage,
sent to meet them, and started for home.
During the journey kathie was silent
and abstracted, gazing from the carriage
window, and starting guiltily whenever
spoken to. To keep Leon's attention
from Kathie, Reiba kept up a fire of re-
marks, often causing Leon to stare at her
in amazement. But somehow she no.
ticed he did not seem to be impatient,
though she was sure her constant chatter
must weary him.
AS for Leon he could only wonder that
the shy stranger, with a freckled face.
could have blossomed into so glorious a
creature. The hair a beautiful auburn,
the skin a clear olive with no color save
in the lips, and the eyes-where shall
there be found words to paint those glori-
Gus orbs, so speaking, so soulful, so teu-
derigreat liquid brown lights shining with
tender love as they rested on kathie's
face and sparkling with intellect and
feeling while talking. What could be
more beautiful? thought Leon. Then he
shook himself impatiently and forgot
her.
At length the Hall was reached, and
the Earl met them at the door. Catching
sight OF his daughters pale face and sad,
heavy ewes, he forgot all else; forgot
that Reiba and Leon were waiting TO be