The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-05-19
QAaDIAs.-. HRoNAN sNcER'aE.

and pressed her aching forehead
against a tall, weatherworn stone
that rose higher than her own height
from the midst of the hillock.
Her woman's nature rebelled against
the trick. 1t was the trlest thing in
her, and perhas the best, which pro-
tested SO violently against the thing
she meant to do; it was the simple
longing to be loved for her own sake,
and of the mans own free will. to be
loved by him with the love she had
this be love at all, this artificial ere
alton of her suggestion reacting upon
her mind? Would it last? Would it
be true, faithful, tender? Above all,
would it be real, even for a moment?
She asked herself a thousand ques-
tiohs in a second of time.
Then the ready excuse flashed upon
qer-the pretext which the heart will
always find when it Unjust haveits way.
Was it not possible, after all, that he
was beginning to love her eve now?
Might not that outburst of friendship
which had surprised her and wounded
her 50 deeply be the herald of a
quickly and met his vacant stare.
..Do you love mep" she asked, al
most before she knew what she was
going to say.
NO" The answer came in the
far-off voice that told of his uncon-
seriousness; a mere toneless monosylla-
BILE breathed upon the murky air.
But it stabbed her like the thrust of a
jagged knife. A long silence followed,
and Unorna leaned against the great
slab OF carved sandstone.
You must love me-" she said;
'tyou must love me, because | love
you so. Will you not love me, dear?
1 have waited 80 long for YOU"
The Wanderer did not move. His
face was as calm as sculptured stone.
do you despise me for loving
you?" she asked again, with a sudden
flush.
mo. I do not despise you" Some
thing in her tone had pierced through
his stupor. and had found an answer.
She started at the sound of his voice.
1t was as though he had been awake
and had known the weight of what she
had been saying, and her anger rose
at the cold reply.
e.No-you do not despise me, and
you never SHALL" she exclaimed. pas
sionately. You shall love me, as I
Lore you'll will it with all my will!
We are created to be all, one to the
other, and you shall not break through
the destiny of love. Love me, as l
love you-love me with all you heart,
love me with all your mind, love me
with all your soul, love me as man
never loved woman since the world
began! l will it, I command tit
shall be as l say-you dare not dis
obey me-you cannot if you would.
Enter into my soul and read what
love is, in his own great writing.
Read how he steals suddenly into the
sacred place and make it his, and
tears down the old gods and sets up
his dear image in their stead-read
how he signs, and speaks, and weeps,
and loves-and forgives not, but will
be revenged at the last! See how l
love ou-se how sweet it is-how
very lovely a thing it is to love as
woman can. There-have you felt it
now? Have you seen into the depths
Of my soul and into the hiding places
of my hearth Lett be so in your own,
then, and let it be so forever. You
understand now. You know what it
all is-how wild, how passionate, how
gentle and how great! Take to your
self this love Of mine-is it not all
yours? Take it, and plant it with
strong roots and seeds of undying life
in your own sleeping breast, and let it
grow and grow till it is even greater
than it was in me, till it takes us both
into itself, together, fast bound in it's
immortal bonds, to be two in one, in
life and beyond life, for ever and ever
and aver to the end of ends. -
She ceased. and she saw that his
face was no longer expressionless and
cold.
At last she spoke,
Then, love, since you are mine,
and am yours, wake from the dream
to life itself-wake, not knowing that
you have slept, knowing only that
you love me now and always-wake,
love, wake!w
What is it?n he asked in his kind
.ld passionate voice. "What were you
going TO ask me, Unorna?"
1t was gone. The terribly earnest
appeal had been in vain. Not a race
of that short vision of love remained
impressed upon his brain.
With a ~smothered cry of agony
Unorna leaned against the great slab
of stone behind her and covered her
eyes. The darkness of night de-
scended upon her, and with it the fire
of a burning shame.
Then a loud and cruel laugh ran
through the chilly air, such a laugh
as the devils in hell bestow upon the
shame of a proud soul that knows its
own infinite bitterness. Unorna
started and uncovered her eyes; her
suffering changed in a single instant
to ungovernable and destroying
anger. She made a step forward. and