Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-03-01

HcQfG NY fttttfS OeOe-
go on, Leonard" said. LET me be
Hagar to you"
mo, nor he cried with considerable
vehemence. ''You must be more. You
must be my Rebecca-my Leah"
Twill be anything you WISH" said.
Twas surprised at the calmness with
which said that; was not surprised
that was thoroughly happy. He took
me in his arms and kissed me passion
ately.
1--WE love each other, Jenny"
This was said SO slowly, SO measured
", that it caused me to look up into his
face.
1--WE have loved each other for long
while, Leonard. I am very. very happy!
How could you possibly lower yourself
in my estimation by such an svowal?
How wish that words Of mine could
restore the summer in your heart"
"It may never be, dearest Jenny. lam
like blasted pine upon dreary heath;
Pariah, more of an outcast from his
own soul than from the world without.
In this hour you will curse me, Jenny,
Just as shall curse myself. In this hour
I may scar your heart just as mine has
been scared, turn it to stone, just as mine
has been turned. 1t is the hour of my
sin, and l shrink away from The con-
sciousness have of the purity of your
inner life. Jenny, 1 have loved you long
and well. The passion swells my veins
with fire while speak. My companion
ship with you has taught me much
much of hope and faith and love.
"God does not create the intelligent
mind with its powers and faculties fully
formed at the beginning, with all the
principles of truth apparent to thought,
and all the elements of experience in
folded in its consciousness. He creates
it infantile. He makes the very COM
mencement of its being dependent upon
others. and then he leaves the forces that
are lodged in it and that are innately
prophetic of future to be unfolded,
trained and matured by the action OF
other minds naanifastad- isa- --1yvrvh
books, by the exercise of thought, by the
ministry of experience-above all, by
contact with effort and disappointment.
have learned more by my companions
ship with you, by the action of your
mind. than by effort and suffering and
experience combined. But why should
speak of this? | have told You that love
you. That is very sweet. What l have
to add is very, very bitter. Jenny, you
can never be my wifer'
His face was very white. There was a
dull. icy glare in his eyes and percepti,
BILE shudder passed over him. Perhaps
we were alike affected and alike manifest
ed it. / felt sudden chilliness in the air,
and caught at the window hangings fol
support. l did not speak for little
while Then taking both his hands il
mine and looking steadfastly into his
face said: Leonard, what does all this
mean? Why can not be your wife?''
He took my arms and made me put
them around his neck. Then he said, il
low, husky whisper, Jenny, / an
| married.
One quick, passionate embrace. one
long, burning kiss, and / was alone.
seemed only conscious that the rector
had staggered across the room, out of the
door, Oh, the wretchedness of that hour
never thought that ones heart could
bear SO much and yet not break. felt
tenfold more wretched, more unsatisfed
more sick and tired of life and the world
than l did when they laid a beloved
mother in the grave and later still the
invalid Alice. There were no tears il
my eyes. 1t was a grief too deep fol
tears. crept up to my chamber, fright
ened at my own ghostliness. prayed
for strength that ] might endure, fol
patience that might wait, for life thai
| | might live!