The Van Buren press., 1894-09-08
LOVE FOR A YEAR.
4 Case Of Absence Makes the
Heart Grow Ponder"

Scsne pleasant sitting room in Alicia q
home Present, Alicia and Raimund.
Alicia with dignity)-No. no, Rat
mund. can't listen 70 you.
Raimund (pleadingly) = But why,
Alicia; why2
Alicia-For . hundred reasons.
need not name them, since my answer
II nnal.
Raimund (desperately)-It can't be
nnaL l won't believe II. love you
too much. Oh. do you think can give
you up for one refusal? That IL not
my way Of loving. What can say to
make you understand?
Alscia (gently)-You hare made me
upderstand. / appreciate most truly
the depth and warmth of your feeling;
but, my dear boy, It ia altogether i'm
possible-wildly impossible, this dream
of yours
Raimund-It IL In nowise impossi5le
That's the wrong word.
Alicia (frmly)-Raimund, listen to
me-. Counting by time am four years
your senior. $3.50 -.s4l
Raimund (promptly)-I don't care.
Alicia = And counting by expert
ence-
Raimund dnterrupting) - Expert
ence? II you come to that your expert
ence can't rank for . moment beside
mine. i am twenty-five, but have been
struggling with the world since l was
sixteen. You have been busy with
your books and music, going out into
society now and then. What can you
learn Of life. Of It's real significance, in
the pleasant drawing rooms of your
select little circle Of friends?
Alicia with = Retrospective smile)-
Enough for dissillusionment-enough
to see the folly Of such marriage u
you suggest.
Raimund-Then you have learned
very little. have been out battling
with fate-struggling against worse
odds than you can dream of; but was
working my way TO you.
Alicia (smiling)-And was growing
old In the meantime. Come. now, be
sensible.
Raimund-I am sensible, therefore
refuse to accept your decision. re-
peat again, love you, and want you
for my own. Oh, Alicia! (his voice
breaks little) II you don't quite hate
me-if there is no one you care for
more-don't you see that can't give
you up? Imust hope.
Alicia (softly)-There Is no one else,
and am very, very fond of you.
see 30 much in you that Is noble and
manly
Raimund Quickly = Don't-don't
praise me- You never did before, and
Il makes me feel afraid. know quite
well ! am not worthy TO tie your shoe
ribbons, but worship you SO. There
II nothing in Gods world would not
do to prove my devotion.
Alicia latter pause)-I wonder If
you would do one thing might ask Of
you make one little sacrifice for both
our sakes?
Raimund (fervently) : Yes; any
thing-anything in my power, Alicia,
except to leave you, and that IL not in
my power now.
Alicis-But that, dear, is what I
would ask you to do. No, let me
0Y~SA' w DclieVc tHou you are tfue
and loyal and full of love-
Raimund-Oh. Alicia!
Alicia-Hush, now! And il is for
this reason that wish you to go
away. Yesterday, when you spoke of
your partner trying to persuade you to
take business trip
Raimund-But told you I would
not 20 because 1t would separate me
from you.
AIicia-I thought it was what you
ought to do. He wanted you to stay
year, you said
Raimnnd-Yes, but won't.
Alicia-And take charge of the Arm
In SEN Francisco. (Gravely.) Sup
pose demand Of you to make this
test OF your love-to stay away .
year?
Raimuad (impetuously)-I can't,
that's all.
Alicia-If you love ine-if you are
sure your lore will last-you can. Now.
ese. dear will say this much: that