Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-11-21

sorrowful eyes Of hers. Unerring in
stinct told her that Herman himself
was near
Have you then no word OF welcome
for me?" he was saying, gently. Il
came back at last because ! could not
keep away from-from Garth day
longer; the pain of separation from
the place had become more than l
bear. | am come back, and want you
to give me word of welcome Miss
Penrith"
She saw he was altered much, that
the few years which were gone had
told heavily upon him. His brown
hair was streaked with silver, his
beard was rougher and longer. Those
steadfast eyes, SO tender and true,
were graver, more wistful, than she
had ever known them before.
Alicia, too, was changed, he noticed
changed greatly. 1t was difficult to
believe that this pale, beautiful woman
in cleaning satin and shimmering
pearls was the Alicia Penrith whom
he had found watching for his coming
in the fragrant twilight in the garden
at Genoa.
She made room for him to be seated,
and he sat down by her on the couch.
"Why--why did you leave me with
out word" she said, in a low,
panied voice, without word, without
a sign? You gave me no word at part
ing. Why did you not tell me that
you were going away for an indefinite
time, and spare me SO much suffering,
so-so--I mean" she broke on very
nervously, the tears rising in her
throat, ''that-that-yo said once you
would never desert the Penriths."
Nor have l." he said, with some
thing like his old, CHEEKY smile
Though / have been miles away from
Garth, I have nevertheless been kept
constantly informed as to the welfare
Of your more worldly interests at
home. You may be sure your affairs,
Miss Penrith, were left in, intrusted
to, careful, competent hands"
Eyes, you have been good, too good,
she murmured very low.
"And now shall tell you why /
thought it right to go away?" he gen
thy asked.
Yes" was all she could say
at was because | had learned to love
YOU so we'll, Alicia said Merry
weather, bravely, that to be near you
SO often, and yet to hold my peace, was
beyond my strength, was more than
even | could endure. | have loved you
always. I shall love you until l die.
Albeit my years are nearly double
your owns my heart was whole, per-
feet. untouched, until the day ! beheld
YOU. Alicia. Do not laugh at me, put
rather pity my folly. am man VINO
has lived half a lifetime; you are a
girl upon the threshold OF bright
womanhood. Wrong strangely wrong
is 1t not? What could Go, Alicia!
I fought against my love, Dut could
not overcome it. | fought most man
fully. believe me, but the fight was
against me from the first. SO went
await was the only course left me
and would not even trust myseh TO
say good-by. She will marry, perhaps,
when / am gone-when she has seen
more Of the world, thought to myself,
and in that thought-bitter 1t was
Law nv whole hope of cure. And yet
after three years absence, | return TO
Garth to find you still Alicia Penrith!
OH my little child, my sweet love-
cried poor Herman, softly, why dld
YOU creep into my heart unaware, and
rob me so utterly of my old content?
Alicia was crying she could not
help it. Was it possible, she found
herself wondering, to taste such nap
piness and live?
you should have spoken before,
Herman" she wept, turning upon him
her wistful, wet eyes; we've might
have been happy sooner. Have you
never guessed that loved you-love
YOU still? The world was nothing to
me when / had once seen you, Her
man. II you had never spoken, |
should have died Alicia Penrith.
"Alicia!'
Was he dreaming? Had his ears
played him false?
How could | help loving you?' she
cried passionately, when you have
been so good and true to me?"
The strains OF the volu2tuous music
still filled the perfumed air, but al
ready out of-doors the black night
was rolling away, and the gray dawn
streaking he ebon clouds that lay
piled in the eastern sky.
Think, Alicia" Merryweather said,
unsteadily. shrinking from over-eager-
ness in taking advantage of her sweet
consent. You may live to repent
your rashness of this night in the
years to come. Remember, my dar-
ling. my age is nearly twice your
own"
Were it three times as much, or
even more she whispered, with glts-
tening eyes, woman-lille reckless on
her dizzy pinnacle of happiness, "it
would make no difference, Herman