The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-05-01

night I reviewed the happy hours I
had spent in your society, and as the de-
tails of our meetings grouped them
selves in h ,utiful picture in my
brain I determined that another sun
should not set before had laid bare
my heart to you.
"Mlss Sanford, If I have been nour-
fishing false hope in my bosom !
should know it ere that hope has SO
firmly taken root that it would wound
me almost to the death to pluck it out
and cast it away. Day by day, as the
tender, creeping vine entwines itself
more closely about the supporting oak,
affecting of affection for you has grown
in my heart, and reason and manhood
tell me that should it be roofing there
only to wither and die beneath the
blighting frost of disappointment it
should be killed in its weaker life. My
friend, were but an ordinary soldier
with no fair prospects in the life be-
fore me would not insult you by ask
ing you to listen to such confession,
but as will some day step from the
ranks into an honorcd place among my
fellow men. as, on the burial from sight
of Private Brown the humble soldier,
Mr.. Edward Thornton the gentleman
will be resurrected, feel that do not
in the least encroach upon the lines Of
propriety by what / am going to ask
you. My little, my valued friend, the
bud Of affection now growing in my
breast is fast bursting into the full
blown flower of radiant love, and |
must ask you if when am restored to
the world and can lay before you
every proof that am man worthy Of
you, ! may hope to win your love and
some day ask you to be my wife?'
Alice was trembling as leaf shaken
by the wind, and tears coursed down her
cheeks In voice all broken with
deep emotion, she replied:
''Mr. Thornton, I-I-this is so unex-
| pected l don't know what to say to
you. believe in you. believe you
are sincere in all you say, and that you
are actuated only by the purest mo-
tives. have learned to think very
highly of you. You have awakened in
my heart feeling new to me, but o, |
should not listen to you now. Give me
time to think. My brain is whirling
with this strange revelation. Mr..
Thornton, Lido respect you above
all men. feel toward you as / never
before felt toward a man. You seem
very near and-and-dear to me, and
o, l cannot tell you what feel.
cannot express my thoughts"
He gently took one Of her hands aNd
holding 1t between both of his own
said to her:
"Miss Sanford--Alice, believe holt
q warm place in your purest Of woman
ly hearts, and the belief floods my sou
with Joy almost boundless Just Z
word from your lips, just one littl'
word telling me ! may hope some da.
in the future to win you, and my sol
dier life will pass as but dream from
which will awaken into heaven o
Joy and rapture. VIII you give me thi
hope, Alice?"
10, Mr.. Thornton, | can no longe
stiHe the words which rise from m
heart. do love you; have long love
you, and have nightly prayed to m
Father in Heaven that the social barrie
between us might melt away that
might not so fear my love was hopeless
Yes, my king among men, you ma
hope, and when you are restored to tn
world l will be as proud to proclair
your love for me as am now proud I
possess it."
OHe would fain have clasped her to h
breast, but prudence forbade any den
onstration Of love in so public place
and with the bells Of Joy ringing !
every tone of his manly voice, he saiC
MAY Heaven bless you, my dear gir
for that assurance. twill be the gui'
ing star to lead me from this bondag
to the freedom of independence.
| have dared to paint the most CLOWN