Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-18

walking around In few days. but
now, said l, since | have met you, and
know that you leave US SO shortly, ten
doctors cannot keep NE indoors; shall
defy them all and come TO see you just as
often as you will let me- oh, said she,
that would be every day, really it would;
but then you don't know; maybe when
tomorrow comes you may find that you
just can't, you see recalled this with
great distinctness a day later.
Thus we talked on. She was sitting
close beside me. | could see her face
plainly in the moonlight, even the soft,
sweet expression Of her eyes Insensibly
great, overpoweriug feeling Of love for
the girl stole over me. | reached over
and took one of her hands. She attempt
ed at first to withdraw it; then let it re-
main, while her eyes were bent on the
ground. Don't be angry plead, Ire
member your warning, but | cant help
it. | am not making love to you as
thousands of fellows make love to thou
sands Of girls, or just as have myself
done to dozen, but because | cant help
it. know that ! love you. knew
that | loved you the instant saw you to-
night. | feel that | shall always love
you. You should pardon me too, and
not be very angry, when YOU reflect that,
as you say, may be jailed up with this
ankle to morrow, and that you may leave
before | can see you again. | do love
you just as earnestly, just as dearly as II
is possible for me to love. She made no
answer, and her eyes were still bent on
the ground. But her hand still rested in
mine she made no motion to withdraw
It, and imagined that felt Il tightening
clasp of her little fingers Then, before
| scarce knew what | was doing, | had
slipped my arm around her, had drawn
her close to me, and, lifting up her head,
kissed her. At first she seemed startled
and struggled feebly to release herself,
saving You must let me go! You must
take me back to the house !" Then sud-
denly she looked me straight in the eyes,
and saying 4 believe you! threw her
arms about my neck and kissed me-
Bows, I know what You are thinking -
lust some dead firt like one meets some
where every summer. No, by heaven,
she was as far from that as any girl l
ever knew, as you will see for yourself
laler on. Whether she really loved me
or not at the time, | did not know. You
see She was sorry for me because of my
hurt, and sympathy and love you know
are kin. Well, held her close in my
arms for some minutes, stroking The wavy
hair from her forehead, and kissing her
upturned lips. Fellows, never knew
what life held in it till that moment.
but SUDDENLY she broke away from me,
and pointed. with hand all trembling, at
a large tree which stood some ten feet
distant. | looked and saw some dark ob
iect standing Just behind il, as # in hiding.
Getting up, hurried ov. r., and found my
cousin Arthur. you internal sneak = ]
cried, What are you doing here? Play.
ing the spy as usual, guess Now l
warn you that this kind Of thing won't do.
Go back to the house at once, or I'll find
a way to make = He was coward, as /
had LEANED years ago, and skunk of NUT!
tering something about its being all an
accident wouldn't have in,ruded pur-
posely for the world, and all that
81 stood watching him till he entered
the house Then | returned to Jessie
She was very white aud her tech we're
chatteriug. who was it?' she asked,
he looked much like your cousin. No
matter, | answered, trying to reassure
her, 1T was all an accident. He bad just
strolled out to smoke, aud coming upon
us unexpectedly, was trying to get away
without being seen, trying to save US
from embarrassment, you know, when We
caught him. But think no more about
it. What if he did see You are now
engaged to me, and have such a right
to Kiss you that am going to work right
now to kiss some color into those fright
ened cheeks Of yours, aud fondle some
warmth into this shivering little body
But it was growing late. We arose to 20
to the house. Standing there moment
drew her close to me, and looked long
into her dark eyes, putting back the soft
hair from her forehead and telling her
that knew that | should never love an
other woman to my dying day, and that
she must be as true TO me. She clung to
me a lrife wildly at first, saying oh, /
can't help feeling that something wrong
is going TO happen TO YOU 10 eome out
TO see NE to-morr.w. OF send ne a note
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