The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-12

was the form or the curt permission;
and the only other concession granted
10 love was a promise TO allow the SUBJ
ject TO be reopened, at the end of three
years.
From these sorrowful texts, what
vows and plans were made in that last
miserable walk! IL was a warm, misty
night I'm November The leaves were
gone, and the singing birds. and of all
the flowers of June none were left but
IA few Michaelmas daisies. Without
analyzing their surroundings, they felt
the fitness of them; and there was even
q touch Of sarcasm in Roberts grief, as
he recalled the sunshine and music OF
their betrothal. "It has turned out
with my love, as with oil else in my
sad life" he said, with bitter laugh.
Nothing comes to perfection; and this
garden has been, to me. very Vale OF
Maenalus; where
IT pursued a maiden. and clasped a reed:
Gods and men are all deluded thus;
IL breaks In our bosom, and then we bleed"
Nor did Katherines tears, and protes-
ltations, and pleas for duty, satisfy him;
sort, he had been deserted. This slight
feeling of dissatisfaction was evident
10 the colonel, and he relied upon il. In
three years he believed il would work
the whole ediflce of love to ruin. 1t
certainly affected the parting Of the
lovers, and shadowed nope, though
Katherine's last kisses were given with
passionate assurances of devotion and
loyalty.
Then she tried TO make her life fall
back into its old placid groove. She did
not wish this irreparable loss which
had ruined her own happiness TO make
others wretched. All the DAY long,
she showed a bright face to her little
world; it was the night, which cele.
brated the resurrection of her love. In
the day, that remarkable thing called
Kespectability forced her TO hide what
ever feeling was not conventional; but
at night, her lovely, tender soul in
dulged an obstinate longing for that
divine something lost out OF her life.
Yet she did not despair, though not
even the zone word" permitted broke
the silence which had fallen between
her lover and herself. "The things of
the heart are eternal" she thought;
"and tomorrow, perhaps tomorrow
One never knows, what God has re-
served for the morrow" Thus faithful |
ly musing.she would fall into forgetful- |
ness; and, at last, sleep come to COM |
fort her.
To fear. to wait, 10 doubt, to be |
gin hoping anew, TO say at is i'm |
possible" TO have but one thought, and |
TO turn that thought thousand ways,
TO feel disappointment cankering life,
and to smile above all her suffering; |
this was now the story of Katherine's
life. The zone word" came not from
Robert. She blamed. and then ex-
,used him. He was perhaps sick. He
vas proud, and had good reason TO he
offended. She did not wonder he dis
liked 10 write even that zone word" TO
Ter father. But doubtless, he had
yreat surprise in store for her. And
hus Love trusted and hoped, and il il
,rieved IL also forgave.
When the three years were nearly
yer the colonel was near unto death.
But he was quite ready to follow, when
'eckoned; and, during these last days,
&c looked keenly and steadily into the
arl<ness he was about TO penetrate.
L am going to quit my life, dear
;" he said Tam not ordered
ut of IL. quit II. give up my spirit
D Him who desires me; or j shorld not
e willing TO go To Him. You have been
faithful and loving child. through
luch sorrow and anxiety. Take what
sward God will give you. All have Is
ours. ! have put on il 10 restriction
ut your own honor"
'Dear father. tell me now, II you ever
card from Robert Kensall?"
"Have you doubted me? My darling
aughter, 1 have never had single
ord from him. I should have told you
If / had" With this assertion,a solemn
,llor spread over his face; his long
lrthly march was over; and he
stepped out grandly TO the Infinite"