The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-28

She loved hel. freed dom-she had
not thought. Of being married to
anyone-Ltiast of all, to Paul.
And feeling, as she did, such a
strong affection and respect for
him, made it, she said to herself,
worse for her. If she disliked
him, she could leave him without
any compunctiOn.
1t was four weeks before Paul
spoke to Ethel, again, about their
future; for she avoided being
alone with him, all she possibly
could.
But one soft, bright, summer
day, just at sunset, she entered
his room, bringing the fresh,
sweet breath of roses and lilacs
with her; for she came in through
the low, French window-his room
was on the ground floor, and
opened into an old-fashioned flow
er-garden-she had her hands full
of roses and lilies, as she entered.
He looked up to her, his face
lighting up, as it always did at
her approach, thinking, what was
indeed the truth, that the flowers
were not half SO sweet as her face.
She thought Mrs. Lindsey was in
the room-she usually was at this
hour. But she had gone out, and
Ethel stood, hesitatingly, for a
moment; but Paul held out his
hand so besecchingly, that she
went forward, and laid the flow
ers down, by his face, on the pill
low. He took her hand, silently,
in both his own.
''Look at your flowers, Paul
See how fresh and sweet they are
You will soon be better, so you
can go out and gather them fol
yourself. Are they not sweet?"
YES" still holding her hand
still looking up III her face
''yes.''
"Shall [ read to you Paul?"
NO; sit down, here, close BY
my side, SO l can look at you"
She obeyed him, silently, ant
he looked up in the sweet face, Sc
near to him, yet that, he felt il
his soul, was so far from him, til
tears rose and lid her face from
him. He raised her delicate han(
to his lips, and then laid it owe.
his eyes. Suddenly, he looked ~
in her face, her sweet, woefu
eyes.
"Ethel, [ was selfish, | was mad
to do as did. But, before God
my darling, l thought I was leav
ing you, forever; and l loved yol
SO, and-and-tnere was anothe
reason, that / thought was a strony
and good one. But l fear my owl
mad, selfish love tempted me, in
stead of honor. There were othe
ways"
He paused, hesitated, and thel
went on:
"Your sad eyes have a1mos
killed me, ever since. But, hea
me, Ethel; trust me, sweet, as yo
always have. I claim nothing
You are free as you ever were.
claim no right, only the right t
watch over, protect you. Yo
shall be to me only as a dear sis
ter, until l can win your love,
such bliss can ever be for me-"
Her sweet face changed fro1
red to white, and then to re
again, as he talked. But, agai1
she silenced him, by saying
was too weak to talk. When /
got stronger, they would spea
, again of their future.
But Geraldine talked. H
l.. read poetry to:her by the hour, il
variably selecting those poems
: which dashing, naughty heroe
| ill-used by fortune, got the victor
/ at last, and carried off the lady
\ their love. His dark, languisl
5 ing eyes always pointed the NOR,
, of the poem, and Ethel felt he
t self to be the,heroine. She grew a
; tcustomed to it; to feeling herse
4 IN a perfumed, Intoxicating a
0 mosphere of adulation and hon
: age; and is it to be wonderful
: that it grew to be rather deligh
: full, than otherwise? To see tn
Il naughty hero, although he nev
!, assumed the attitude PHYSICAL
= yet forever giving her the lmpres
Il ion that he was on his knees
o her; that his rapt, poetical so
: was bending in alteration at h
n shrine?
g And Paul? Paul saw it a.
II felt that Ethel was slipping st:
t further from him. But, VIII
y right had he to speak, to fett
: her still more to his will? He i