The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-07
AFTER SAYING YES.

randa she crept through the shrubbery,
seated herself on the bench under the ma
pie tree and hid her face in her hands.
"Elise, Elise, she whispered to herself,
''what have you done?"
She had promised herself for life to a
man whom she had met only few days
before These days had passed like a
dream, in jest and laughter, without an
other thought than the pleasure of the
moment. To be sure, she had suspected
how it might end, but not that it should
happen SO soon. And not till the promised
word was spoken did she awaken out of
her dream.
Just now, when he drew her arm more
closely to him and whispered in her ear
that they would be married before the year
was out, she felt the blood grow cold in
her veins, and the man who walked beside
her seemed all at once like any stranger
she might pass the street.
And as she sat there, asking herself
what she knew of him and why she liked
him, she could answer nothing. And
when she examined her heart she found it
as empty and cold as if no warm feelings
had ever stirred it. But her cheeks burned
hotter and redder, until she went into the
house to join the others, so that she might
escape from herself and her thoughts.
The drawing room clock licked harder
than usual that afternoon, and Elsie kept
looking up from her work to notice how
But just before the stroke she cast her en-
broidery away from her, sprang up and
rushed out, without answering her moth
er's astonished questions.
Only a few steps beyond the garden shs
met him. He was punctuai to the minute
and bearned with JOY because she came out
to meet him. But when she passed the
gate and proposed to him to walk little
farther he looked at her in surprise. She
did not appear very anxious to introduce
her lover to her family
Elise hastily led the way across the field
and up the hill She threw herself down
on a messy stone under the spruces, and
he stretched himself on the heather beside
her. The stone was large enough to hold
two, but she did not make room for him.
Are you very sure, - she began, break
ing a dry twig into tiny bits are you
really, really sure that you love me?"
At first he looked serious, but then burst
out laughing in his bright, jolly way.
''Sure Of it? But there is surely no one
who has forced me to say it!''
"No. But you don't know me. What
is it about me you lover"
Everything" He loved the folds of
her dress, he loved the flower she wore
on her breast, and he did not understand
that under each question to him lay
question to herself, What is it I love in
him?"
But why should she be the only one to
doubt and worry? And so to disturb his
composure she began to set forth her
faults. She unveiled every bad trait she
had. She was quick tempered and a scold;
she was envious and coquettish; she was
stupid and ignorant. She sat and reckoned
herself up in a serious voice; she spoke
frankly and she honestly wished to be be-
lieved But the smile did not leave his
lips nor did he take his eyes from her
face. At each new confession he simply
repeated:
t'Yes, knew that before
Finally the blood rushed to her head. 1t
annoyed her to find she could not convince
him He sat there in the secure belief
that she wished only to humble herself
because of her great happiness, Gould he
not comprehend at all that he had done
wrong in surprising her as he had and
that a person cannot be sure of love SO
loosely rooted?
She knew of a way to make him under
stand, but her tongue seemed tied when
she tried to speak. She sat silent fer "a
few minutes, struggling between fright
and the desire to have it out. Finally
the desire triuInphed-
FtNo,@ you do not know me, - said she.
''When I answered you as did this morn
ing, it was because-well, not wholly be-
cause-but perhaps partly because-be-
cause of hardshiDs at home. -
There was cracking of twigs. He had
turned on MS arm anu was gazing az neE
without word, but the color was gone
from his face. She need worry no longer
about his not understanding.
There came over her a feeling of un-
speakable regret. With few words she
had destroyed something she could never
get back again. And this something, now
it was lost, seemed dearer to her than all
else in the world. She did not know him
well. She had not succeeded in getting an
answer to the question what it was she
liked in him but the power that first drew
her to him rose now in redoubled might.
The divine, incomprehensible mystery she
had tried to explain, but only succeeded in
silencing, awoke to life within her again.
And now it was too late What could have
the power to efface her words?
''Ah, you are afraid of hardshipsl''
His voice sounded heavy and his eyes
looked far away over the broad meadows
visible through the opening in the trees.
Then it would be best for you to recon
slider, - he continued. Il am a business
man and my position is not firmly secured.
One day there may be money, another
debts and upon one kind of hardship
others follow"
The messy stone stood empty. She had
slipped down on the heather beside him.
And she took his hand and hid her eyes in
it.
''It makes no difference to me, no differ
ence at all, if l have to bear hardships with
you, she said softly
His eyes came back from the far fields.
It was only cloud that had passed over
the sun
He understood now that the little bird
he had wished to charm for himself had
been frightened only by a too sudden ap-
proach, but that it now came Of its own
accord and that all he had to do was to
open his arms.
And she--she knew she must love him
whether she could tell why or not, whether