Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-08
REWARD OF A WOMAN.

"'Oh, gemini, is this beau? Let Inc
tee him again. Ha! find beau is nc
iuch ugly thing, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The girl leaned both her hands on the
little ricltety, hand-puinted lodging
house table, and looked up with laugh
ter and mock admiration in her eyes at
her lover, who came and stood before
her. But the man looked down at hel
in eager pleading.
Ursula, darling, how can you talh
in that way-now?"
How can 1? Why with pretty
grace, hope"
URSULA" cried the man, don't have
that mood! 1t hurts me. 1t maddenS
me to waste our minutes so. Oh, my
darling, have you no sentiment in you"
Sentiment" she began, lightly; but
she stopped suddenly and her wore
trailed off into a sob. "Dertie-"
The man caught her hands quickly.
"What, darling?"
She dropped her head on his breast
and her breath came fast.
"You have thoughtme unsentimental
matter-of-fact, even hard-yes, just q
little bit hard-cyer since you first
knew me; ileyouwere so-so-other.
wise"
He held her tightly to him and
waited.
"But"-and it was she who spoke
DaSsiOnatcly now-"I wnS only acting
BERTHE; only showing you surface
heart. And now-now you are going
away, and for so long, I will give uI
acting. T am sentimehtal-sillily senti-
mental, if only you knew. / did not
show it don't know was shy,
suppose. l thought you would notcare
for it-that you would laugh at me-"
ooh. Ursula, Ursula!" he exclaimed
81 believe yon would laugh now il
YOU only knew how ridiculous am
how much I love you. And now 1 have
broken down-you have made me break
down. can never unsay my confess
sion. have humblcd myself have
laid bare my heart"
Ursula, my own! why did you never
confess before? laugh at you! Oh,
my darling. I have hungered to hear
you say such words"
The eyes of the girl were love-steeped,
and her lashes wet, and She raised her
head ard looked up at the man.
"All this past year you have made mo
happier than I ever dared hope TO be, -
she whispered, trembling-"the hap
picst woman in the whole world,
think"
And the man bent and pressed his lips
to hers. But want to make you still
happier" he said, passionately. 81
want to take you from all the care and
drudgery; to have you all to myself; to
guard you, to cherish you-ncvcr to
part. Oh, if only had money! This
waiting, waiting is awful; and the hope
so small, the reward so slow"
Gam I really small-and slow?" she
asked, softly.
He laughed back at her. Not you,
dearest, but the getting on, and the pit
lance; it oil seems so endless. Even
now am holding you only 10 part from
you-to go back to the grind. And
worse than all is the knowledge that
you are also drudging, and cannotpre-
vent it."
GAS there must be waiting, dear, I am
glad of the work to fill my time. And"
with q soft blush, 81 shall be saving for
my trousseau."
Don't Ursula-don't go boarding
your shillings and denying yourself.
Some day I will make my pile, and you
shall walk in silk attire; and we'll
leave the work, and the trouble, and the
care, and go of a-wandering in Italy
and Greece and Algiers, and every place
we've ever set our hearts on"
The Understanding clock upon the
painted marble mantelpiece struck five
metallic strokes.
Five o'clock already! This is awful!
For a whole year, or longer. Say it
again, Ursula--that you love me-"
~ love you, BERTHE" she said, slowly,
and quite solemnly. 81 love you. !
think I would die for you quite will
ingly."
Darling, darling, for q long year"
He caught her up to him in a passionate
embrace, his lips net hers again and
again; then he turned quickly, and went
toward the door.
There will be the letters" she said,
in voice which strove to be steady and
cheerful, for his white, hopeless face
hurt her heart. And then he was gone.