Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-09-09
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cultivated a naturally fine intellect by
constant study, porting over books
When other girls of her age would have
been seeking pleasure in fiirtations or
amusements. With a sweet, pleasant
voice and good ear for music, she
had cultivated q musical taste till she
was wonderfully proficient, and her
singing was pure delight to her
friends. But for me she never sang;
she never played; never chatted as she
did with her other friends, and avoided
me so persistently that at last horri-
bic fear took possession of me. In spite
of her natural sweetness of disposition,
her affectionate letters, l feared she
lad never really forgiven me, but was
too generous to let me know the truth. "
HIN! Not an unnatural fear. But,
my dear fellow, when you found your
self so persistently snubbed, why did
YOU not leave her? You had done all
your conscience required"
"But not all my heart desired! One
day, when she was not more gracious
than usual, made her downright Of
fer of marriage. She was furious! She
said insulted her! Nothing could con-
vince her that was not trying to make
amends for the past, at the price OF
my own happiness. From hot indig-
nation she became pathetic, asking me
how 1 could so wound her, finally leav'
ing me in tears. To say that | felt like
a brute gives but a faint idea of my
sensations: left Owls Nest the same
day, trying to comfort myself by my
own virtuous intentions. But, Roy.
love her! 1 love her with all the
strength of my heart. Her deformlty
10 me is but touching Renaissance
cf the tenderness l owe her, and which
I long, unutterably, to pour out upon
her. To me she is the one woman in
the world, and l cannot imagine
deeper, purer happiness than mine
would be could 1 call her my wife How
to convince her of this, how to over
come her morbid horror that am un-
willingly devoting myself to her serv'
ice, do not yet know. But am re-
solved to try. Surely such deep, sincere
love as mine must at last win its way
and force her to believe in its truth"
you have. my best wishes, Come
shall we ride?"
So they strolled away to order their
horses, and May Talbot threw of the
afghan, to stand before her mirror, and
once more compare her little, crooked
figure with the thought of other WON
ems symmetry.
But into the blue eyes had come
radiance that made the whole face JOY
Gus. Over the sweet, sensitive lips
lowered a smile born of love and such
happiness as her life had never known
before. For she loved her knight we'll
This fair maiden who would not accept
his pity. To have been his wife, doubt
ing his motive in seeking her, to have
thought every tender word a duty
wrung from his remorse, would have
heen torture. To be his wife because he
loved her, had won her love, was such
happiness that the truth made her
dizzy, and she sank into deep arm
chair, sobbing for pure joy.
''AIy DEAR" said matronly lady, pres
emily entering the room, who do you
think is here? Robert Blake! | met
him as we drove up to the porch steps
Tell me, darling, will it be painful tic
YOU to see him? We can go away II
it is"
NO, mamma. l want 10 see him"
But she made no explanation. She
met him in the evening promenade
When, leaning upon her stepfatbcr'S
arm, she slowly walked on the beach
IIer smile, her soft words of welcome
invited him to remain beside her, arc
soon BE was alone with her, he o!dei
gentleman pleading fatigue.
They were alone, though hundreds
yassed and repassed in the public prom
shade. Her voice was low, yet he hearo
it above the roar Of the breakers, wher
she said:
Robert, am afraid was very I'M
Kind to you last month"
every unkind, my darling!' he said
all his love in his eyes, as he looked into
her face.
'Will you forgive me9"
son one condition only; that you are
kind now and will promise to be my
wife"
81 will" she said, gently; your true
loving wife, Robert, for love you will
all my heart"
Gas 1 love you'll" he answered.
But he never knew that she had heart
that hours chat in which he laid bis
heart bare for his friend, little guessing
who was listening so near to Hmm
Y. Ledger.