Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-08-26
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
When again passed the depot at
Sidington on my way home, there was
lady on horseback talking to the
agent.
1t needed no second glance to tell me
it was Florence Morley. Her face was
turned toward the fellow, and so she
did not see me. drove along slowly,
keeping my eyes upon her, and debat-
ing in my mind whether / should stop
and address her or not.
1t was a strong temptation, and only
fear held me baclt, cowardly fear too,
/ doubted how my overtures might be
received. l had chosen my course OF
my own accord and would follow 1t,
If II was contrary to her wish she
would find way to tell me.
After passing the station allowed
my horse to continue at walk, so that
Florence must catch up with me il she
intended to ride to her home from Sid
ington.
The resolve to stick to my promise
was growing weaker since Sarah's COM
ment upon it. A word from Florence,
knew, would cause me to break II, and
really was impatient for that word.
Soon the sound of approaching hoofs
beating the hard road reached me.
Nearer 1t came and nearer. until finally
caught glimpse, out of the corner
of my eye, of swaying petticoat.
She pulled in her horse to a walk,
and then turned my head and glanced
at her. My heart was in my throat
when 1 looked, but the smile that greet
ed me dispelled my fears like mist be-
fore the morning sun.
But the smile was not all that told
me Of her emotion at again meeting me.
The deep brown eyes were suffused
with tears. With my own heart leaping
for joy, refined my horse to a stand
still. In an instant was at her side.
She extended her hand, and with my
assistance sprang lightly to the ground.
took her horses bride over my arm
and, with the disengaged hand, helped
her climb into the buggy,
"Tie the horse to the back axle, then
come here beside me-" were the first
words she said. lost no time in obey
ing.
Imagine, If you please, the over
whelming Joy to be seated once more
beside her who held my whole heart in
her keeping,
Icould not trust myself to speak, and
1t was she who began.
"Are you not pleased to see me once
more, Mr.. Conway? Because if you are
not, / certainly will not tell you how
happy / am in again meeting an old
friend"
The soft, sweet tones Of her voice,
which loved so to hear, had now
tremble to them. Iglanced at her, and
well, Florence was still my true heart,
as she had been throughout, notwith-
standing my doubt and fear
"The past year has been an eternity
to me-" finally said.
"And who is to blame for that, won
der2 And, too, when was the mystery
cleared UP, since you are now speaking
to me?" she said, with a joyous laugh,
which told me as plainly as words
could how she had missed me.
ut is not cleared up; sometimes /
think 1T never viii be. could not have
found fault with you had you forgotten
me, VIII you forgive me when l con-
fess I was fearful you hadP"
mo. ] do not think lean quite for
give that. What reason had you for
inistrusting me?" she earnestly asked.
"You passed me this mqrning, you
know, without bowling"
" was so startled, md we had gone
by before / realized that it was you
who were standing there, That was
Q slight cause for mistrpstlng me, SIR"
ut was and am very sorry. Indeed,
/ have been a fool right through the
whole affair, ] see 1t now. had no
right to make such promise"
swell, / do not think you were a
fool. But, forgive me, that promise was
q foolish one, and-and just trife up-
kind" The tears again started in her
eyes, and her voice took on the tremble
which went so appealingly to my heart.
"Never again will be so foolishl"
exclaimed. 81 will see your father and
tell him have broken my promise, that
u was impossible 10 keep it, and that it
Ia simply absurd to subject us to the
misery of longer separation, May
tell him that2 May speak for both Of
us2"
She hung her head, while tho red
flush spread over her face. Then she
murmured: Eyes, speak for Doth Of
us. Why not, since it is true? Perhaps
you'll find father has changed his Jews