The Goodland republic., 1897-08-06
REWARD OF A WOMAN.

see hin again. Hal lind a beau is no
such ugly thing. neither Sheridan
The girl leaned both her hands on the
little riekety. hsnd-painted lodging
t house table. and looked up with laugh
ter and mock admiration in her eyes at
her lover, who came aud stood before
! Eer. But the man looked down at her
in eager pleading.
Ursula, darling, how can you talk
in that way-nOW p"
How can L? Why. with a pretty
grace, hope"
Ursula" cried the man, "don't have
that mood It hurts me. It maddens
NE to waste our minutes SO. Oh. my
darling, have you no sentiment ia you %
"SeDtimeEt, " she began. lightly; but
she stopped suddenly and her word
tFailed of into a sob. .'Bertie-"
The man caught her hands quickly.
What, darliBg?"
She dropped her head on his breast
and her breath came fast.
''You have thought me unsentimentaI,
matter-Of-faet, even hard-yes. Just
little bit hard-eyer since you first
knew me; Whileyouwereso-so-othe
wise"
He held her tightly to him and
waited.
"But"-and it vas she who spoke
passionately RoW-'I was only acting,
Bertiei only showing you a surface
heart. And nOw-now you are going
away, and for 50 long, I will give up
acting. I am sentimental-giliily senti-
mental, II only yon knew. did not
show It'll don't know-I was shy,
suppose. I thought you would not care
for it-that you would laugh stme."
"Oh, Ursula, Ursulal" he exclaimed.
Il believe you would laugh now Il
you only knew how ridiculous I am
how much love you. And now have
broken dOwn-you have made me break
down. I can never unsay my cOnfea-
sion. have humbled myself have
laid bare my heart"
"Ursuls, my own! why did you never
confess before? I laugh at you'll Oh,
my darling. 7 have hungered to hear
you say such words"
The eyes Of the girl were Iove-steeped,
and her lashes wet, and she raised her
head and looked up at the man,
"All this past year you have made me
happier than I ever dared hope to BE-"
she whispered, trembling-"ths hap
piest woman IN the whole world, I
think"
And the man bent aud pressed his lips
to hers. "But want to make you stiIl
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-never to
part Oh, If only I had money! This
waiting, waiting is awful; and the hope
so small, the reward so slow"
"Am I really small-and siow?" she
asked, softly.
He laughed back at her. mot you,
dearest, but the getting on, and the pit
tance; it all seems 80 endless. Even
now am holding you only to part from
yOu-tO go back to the grind. And
worse than all Is the knowledge that
you are also drudging, and I cannot pre-
vent It."
"As there must be waiting, dear, 7 sm |
glad Of the work to fiIlmy tims. And"
with a soft blush, ~ shall be saving for
my trousseau."
Don't Ursula-don't 30 boarding
your shillings and denying yourself.
Some day I viii make my pile, and you
shall walk in silk attire; and ven
leave the work, and the trouble, snd the
care. and go OF a-wandering in Italy
and Greece and Algiers, and every place
we've ever set our hearts On"
The hollow-sounding clock upon the
painted marble msntelpieos struck five /
metallic strokes.
give o'clock already! This Is awful |
For q whole year, or longer. Say it |
again, Ursula-thRt you love me-"
81 love you, Bertie," she said, slowly, !
and quite sOlemniy. 81 love you. ] |
think I would die for you quite will
ingly."
Darling, darling, for a long year"
he caught her up to him in a passionate
embrace, his lips met hers again and
again; then he turned quickly, and went !
toward the door.
There will be the letters" she said, /
in a voice which strove to be steady and |
cheerful, for his white. hopeless face |
hurt her heart. And then he was gone.