The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-14

/ who, however, sat on a garden seat and
did not seem overwhelmed with anx-
ietv about the pupils under their care.
Edna Sartwen had a book in her
hand, with finger between the pages,
but she walked up and down with an
other girl, talking in a low tone. Mars
ten hoped the book was an interesting
enc. and wished the girl would go into
! some secluded corner to read it; for
he began to see that his enterprise was
not going to be so easy of accomplish
ment as he expected, even though he
{ had gained admittance to the grounds,
which at first had seemed the mostt diff
hcult move in the game. The book at
last gave him the opportunity he had
/ sought; Edna and her companion stood
! together for a moment after their walk,
! then each went her separate way.
In a corner of the grounds was a
secluded summer house, screened from
( the view of the school by wilderness
of trees and shrubs, almost out OF
hearing of the lively chatter that made
! the air merry elsewhere; and to this
/ quiet spot Edna betook herself. read
/ ing the book as she walked, for the
paths thither were evidently familiar
/ TO her. Marsten followed. slowly at
first, then more quickly as the chances
/ OF observation lessened his heart beat
| ing faster than the exertion was MAX
/ ing warranted. The girl was seated in
the little chalet when Marsten's figure
! darkened the entrance.
/ Miss Sartwell," was all he could
say.
Edna sprang to her feet. letting the
book fall to the floor and looked at
him with startled eyes that had no
recognition in them
see you do not know me, and no
| wonder. for I did not wear gardeners
/ clopnes when l stood last in your gar
I Gen.''
A bright flush of pleasure overspread
/ the girls face, and laughter came first
10 her eyes, then to her lips
! How you frightened me-" she said.
seeming anything but frightened. and
quite unable to restrain her merriment
as her glance flashed up and down his
uncouth apparel Have you become
gardener here, then, or did you come
over the wall?''
The walls here are too high. or l
might nave attempted them. I am
TO get a word with you"
win me? L thought the strike had
happily ended Haven't you gone back
10 work? How did you get away?"
On there was no difficulty about
Ihat. L can always get a day off when
l want II. Yes, l went back to work
ana nave been busy ever since. 1 came
l
you. 1t was very important-for me,
at least" '
has the desired promotion come so
soon, then, or do you think I must
speak to my father about your posi-
tlon when l next see him? l expected
MIN here before this, but he writes
tnat there is so much to be done, now
the men are back, that he will be
unable to come for perhaps a week or
more"
nave not come here to beg for
your fathers favor. but for yours.
love you, Edna, and I have loved Won
ever since irst saw youl Don't i'm
aSlne L am $3.50 conceited-that I
nave even hope that you-you-care
Tor me, for of course you don't and
can't; but l wanted you to know. 7
wanted to tell you, and that is WHY I
am here. L am poor-I don't deny that
but your father was also poor once.
and he has got on in the world. l
VIII get on; l will work night and day.
whoever my master is, / will serve
MN faithfullv-my God. 1 will serve
him on my knees If that will con-
vince him of my earnestness TO win
confidence and a place of trust-and All
the time cheerfully and hopefully, with
your picture in my mind, as it has
been IN my mind-for so long-from
the first. You see, have no chance
TO win you as another might. You are
IN TINS school for the very purpose of
Keeping me from meeting you as /
might meet you if 1 were rich. I have
no fair chance-none at all-excent
what 1 steal for myself, as have done
today.
1t means so much to me-every-
thlng|that l did not dare to take the
risk. L know Iahave spoken too soon
TOO abruptly-but I dared not set my
face at what is before me unless YOU
knew. Someone might win YOU while
was working for you-there will be
plenty to try. l don't want you to say
world want neither hope nor dis
couraSement-no promise-nothingi
You know, and that is enough for me
now. But l would like you to remem-
er-sometimes-that there is no man
striving as l shall strive Think of
that-when others speak. Ny darling
my darllng-no man ever felt as l feel
since the beginning of the worldr'
Whatever difidence Marsten hitherto
experienced in Edna's presence melted
In the fervent heat of his passion when
he began to speak. The words rushed
forth, treading on the heels of those
gone before, in jumbled, breathless
procession; his face was afiame. and
his neither lip trembled when ne ceased
to speak. At first he seemed to be
running race against time-they
might be interrupted at any moment:
but he soon forgot his competitor, and.
so far as he was concerned, no one ex-
listed in the world but himself and the
trembling, confused girl before him.
She. after her first look of amazed
incredulity, felt backward with her
hand for the support of the wall, and
then gradually sank upon the seat. an
expression, partly fear, oVerspreadine
her now colorleSS face. As Marsten
went impetuously on, her head dropped
upon her hands, and thus she remained
while he spoke.
A pause ensued, so deep and silent
that Marsten, as ne leaned his hand
against the door post, afraid to move
forward or retreat, heard the distant
girlish laughter, free from any thought
of problems other than those of the
schoolroom. He knew he should re,
member every trivial detail of the place
all his life-the broom that lay at his
feet; the book which had failed OPEN
leaved upon the floor; even the title
glittering in gold upon the side, which
sent no meaning to his mind except
one word that caught his attention.
"Courtship' C'The Courtship of Miles
Standish' was the whole phrase, and
he wondered vaguely if the courtship
had prospered. Rapidly as his wander>
ing eye gathered up the accessories
of the scene, 1t always returned to the
bowed and silent figure before him.
and something in the outlines of her
dropping shoulders told him intuitively
of change-elusive. but real His
mind had been too much occupied with
the hard realities of life to indulge in
speculative analysis of any sort, but
now it was uplifted, touched by the