The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-08-20
Stories Of an Inland State.


and into the park and unconsciously, TO
neither led. to the old isolated settee, whic
overlooked the, lake.
He seated himself, but she RENAME
standing, in an imperious posture. he
color heightened, the light from her eye
Quivering with intense emotion.
| She began to pull of her gloves q
though she were about to perform SOM
manual labor. placed them together an,
| handed them TO him.
He studied her acutely. She was tn
| fairest creature he had ever seen. Nov
he thought it was the vivacity of her eyes
now their dignity and sadness, now HI
thought it was her simplicity Of manner
now her very complexiry, now he though
Il was her fascinating influence over him
now fler very lack of design which enthrall
! ed him.
Still, he felt complete master of himself
/ The d:fFidence ne had brought with hin
| from the country had been succeeded by q
superb self-possession. He mad acquired !
in the routine OF business, and in nlingiins
with people who possess il. With il goe:
! the ability TO keep a tight rein on menta
| confusion. If a hundred matters had
awaited his attention on the instant, he
had grown 10 that capacity where he could
rave selected one with unhesitating precis-
ion and having finished II. have passed on
10 the next without worry or nervous ex-
element. We are apt to conduct the affairs
of our heart as We conduct our affairs OF
business. He intended to marry Madge.
The wedding day had seen set. II Nell
Everett came now to choose an hour with
him, he felt at perfect liberty TO grant the
favor. That she captivated him, he could
not doubt. That was his Natures asser-
I0 ,y,,1 49, :.
he would only strengthen its attack. He
meant to give this delightful woman this
minute in mis- little Life. 1t was perhaps
all she asked. For this little period he
would foreswear the peevish structures of
a martinez duty and show her his true Ma
tIre. She had never seen it. In the coun-
try road, his character had been obscured
by his rural investiture. After his arrival
IN the city, when he had talked to Nell his
heart had been disguised by the puerile
fits and starts and baby cries OF a too fear
full conscience. He knew he had been loved
by this woman before, when he was at a
disadvantage. 1t was fatter.ng JUNCTION
to him now that he could appear more ad-
vantageously TO iner now.
Come, Nell" he said, taking her hand.
I'VE have but little time together and
then We must part, il may be forever. If
We are to have that little time, let US pass
it happily
She noted mentally his calm, gentle tone,
and deliberated over ii with d;sappoint-
ment.
The second is gone, the minute is 60
ing. Nell'' he said. land the hour is an hour
no longer. Why do you pause?"
She burst into sudden flooding tears, and
turned to him Quivering in every limb
With peculiar force John Wrights thoughts
came to her and she repeated them, with
her application, and as she went on, the
old mans thoughts in her own mind SEEM
ed to be illumined with superhuman wis
dom.
The second is gone, and the minute is
going. and the hour is an hour no longer
And shall We be towards of the clock?
Shall we tremble at the duties of a day.
and pale before the demands of a paltry
life time? Eternity vouch-safes you
breath and shall you sub-div:de it and aIlot
It here and there with niggardly precision? ?
Eternity gives you consciousness and takes
It away. 1t is not yours, but Times. The |
responsibility Is not yours, but Eternitys. |
1t is a frivolous gift and no frolic can |
outrage It. You love me-"
She stepped backward from him, tower |
ng with sense of her beauty, and its |
power.
you love me, and We will not quibble |
with form. You love me. And what am |
- A thing of instantaneous conscious, |
ness, unborn yesterday, alive today and |
lead tomorrow, but now Of flesh and blood. |
product of eternity, but to you
If equal magnitude to yourself, and to
mankind itself microscoptcal. The sec
md is gone and life with it. There is no
ime for duty in this life. our butterfly life,
10 time for peevish bondage TO a vague
esponsibility. II your heart bids you love
ne, take me. You shall answer to no one
'ut Eternity. You charm me- Your man.
ness, your strength of sinew. stature,
rankness of eye, your face, litheness OF
mb, the color of your face, the gloss OF
our hair. your life, charms me- There
J no custom of modesty nor law of diff
ence, or self-demand for tact, fear of Of
ense through boldness. nothing can gain
ay my impulse to say it. It is true and
speak it. l charm you. If 1t Is subtlety
color. limb, form, face. it is my life
~ life that charms you. Then this l.
and nothing shall stand against
MS reciprocal desire, IL it be truly recip-
peal. A thousand years is a little time. |
mere pebble on the endless shore of the |
"a OF infinity, but tomorrow l shall lie !
cad, and what of the rose is in my cheek. |
grace in my body. of sentient light in
~ eyes. shall be forever gone. And YOU
I'D all your strength and manliness, shall
e beside me In the common earth. Who |
'au there be, then. TO mock your dust. |
} charge it with infamy. or duty broken.
Id faith, or insincerity7 Who shall there |
E. then, SO mindful of the PAST to make |
quiry whether you loved this one or that.
: loved at all? Who shall there be, then. |
mourn over the sorrows of your men
i contest, where you have followed duty
I'd forsaken desire? Who shall there be.
len, 10 approve a wise course and con-
ann an unw:se one? Responsibility is
othing, bosie-man, which the world
;es on Its children to make obedience vol
ltary. Duty is an invention. 10 divert fools
ON the mischief Of their own des4rS
on should be above & You desire me.
AXE me. No other contract is needed or
necessary" /
He came TO her and took her in his arms
And We can face the barriers of this
tie jaunt through Efe with loye?' &
She did not answer.
He held her close 10 him and said: Nell 9
love You. The love is overwhelming | :
ity, nor obligation, word Of honor. posi- {.
IN, wealth, nothing can stand against its :
!e. II have bowed before them hitherto,
now foreswesr them From now our lives
g bound together. You are mine, until | c
: lapse into infinity whence We came.
II now, in this flashing interval OF con- y
iousness, you are mine. / desire moth
2. but you. Ny Efe IS yours yours my U
9. II others suffer, I accept /, as ny I
ult, but l will not resign you. All the
lumny and disgrace which the world can n
IL upon me I shall have more than y
for in your love and IN you- | .