Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-12-14

signaEy to make you happy You told
me that had spollt your life, broken
your heart; that, when you had a Wish.
It was only Wish to de-
81 didn't Wish to make your life a
bondage, John."
Johns eyes twlnkled for moment.
and then were grave again.
DO you mean TO tell me, Kitty" he
asked incredulously, that you doubted
that loved your"
DO you mean that you could pos
slbly doubt, John, that | loved your"
| retorted In the same tone OF incre-
dulIty.
1T was natural enough for me to
doubt" said John humbly
Much more natural for me-" ! re-
turned, looking up at him with spark
ling eyes,
had clasped my hands upon hla
shoulder; put down my cheek against
them.
81 thought" | confessed that you
had married me for kindness sake
toto provide for me, John Every
one thought 80, Meg and Dora and
Aunt Jane and even your sister You
yourself said that you thought Of mar
rylng me before you thought Of loving
me-"
YES" admitted John; years ago, 1
had some vague hope that you would
give me the right one day to take care
OF you, to make life smoother for you,
suppose didn't love you as long ago
as that-I had only very tender feel
Ing for YOU Love, when 1t came, was
real enough In spite Of that early
thought Don't scorn my love, Kitty,
because met II with welcome instead
Of rebuff"
There was not much scorn in my
eyes as raised my head and looked
softly, smilingly into the gray eyes
looking down at me, He kissed me;
and for minute we stood In silence.
Kitty" he said at length, there Ia
something that | want to tell you.
ought to have told you long ago, IL
was a painful story, and did not tell
It, Come and sit down, and | will tell
II now"
He drew me to the little sofa be-
side the fire; and there he told me the
story Of his first love- the story that In
part knew already.
"she gave you up because you were
poor?" | asked Indignantly.
Don't blame her, Kitty! She gave
me up for her brothers sake. 1t is
more than ten years ago now that her
brother forged that check Of which |
told you-that first check. There
seemed to be nothing but utter ruin
before him. Arnaud, the man that
Lucia married, had money and inAu-
ence He used both on the taclt under
standing that she should marry him.
Her brother was saved for the time"
WAS It the only way?" | questioned.
81 think some other way might have
been found. But she could not be calm
and weigh chances. She was devoted
to this brolner. For ten long years, as
she said the other night In the park,
she has hoped against hope for his
reformation; has tried to be brave,
has tried to hope for the best, And
now, at the end OF the ten years, things
are just where they were before, l
think they are worse this time, for this
time he is less repentant, She is sasrL,.
nclng her whole life to him; but she
does 1t almost without hope, She Is
going away with him--to South Amer
lea, TO Punishment"
was quiet for moment.
John, have been so unjust to her"
/ confessed in low tone-"so unjust
to her always in my thoughts"
"She Is one Of the noblest women
that | know said John.
Again we sat silent for a minute.
My heart was beating fast; / longed
to ask question which | dared not
ask.
John, won't be silly, won't be
jealous-tell me- | pleaded, III you
didn't try to love me, would you love
her still-love her best, mean?"
John answered grayely, with an air
as earnest as mine,
81 respect her" he said 81 shall
respect her always. | do more than
respect admire her. But that Is all!
The old love was dead, Kitty, years be-
fore the new love was Lorn!"