Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-07-19
9@1EllEl.@Gl1lEl@lEls ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Repented at Leisure.
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.


tioSe graceful SHADOWS on the grass;
look at the sunlight how it falls
through the borders. And would not
one think that the birds were singing
for joy? All, Miss St. Norman, for
many weeks | have been longing for
this hour"
Looking Up into his brave, noble
face, she cav something there before
which her eyes dropped and her heart
beat with happiness that was almost
pain.
I'VE are such near friends ard dear
friends now" he continued, "that
wish you would let me call you Ethel
Miss st. Norman seems so formal and
ceremonious between friends. May
say 'Ethel?'"
Yes" she said, shyly, eff it pleases
you"
He is my friend" she said to her
self; "he may surely call me by my
Christian name"
1T pleases me very much" he con-
fessed. "All the music of the world is
comprised in that one word Ethel"
He drew nearer to her, and took the
little white hands in his warm grasp.
"Ah, Ethel-sweet Ethel-can you
not guess what has brought me here?
| could live no longer without looking
at your face, my beautiful love! My
heart was hungry for one sound Of
your voice; for love you'll love you
as surely no man ever loved before!"
His voice seemed to die on his lips;
he found words weak to express the
depth of his great passion.
Il loved you, Ethel, the moment
that saw you; but you were so beau
tiful, proud, you seemed far above me-
| thought had won the highest gift
earth had to offer when you promised
to be my friend. That did not suffice
for long. | have learned to love you.
Ethel, with so great an affection, so
entire devotion, that | can no longer
live without winning some love from
you in return"
He looked in her face; a beautiful,
tender light shone over it-so beautiful
that his love conquered him. He beat
down and touched the sweet, white
hand with his lips. Even that did not
startle her. She had been so unhappy
for so long that in this great and
| glorious joy, she for a few moments
forgot all else
she meant no wrong-she did no
wrong; only for time, for a few fleet
lng moments, heart and soul were
stepped in trance of delight which
was soon to be changed into a reality
CT sharpest pain.
II love you so dearly, Ethel" he
continued, "and l am come to lay my
life and my love at your feet"
She made no answer not yet had che
reused herself to the terrible reality.
He drew the sweet face nearer to him.
You are so beautiful, my love-" he
said, locking at her with shining eyes;
no flower that blooms is one-half so
lair. You are the loveliest, the
noblest Of women. All! Ethel, sweet
Ethel, say you love me. Only ore
word-you love mel"
She was not aroused yet; the golden
l.Tl had driven the dark shadow
lW1y. He drew her beautiful head |
ncarer, until it rested on his breast.
Say you love me, Ethel" he puv,
sued, "and shall be prouder than am.
emperor"
If she could have died so, poor, hap.
less child, before the keen smart of |
pain brought her back to the stern
reality of her marred and blighted life. |
Ethel" he resumed, do not think |
that | am boastlng, but you are my
first love, as you will be my last. |
have never sought smiles from a fair
woman's face; | never thought OF love
until saw you; have never INDUCED
in what the world calls Irritation: you
are the mistress OF my heart and soul,
have known no other love save yours.
She did believe him, and in that mo
ment she knew how dearly she loved
him. 1t was like a revelation to her.
Suddenly her life seemed to grow
complete. 1t was love, not friendship;
the glorious dover of womanhood was
hers at last-the dover at once so
full of greatest joy and greatest pain.
II was hers, the magic of love. She
had thought of il. dreamed of it. won
dered over 1t, and now II was her very
own. She had dehed 1t. yet it had
giaddened her heart all unknown to
herself. 1t was love that had made
all the world seem so fair-that had
changed the color of the flowers and
had deepened the light of the sun: it
was love that had made her so light Of
heart, so fair of face.
He was watching her while these
thoughts passed through her mind;
there was a dainty flush on the delicate
cheeks. the sensitive lips were parted
with a bright. happy smile.
She had forgotten. poor child, and
she was so unutterably happy in her
forgetfulress; there was such con-
tentmsnt in his love; the warm clasp
of his strong hard was full of safety
and protection; that great, noble heart
of his was a haven of sure rest. She
n-ac no ard ha lnnlr-