Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-04-18
BY CHARLOTTE N. e8AeMs

, he stopped yet another minute before ne
] said the fatal words which must part
| them forever. He felt ir that moment
! that, If this grief of hers were caused by
him, he deserved any punishment
dettie, listen to me, dear. How we
| drifted into this matters but little, wheth.
er have been blind or careless matters
| less; the fault must be mine. | ought to
nave resisted the first temptation. After
| l lad seen you that first time in church
ought never to have seen you again. My
| sense, my honor, my conscience, tell Inc
so''
But why?' she cried in amazement.
Il do not understand you. Tell me why
Because l am engaged 20 De married,
because l am bound by the most solemn
pledge; and, because Of this promise,
must CO."
Why" she said in faint low voice
why must you go? IL it be someone who
loves you. and someone whom you love
very much, surely she would be kind, and
let yev stay-at least. while my father II
so ill. Ii he were well. it would all be
different"
"Hettie." he said. Il will trust you as
| l have never trusted even my own heart
yet. l will say to you what have never
admitted even to my own thoughts. l.
ah, how shall 1 tell you? My engage
ment was less my own voluntary seeking
than the consequence of circumstances.
l can never explain. l did not under
stand the nature or the power of love
| know nothing Of it: but she whom am
20 marry loves me. Every arrangement
is made for our marriage; and, oh. Het-
tie! listen to me-she loves me, and il
\ tod e1
marry her; 1 am bound in honor and con
science. And let me tell you my mad
.olly. l have learned to love you. | dc
owe you. l may say 1t for the first and
asst time of my life. 1 love you with
he whole love of my life. with the one
owe Of my manhood. 1 may live many
years, but l shall never love any Other
woman. If heaven helps me, l will dc
my duty; but my happiness dies in the
hour 1 leave you. Now you see that
must 60"
Her head dropped until it lay upon his
shoulder, and she whispered something
there-words that were both life and
1eath to him.
Yes, you must Co." she said; II see il
plainly. There is no help for it: you mus,
60"
He wished that he were lying under the
gray water. dead: the pain seemed great
,r than he could bear. Then her soft.
whispered words came to him again.
1T will be the one dream, the one mem
Dry Of my life," she said. "On the shore
If this sweet southern sea I have lived
and died. Do many people throw away
heir lives like thisT'
Il cannot TELL" he replied, drearily,
nor can 1 tell why Fate has treated us
20 cruelty. II I had been free when l
net you, Hettie, you are the one woman
n the world l should have chosen to be
ny WIFE,"
And l." she said, in a voice sweeter
han the cooling Of dove-'I should
lave loved you
1T seems to me-" went on Sir Basil,
as though we stood on either side of an
open grave"
THAT which divides us is deeper than
grave" she said, with slight shudder.
1 shall never hear the sound of the
waves again without thinking Of this
Nor shall /. A man should be asham-
ID to confess cowardice; but 1 own to
Jou. Hettie, 1 hardly know how to take
Up the burden of life again.
Then, as he was leaving her forever.
he temptation became too great. He
.lasped his arm round her and gathere,,
Ter to his heart. Once, twice, thrice he
Kissed her pale. sweet face, as one kisses
he face of the best beloved before the
,offin lid is closed. In silence then he
out her away from him; in silence she
;at where he had left her. and he wen.
lway over the great hill. which rose lik,
huge barrier between himself and tha,
~ I1o- e.