Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-05
Sunny Bank Farm
Floyd LIVINGSTON

FLOYD LIVINGSTON


Ought | thus to deal with him? 1 loved
him once. perhaps | could do so again.
would at least try" And. rising up. l
slided noiselessly to his side. | laid my
hand upon his shoulder. l whispered in
his ear; Look up. | have something to
tell YOU" He raised his head. disclos-
ing to my view face over which years
seemed to have passed since last l had
looked upon It.
Il will try" l said, but give me enc
day for reflection, and tomorrow night
you shall have your answer
| babe him goodnight and sought the
solitude of my room, where my resolution
almost instantly gave way, for the shad-
ow was there, and in its presence | felt
| would rather die than wed man did
not love. | fell into disturbed sleep,
from which l did not wake until the bell
was ringing for breakfast l met him
at the table, and my heart beat fast
when | saw how anxiously he scanned
my haggard face.
You are sick this morning." he said,
when at last we were alone
Taking my hand, he felt my quickened
pulse, and continued, This must not be.
Calm yourself down, for | would not
wish you 20 answer me under all this
excitement"
Soon after this he left me, going down
to the hotel where he had first stopped
on his arrival As soon as he was gone
l sought an interview with Mrs. Ian
sing, to whom | confded the whole story
of my former love for DIR. Clayton, and
OF my feelings now, asking her to tell
me as friend what | should do. | did
not dare look her in the face while l was
talking, and when l had finished 1 wait
ed with downcast eyes for her answer,
which was characteristic of the woman
who had never known what love was,
save as she felt it for her children.
Do! Why, marry him, of course.
should not hesitate moment, for It's
not every girl in your circumstances who
has an offer like that. lie seems to be
a perfect gentleman--is certainly very
fine looking, is refined, polished, highly
educated, and has good profession.
What more can you desire?"
Love for him." l replied; and she
continued: "Pshaw! That will come soon
enough, depend upon it. There are many
happy marriages where one of the parties
had at first no particular affection for
the other, as l myself can testify. |
respected Mr. Lansing when | married
him, but | did not love him, and our
union was. l am confident. far happier
than three-fourths of those where love
is the ruling motive, for in nine cases cut
of ten they grow sick of each other as
faults and peculiarities are brought to
light, of whose existence they had never
dreamed. Take your own case for an
example. Suppose you had married DIR.
Clayton when you fancied him so much,
you would undoubtedly have been dis
gusted with him by this time, whereas,
now that you know he is fallible, you
can safely link your destiny with his,
feeling sure that in good time the love
you once had for him will return"
| knew there was some truth in this
argument, but it failed to convince me.
and l remained silent until Mrs Lansing
startled ne with, You do not of course
love anotherY
l was taken by surprise, and without
a thought of the result, l answered, II
do"
'And that other?" she continued, fix
ing her eyes upon me.
l know not what possessed me, but
power l could not resist impelled me to
answer, rs your brother"
She did not send me from her pres
ence with scorn and loathing rs
thought she would Nay, she did not
even speak. but for time stood mute
with astonishment. AS | think of that
scene, / understood her better, and l
know that the truth, just as it was,
dawned upon her mind, and suggested
the falsehood which she uttered.
Coming closely to me. she said, II can
not see why it is that all my governesses
have fallen in love with my brother; yet
such is the case. l did think, Miss Lee,
that you were an exception, but lind
/ am mistaken, which surprises me
CRAFTY, inasmuch as he has never paid
you the slightest attention, and even if
be had, / do not understand how you
could think him in earnest. For years
the world has looked upon his union with
Ada as sure, and though for certain rea-
sons | have sometimes opposed it, | am
anxious for it now, and it is we'll that |
am, for l suppose it is settled thing"
l held my breath for fear / should
lose single word of what she should
say next. Perhaps she was unused to
falsehoods. Be that as it may, her voice
trembled slightly and she spoke hurried
ly as she said, They are engaged, and
they will probably be married next au-
tumn; hence you see that the love you
have presumed to feel for him would be
useless. even were you his equal
trust that what | have told you will be
kept secret, for Richard does not wish
to have the matter discussed"
l nodded assent. and the next moment
| was alone with my sorrow, which was
far easier to bear now that uncertainty
was made sure. SO Ions as there remain
ed a lingering hope that my love for Mr..
Delafield might possibly be reciprocated.
| shrunk in horror from marrying an
other But now that hope was swept
away-for l never thought of doubling
Mrs. Lansing's words-and a.kind of tor
por crept over me, suspending for time
both my judgment and my will.
II will marry DIR. Clayton" l said !;
and with that decision came a feeling Of
gratified pride as thought l should
thus prove to Richard how little | cared
for him.
All, knew not then that tue hears
coveted enShrined no image save thai
of Rosa Lee, for whom Richard Della
field would almost have laid down his
life. so great was the love he bore her.
He had readily OWNED the object
of the strangers. visit, and the
thought that it might be success
full was terrible. All the night long
he. too, had been sleepless. pacing the
length and breadth of his spacious halls
aud murmuring occasionally as, peerirg
out into the darkness. he saw the glirA-
mering light from the windows of Cedar
Grove ~0h, Rosa. Rosa. how can |
give you up
With the coming of morn Mr.. Della
field grew calm. fnr he had resolved up
on an interview with Rosa Lee. who, if
it were not too late. should know how
much he loved her. and perhaps-his
helrt thrilled with joy as he thought it
perhaps she might yet be Won from
that fancy of her childhood. But first
he would. if possible, learn srom his
sister how far matters had progressed.
She vas seated ar her work in her