Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-08-06

cneek, MS lips upon my brow.
Not thus could l sit and tell him what
duty bid me say. SO moved away, end
standing up before him, l said, slowly
and distinctly, CDR Clayton, loved you
once, but the time has gone by, the love
has died out, and l would not awaken 1t
II could"
There was frmness In my manner,
a decision In the tones Of my voice,
which startled him more tina what l
said. And then, with the freight flick
ering over his pale face, he pleaded with
me ITO think again, to revoke what l
had said, and not send him away utterly
hopeless and wretched. The love l had
felt for him once, though chilled and dor
mnnt now, would bloom again, for he
could bring 1t back to life. and l must
be his; he could not live without me.
need not decide then, that night" he
said, "he would give me time" and again
he pressed for my answer, which was
the same as before; for, much as pitied
him, there was between US dark shad
ow, and the substance Of that shadow
bore the form and features of Richard
Delafield.
Sinking into a chair, he laid his head
upon the table, while, burying my face
In the cushions of the sofa, | wept Bit
terly, stealing occasional glances toward
the bowed form which, in its despair,
gave no sign of life. There was no act
Ing there, for 1t was the grief of a strong
man which / saw. l cried. mentally,
Ought | thus to deal with him? loved
him once, perhaps l could do 30 again.
would at least try" And, rising up,
glided noselessly to his side. / laid my
hand upon his shoulder | 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 had
looked upon it.
II will try" l said, "but give me one
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 l felt
| would rather die than wed man l did
not love. l fell into disturbed sleep
from which l did not wake until the bell
was ringing for breakfast. met him
at the table, and my heart beat fast
when l 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 l would not
wish you to 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 / confided the whole story
Of my former love for DIR. Clayton, and
OF my feelings now, asking her to tell
me rs friend what l should do. did
not dare look her In the face while l was
talking, and when had finished 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 1t for her children.
DO! Why, marry him, of course. i
should not hesitate a moment, for It's
not every girl in your circumstances who
has an offer like that. He 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: SSPshawl 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 1 myself Can testify.
respected Mr.. Lansing when l married
him, but l 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 pecullaritles are brought 10
light Of whose existence they had never
dreamed. Take your own case fSf an
example. Suppose you had married DR..
Clayton when you faIfcied 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"
l. knew there was some truth in this
argument, but 1t failed to convince nae.
and | remained silent until Mrs. Lansing
startled me with, '"You do not of course
love another"
, was taken by surprise, and without
; . thought of the result, / answered, 81
do"
"And that othey?" she continued, 6x,
ing her eyes upon me.
= l know not what possessed me, but a
power could not resist impelled Inc 10
answer, rs your brother"
She did not send me from her pres.
ence with scorn and loathing MS ]
thought she would. Nay, she dfa>not
even speak, but for a time stood mute
with establishment As l think of that
scene, ! understood her better, and !
know that the truth, just as 1t was
+, dawned upon her mind, and suggested
the falsehood which she uttered.
: Coming closely to me, size said, 81 can.
not see why 1t Is that all my governesses
have fallen in love with my brother; yet
such Is the case. 1did think, Miss zee
that you were an exception, but find
| am mistaken, which surprises me
greatly, inasmuch as he has never pari
you the slightest attention, and even II
he had, | do not understand how you
could think him IN earnest. For years
the world has looked upon his union with
| Ada as SIRE. and thouvh for cart lin M "a