The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-01
XVII.

ANn.
I was strong In brave resolves when I
knocked nj the door OF the little house.
But they were sadly shaken the moment
IL was opened by Clara herself. The
sight OF her sweet face, smiling upon
me. cowed my bravery. "Havc l rome
here To look upon her for the last time
to bid adieu TO that smile forcvery' 1
asked myself; and my heart sank. bat IL
gave no response.
I'VE are all alone she said, as we
vent into the parlor. MARY Ii out. and
40 In Mrs. Wilson. wonderful to say"
She was working hard ut her paint
ing. as usual. I sat down upon n foot
stool at her feet. and gazcd furtively
up at her face. Never. methought had
she looked so lovely as she did that morn
ing. In the soft. haxy. autumn sunlight.
Half an hour passed away. and we
had not exchanged half n dozen words:
but tina, was not ut nil uncommon, for
I loved better TO gaze and dream than to
talk: and when nj her work. she spoke
but little. She dropped n OF her
brushes: and as / ave IL TO her. l held
her hand for a moment fast locked In
mine. When she looked down nj me
smilingly and saw me In tears. n look
Of concern came across her countenance.
Would IL make you very unhappy IL
I were 20 tell you that you might never
sec me ngain after this day." l spoke
In n low. chokcd voice. and the gathered
tears hurst forth from my eyelids. and
fell upon her hand.
She did not appear IN comprehend my
words. as she sakcd, In a tone OF trou-
bled wonder. What do you meanl"
I repeated my question. In n yet more
trembling tone. I felt her hand more
passive In mine. and her eyes droop"d,
and the ~carnation tingc deepened In her
cheeks, as she answered. softly. 1T
would mako me very unhappy 60 think
So"
Listen TO me-" I cried. knceling at
her feet. and clasping both her hands
In mine. From the time OF u meet
ing. Ave years ago. / are loved you: from
the time OF our meeting q few weeks
back | have adored youl Oh. tell me,
do you love met Answer me but one
word. my darling. my iove!" cried
again.
She raised her eyes for a moment 20
mine. and then dropped them. with her
check as crimson as my own. Il do
love you. dearest-very much" she a n
swcred. in her low, soft voice.
took her In my arms. N kissed her
~fcrycntly: and her sweet. blushing face
nestled upon my bosom like n bird seek
! Ing for shelter.
4 Where were my resolutions nowT-
my heroic self-sacrihce, my stoiciSm
Observation-Disclosures like nov be
fore n FIRE, In the fcryid ecstacy OF that
moment had come to pronounce an
eternal farewell: ] stayed TO pronounce
NJ inward oath that I would sweep
away every obstacle. and win her yet
for my own undisputed prize In the face
Of the whole world.
After n time we sat together near the
window with my arm around her
waist. and her hand clasped In mine.
And thus we sat. silcnt-she. In one OF
her dreamy reveries; /. filed with gloomy
forebodings- For. nov that he first
ecstncy was p~asscd-now l knew that
her love was mine-the unnatural excite
mcnt OF my brain subsidized. the tension
OF my nerves relaxed, and the misera,
bic rashness of what ! had lone was
revealed TO me In the gloomiest colors
l had sealed her misery, and increased
my own tenfold.
"Do you not think" she said. sudden.
ly. that we are very strange people
you aud II | mean. that We are very
unlike other peopleT'
II have often thought so" | said.
"Do you not fancy the rest OF the
world would think us very silly people
Now, you do not even know my name
"But you know nothing of me. so ",
are well paired. ! know but little my.
self. but that you shall know"
Not now. please. dear. Some day
when l am very brave, ! will tell you al
about myself
Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Wilson
returned. looking very cross. II ncvei
did know such n goSSiping creature ai
that servant mex door-always talking
to men, too. | don't know. l am sure
what her mistress Is about 10 keep her
There she is, talking now to some
strange, queerlooking man; and I an
sure she Is talking about US. for l saw
him point 60 this house. and then b,
said something, and she laughed: ALI,
had better not laugh Mt my house:
won't put mp with her impotence"
4 strange man pointing 90 the house
What was there in such n commonplace
circumstance to trouble me? But Il did
! went TO the window. bat he was 10
visible from there. | went 10 the door
both he and the servant had disappeared
| came In again aud asked what the n,a
was like.
"Oh, ! don't know. I never motto,
such people. A forcign.looking fel!uw
with long hnir." she answered. hunily.
Foreign looking. and long hair. sucl
a description would apply To Mr.. Mont
gomery. Could he have followed ne
And IL he had. why should that diScon
? cert me! lie could mol possibly hav,
any motive beyond idle curiosity. New
ertheless. ! could not reason myself on
!, OF n certain uneasiness respecting thi
strange man.
Mrs. Wilson did not recover the seren
ity OF her temper until after tea. In ia,
course Of conversation | mentioned tina
] had visited u ,hcnter on the prcviou
night. They did not know OF my con
nection with the stage.
, Il have never been to n theater bu
twice In my life. and Their only when
was n little child. e see the panto
mines" said Clara. II thought Il. then