Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-28
|Y Bound by a Spell

ing, as usual. l sat down upon foot
stool at her feet. and gazed furtiyely
up at her face. Never. methought, had
she looked so lovely as she did that morn
ing, in the soft, hazy, autumn sunlight
Half an hour passed away, and we
he'd not exchanged half a dozen words;
but that was not at all uncommon, for
loved better to gaze and dream than TO
talk; and when at her work, she spoke
but little. She dropped one of her
brushes; and as | gave it to her. | held
her hand for moment fast locked in
mine. When she looked down at me
smilingly and saw me in tears, look
of concern came across her countenancc
Would it make you very unhappy if
were to tell you that you might never
see me again after this day. ! spoke
in low, choked voice, and the gathered
tears burst forth from my eyelids. and
fell upon her baud.
She did not appear to comprehend my
words, as she saked. in n tone Of trou-s
bled wonder. What do you mean?"
repeated my question. in yet more
trembling tone. felt her hand more
passive in mine, and her eyes droop"d,
and the carnation tinge deepened in her
would make me very unhappy to think
So"
Listen to me-" ! cried kneeling at
her feet, and clasping both her hands
in mine From the time of our meet
ing, five years ago, l ave loved you; from
the time of our meeting a few weeks
back ! have adored you! Oh, tell me,
do you love me? Answer me but one
word, my darling. my love- | cried
( again.
She raised her eyes for a moment to
mine, and then dropped them, with her
cheek as crimson as my own. Il do
love you, dearest-very much" she an
swered, in her low, soft voice.
took her in my arms. and kissed her
fervently; and her sweet, blushing face
nestled upon my bosom like a bird seek
ing for shelter.
Where were my resolutions now p
my heroic self-sacrifce. my stoiciSm?
Melted-gons-11isa like snow be-
fore a fire, in the fervid ecstacy of that
moment l had come to pronounce an
eternal farewell l stayed TO pronounce
ar inward oath that l wonld sweep
away every obstacle, and win her yet
for my own undisputed prize in the face
of the whole world
After time we sat together near the
window with my arm around her
waist, and her hand clasped in mine.
And thus we sat. silent-she, in one Of
her dreamy reveries; l, filled with gloomy
forebodings. For. now that the first
ecstacy was passed--now ! knew that
her love was mine-the unnatural excite
ment of my brain subsidized. the tension
of my nerves relaxed, and the misera-
bic rashness of what l had done was
revealed to me in the gloomest colors.
l had sealed her misery, and increased
my own tenfold.
DO you not think" she said. sudden
~ that we are very strange people,
you and /? | near that we are very
unlike other peoplei
II have often thought So" l 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 we
are well paired. / know but little my
self. but that you shall know" e
Not now. please. dear Some day,
when am very brave, will tell you ali
about myself"
returned, looking very cross. Il never
did know such a gossiping creature as
that servant next door-always talking
to men. too. l don. know, l am sure.
what her mistress is about to keep her.
There she is. talking now to some
stran. z, queerlooking man; and | am
sure she is talking about US, for l saw
him point to this house, and then he
4 II, Il. =
had better not laugh at my house; /
won't put up with her impudence'
A strange man pointing TO the house!
What was there in such commonplace
circumstance to trouble me? But it did.
went TO the window, but he was not
visible from there. | went to the door;
both he and the servant had disappeared.
| came in again and asked what the man
was like
"Oh. l don't know. never notice
such people. A foreign-looking fellow,
with long hair she answered, hufily
Foreign looking, and long hair. Such
description would apply 10 Mr.. Mont
gomery. Could he have followed me?
And If he had, why should that discon-
cert me? He could not possibly have
any motive beyond idle curiosity. New
ertheless, l could not reason myself out
of a certain uneasiness respecting this
strange man.
Mrs. Wilson did not recover the seren-
ity of her temper until after tea. In the
course of conversation | mentioned that
had visited a theater on the previous
night. They did not know of my con-
nection with the stage,
II have never been to theater but
twice in my life. and then only when
was little child, 10 see the panto-
mines" said Clara. II thought it, then.
the most glorious place / had ever seen:
wonder what should think of it now?
Oh. should so much like TO co.
So it was arranged that we should 90
on Monday night. Clara was delighted
at the thought, and talked about moth
ing else; and so the evening glided pleas
antly along until it was time for me To
go.
Clara came to the door with me. and
we stood for few minutes upon the
step. looking mp at the clear. frosty sky.
glittering with stars. / took her in my
aims. kissed her, and wished her good
night. Il fingered for a few moments
after she had closed the door. as though
10th TO 1uit the SPOT. | gazed at the
house, and thought OF the many happy
days ! had spent in it--of the one that
was just past-the happiest, ard yet the
most miserable of all.
Was there no presentiment mingled
with this melancholy, that the end OF all
this had Gomez Darker aud darker.
closer and closer. gather the shadows
round me. | must linger no longer upon
a. -