The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-11-16
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
| was strong in brave resolves when |
Knocked at the door Of the little house.
But they were sadly shaken the moment
it was opened by Clara herself. The
sight Of her sweet face, smiling upon
me, cowed my bravery. Have | come
here to look upon her for the last time
to bid adieu to that smile forever" /
gave no response.
I'VE are all alone" she said. as we
went into the parlor. "Mary is out, and
so is Mrs. Wilson, wonderful to say
She was working hard at her paint
ing, as usual. | sat down upon n foot
stool Mt her feet, and gazed f~urtively
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
had not exchanged half a dozen words:
but that was not at all uncommon, for
| loved better TO gaze and dream thar to
talk, and when at her work, she spoke
but little. She dropped one of her
brushes; and as | gave it to her, l held
her hand for a moment fast locked in
mine. When she looked down at me
smilingly and saw me i'm tears, a look
of concern came across her countcnaTce.
would il make you very unhappy if
| were to tell you that you might never
see me again after this day. | spoke
in a low. choked voice, and the gathered
tears burst forth from my eyelids, and
fell upon her hand.
She did not appear to comprehend my
words, ms she saked, in a tone of trou-
blcd wonder. What 90 you mean?"
| repeated my question. in a yet more
trembling tone. | felt her hand more
passive in mine. and her eyes dropped.
and the carnation tinge deepened III her
cheeks, as she answered. softly. 1T
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, i 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 ,oye!' | cried
again.
She raised her eyes for a momen to
mine. and then dropped them. with her
cheek as crimson as my own. Il do
love you. dearcst-very much she an
swered. in her low. soft voice.
/ took her in my arms, and kissed her
fervently. end her sweet. blushing face
nestled upon my bosom like a bird seek
ing for shelter.
Where were my resolutions now?-
heroic self-sacrifice, my stoicism?
Acknowledgements like snow be
fore a fire, in the fervid ecstacy of that
momen | had come to pronounce an
eternal farewell: l stayed to pronounce
al. inward oath that / 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. silent-shc, in one of
her dreamy reveries; l, filed 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-
BILE rashness of what | had done was
revealed to me in the gloomicst co!ors.
| had sealed her misery. and increased
my own tenfold.
do you not think" she said. sudden
ly. that we are very strange people.
YOU and L? | mean. that we are very
unlike other people"
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 nalre."
But you know nothing OF me. so we
are well paired. l know hut little my
self. but that you shall know"
Not now. please. dear. Some day.
when | am very brave. | viii tell you al
about myself"
Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Wilson
returned. looking very cross. Il never
did know such a gossiping creature rs
that servant next door-always talking
to men, too. l don't know. | am sure,
what her mistress is about to keep her.
There she is. talking now to some
strange. 1ueerlooking man: and l am
sure she il talking about us. for l saw
him point to this house, and then he
said something. and she laughed; she
had better not laugh at my house; l
won't put UP with her impudcnce."
A strange man pointing to the house.
What was there In such a commonplace
a - a." n~A Il. 1eI