Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-05-06
CHAPTER XVII.

tl1AI Iflh y IL
/ was strong in brave resolves when l
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 l come
here to look upon her for the last time
to bid adieu to that smile foreverT l
asked myself; and my heart sank, but it
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 a foot
stool at her feet, and gazed furtively
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 than 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 in tears, look
of concern came across her countenance-
Would it make you very unhappy If
| were to tell you that you might never
see me again after this day." l 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
ords, as she saked, in a tone Of trou-
bled wonder What do 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 in her
cheeks, as she answered, softly, 1T
would make me very unhappy to think
So
Listen to me-" l cried. kneelng 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 l 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 tC
mine, and then dropped them, with hel
cheek as crimson as my own. Il dc
love you, dearest-very much" she an
swered, in her low, soft voice.
| took her in my arms, and kissed he
fervently; and her sweet, blushing face
nestled upon my bosom like bird seek
ing for shelter.
Where were my resolutions P
my heroic self-sacrice, my stoiciSm
Melted-gone-dis like snow be
fore a fire, in the fervid ecstacy of tina
moment. l had come to pronounce a
eternal farewell; l stayed to pronounc
ar. inward oath that | would swee
away every obstacle, and win her We
t for my own undisputed prize in the fac
of the whole world.
After a time we sat together near tn
window with my arm around he
, waist, and her hand clasped in min,
, And thus we sat, silent-she, in one G
: her dreamy reveries; l. filled with gloom
forebodings. For, now that the frs
q ecstacy was passed-now | knew ths
her love was mine-the unnatural excite
n ment Of my brain subsidized. the tensio
+ of my nerves relaxed, and the miser;
BILE rashness of what l had done wa
T. revealed to me in the gloomiest color
q / had sealed. her misery, and increase
/. my own tenfold.
7 "Do you not think" she said, suddel
; ly, that we are very strange peopl
d you and 1? 1 mean, that we are vel
?. unlike other peopleY'
l. II have often thought So" | said.
do you not fancy the rest of ii
v world would think us very silly people
g Now, you do not even know my name
= but you know nothing Of me, so v
g are we'll paired. l know but little m
e self, but that you shall know"
n Not now, please, dear. Some da
I" when l am very brave, l will tell you {
W about myself"
II Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Wils'
ID returned, looking very cross. 81 new
4 did know such n gossiping creature
O. that servant next door-always talkil
70 to men, too. l don't know, l am SUI
what her mistress is about to keep he
Or There she is, talking now to sol
20 strange, queerlooking man; and l a
10 sure she is talking about us, for l sa
10 him point to this house, and then
said something, and she laughed; s
- had better not laugh at my house;
or won't put up with her impudence."
ST A strange man pointing to the hous
a. What was there in such n commOnpla