Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-29
IA DEAD PAST
Il By MRS. LOvETT CAMERON y
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CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)
By MRS. LOVETT CAMERON

thing. too, awoke in her also-that vague
something which from the very first his
presence had shadowed forth in her.
Answer me. Kitten. Do you under
stand meT' he cried, eagerly; for now
that he had spoken, No hot, impetuous
lover could be more impatient. "Do you
love me, child? Do you love me?'
What is lover" she murmured, below
her breath.
"It is life and delight; it is happiness,
Kitten: it is what you were longing for,
child"
"Is it happiness? she asked, dreamily,
looking away from him. Was this indeed
the answer to the, great mystery which
the wisest men on earth had been unable
to fathom! "Are you sure, quite sure,
that it is happinessT' she repeated.
Yes: is it not what you wanted your
self? That l should stay with you al
ways; only that would not give you con-
tent always unless you were one with
me, part of my life, part of my very
self. To understand perfect happiness
YOU must love me, and you must be my
wife"
She looked up straight into his eyes.
"And your she said, trembling-- do
you love me, you! Is ii perfect happi-
ness for you, tooW
Something in the intense earnestness
Of her wonderful eyes cut him through
for one moment like a knife; for half a
second Me could not meet her look-al-
most WINGED before her.
"Are you sure, quite sure" she said
again, that you, too-you have this
wonderful thing, this love which you tell
me about? Is it to make you happy as
well? Or is it only for pity, and because
spoke ignorantly and foolishly, not
knowing what | saidf'
Kitten. dearest Kittenw he cried, TAX
Ing her soft face between both his hands,
and at his touch the blood rushed once
more in a flame to her cheeks. "Why
should you say that; why should l not
love you, child?"
Why. indeed! Perhaps for one swift
hour he believed it himself, her strange
duestionings, her persistent doubtful
ness. the curious blending of shrewdness
and of innocence which was the oldest
part of the remarkable creatures char
acter. famed the flame within him, and
increased, as opposition invariably does,
his longing to take her to himself, until
in very truth he told himself that he did
indeed love her.
,"Who could help loving you, my fairy
dueen?" he cried. ''Do you think because
/ am so much older than you are that
am blind and dkif and cold to your love.
illness and your sweetness? l cannot love
YOU as a father. Kitten; that love has
gone from your life forever, but l can
make it up to you, my sweetest, fo-
can love you as a lover and a husband
and l can teach you, Kitten-I can teach
YOU how to love me back again."
One of her rare sweet smiles stole into
her face. lowering first at the corners OF
her mouth and then spreading like sun
shine to her grave, still eyes, till rhey
were lit up by a strange, unusual light
then slowly they sank before him.
Il think l have learned that already
she whispered, 'better-oh, yes, far bet
ter than you can teach me-"
That was Kitten Laybourne's wooing
And by and by. when the September
days were already drawing to a close
very uulblll, Will HO NtuulllS SutSlS anu
no wedding festivities, with but the vii
lage doctor to give her away, and with
only a small crowd of village poor a
witnesses. in her black dress and bonnet
with old Keziah behind her to hold hel
gloves. and the parson who had christ
ened her to read the service over her
Catherine Elizabeth Laybourne was mar
ried to Brian Desmond in the little vii
lage church in which she had sat every
Sunday of her life, and passed out Of
its porch a serious-faced but happy
bride, along the path across the church
yard. where her young mother lay at res
after the short fever of her happy life
The clergyman kissed her and wished hel
joy, the doctor grasped her hands anG
blessed her. the school children scattered
autumn flowers under her feet. Ant
then she stepped into h carriage lader
with luggage which waited for her at the
church gate, and was driven away on hel
new life straight from the church to the
station.