The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-04-06
CHAPTER XVII

was Sttput III urhNt resolves Wneh
knocked at the door OF the little house
} But they were sadly shaken the momen
it was opened by Clara herself. Tn,
sight of her sweet face. smiling upon
me. cowed my bravery. Have | com,
here to look upon her for the last time
Ito bid adieu to that smile forever:- ]
asked myself; and my heart sank. but il
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. l 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 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 l gave it to her. 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.
"Wouldtit make you very unhappy il
l 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 hand.
She did not appear to comprehend my
words. as she saked. in tone OF trou-
bled wonder. What do you meant
l repeated my question, in yet more
trembling tone. / felt her hand more
passive in nnine and her eyes droop"d,
and the carnatiou tinge deepened in 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. 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-" l cried
again
She raised her eyes for 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.
l took her in my arms. and kissed her
fervently; and her sweet. olushing face
nestled upon my bosom like bird seek
ing for shelter.
Where were my resolutions now p
my heroic self-sacrihce, my stoicism? |
ed-gone-disappear like snow be |
fore fire, in the fervid ecstacy Of that |
moment | had come to pronounce an |
eternal farewell; | stayed to pronounce !
ar 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 a time we sat together near the
with my arm around her
waist. and her hand clasped in mine
And thus we sat silent-she. in one OF
her dreamy reveries; 1. 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 l had done was
revealed to me in the gloomiest colors.
had sealed her misery. and increased
my own tenfold.
do you not think" she said. sudden
". that We are very strange people.
you and /? l mean. that we are very
mike other peopley'
Il have often thought So" / said.
do you not fancy the rest OF the
world would think us very silly people?
Vow, you do not even know my Name
But you know nothing Of me. so we
Ire well paired. | know but little my
elf, but that you shall know"
mot now, please. dear. Some day,
when l am very brave, | will tell you all
bout myself"
Immediately afterwards, Mrs Wilson
eturned. looking very cross Il never
i'd know such a gossiping creature ms
hat servant next door-always talking .
o men, too. don't know, I am sure.
rhat her mistress is about to keep her
here she is. talking now to some
TRANCE, queerlooking man; and / am
ure she is talking about us. for I saw :
i'm point to this house, and then he | :
aid something, and she laughed; she '
ad better not laugh at my house; | 3
ont put up with her impudence."
A strange man pointing to the house, !,
What was there In such COMMONPLACE
to trouble me? But il did.
went to the window, but he was not j
sible from there. l went to the door; {
9TH he and the servant had disappeared. !,
came in again and asked what the nan v
as like. I
"Oh, | don't know. / never notice ;,
Ich people. A foreign-looking fellow, =
it'll long hair" she answered, huffily. =
Foreign looking, and long hair. Such ~
description would apply to Mr.. Mont y
,mery. Could he have followed NE? g
nd if he had, why should that discon- Il
1T me? He could not possibly have b
" motive beyond idle curiosity. New Y
theless. | could not reason myself out a.
a certain uneasiness respecting this
range man.
Mrs. Wilson did not recover the seren- &c
= Of her temper until after tea. In the 81
urse Of conversation ! mentioned that m
had visited theater on the previous al
ght. They did not know OF my con- T,
ction with the stage. II
II have never been to a theater but =,
ice in my life. and then only when I :.
as a little child, to see the panto- ~
ines" said Clara. Il thought it, then, al
e most glorious place / had ever seen; NJ
wonder what | should think Of it now?
!, | shorj1 20 much like to co.
SO it " as arranged that we should go III
Monday night Clara was delighted u