Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-08-25
"A DEAD PAST
BY CAMERON
CHAPTER x.-CContinued.)
By MRS. LOvETT CAMERON

She stood before MIN tEelAoLhS' S0S
ming. too, awoke in her also-that vague
something which from the very hrst his
presence had Swallowed forth in her.
ANSWER me, Kitten. Do you under
stand me?' 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 Iove?' she murmured, below
her breath.
ct is life and delight it is happiness,
Kitten; it is what you were longing for,
child"
rs it happinessT' she asked, dreamily,
booking away from him. Was this indeed
the answer to the great mystery which
Ahe wisest men on earth had been unable
90 fathomi Are you sure, quite sure,
ahat it is happinessY' 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 you?" she said, trembling. DO
you love me, you? Is it perfect happi-
ness for you, too?"
Something in the intense earnestness
of her wonderful eyes cut him through
9or one moment like a knife; for half a
second he 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 l said?"
Kitten. dearest Kitten!' he cried, tax
Eng her soft face between both his hands,
and at his touch the blood rushed once
more in a fame to her cheeks. why
should you say that; why should not
love you. child|
Why, indeed! Perhaps for one swift
hour he believed it himself, her strange
auestionings, 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 fame 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
aueenY' he cried. DO you think because
I am so much older than you are that
am blind and dS0f and cold to your love
Illness and your sweetness? | 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 can teach
Won 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 they
were lit up by a strange, unusual light
ehen 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 quietly, with no wedding guests and
no wedding festivities, with but the vii
fage 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
hge church in which she had sat every
Sunday of her life, and passed out OF
fits porch a serious-faced but happy
Bride along the path across the church
yard. where her young mother lay at rest
after the short fever of her happy life
The clergyman kissed her and wished heI
joy. the doctor grasped her hands and
Blessed her, the school children scattered
autumn flowers under her feet. And
then she stepped into a carriage laden
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.