Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-09-12
GoIo Elsie

By e. MARLTT


overwH Ginning for the human soul. It
IS wrested from its wonted path, and
the very delay, the long, unsuccessful
waiting, plunge it in a sea Of doubts
and keep it from believing in its unex-
peCted happiness. Elizabeth, he found
such heart, which, fortified by a
clear, richly-gifted mind, took its
stand far above all such petty inter
est. But it beat in a young bosom
endowed with the utmost charm. Was
it any wonder that a man in mature
years, who, as he well knew, possess
ed no outward attractions, looked sus-
piciou6ly and anxiousIy at another.
who could lay youth and beauty in
the scales? Was it any wonder that
he let himself be carried away by =
look, an assurance, an action of a
young girl, soaring one moment upon
the heights, only to plunge the next
into the deepest disbursement when
he saw the effort Of the others? Was
1t not natural for him to fear that
youth would give you the preference?
Never did mans heart more ardent
Iy long for the fulflment of its
wishes than his, and perhaps none
ever doubted, in a more coWardly
way, the success of his hopes. And
when people told him that his wor.
shipped idol would belong to that
other he drained the cup of sorrow
and said that Yes because he be.
IieVed he acted as she wished. Eliza.
beth, | stood upon the threshold Of
the pavilion this morning perfectly
annlhIlated and despairing. You do
not know what it means to a seaman
TO pack all his treasures in one little
Dark and see it oiDk before his ewes
small | describe to you what I felt
When card you so empbaticaTIv 70.
Ject your promotion, and so make
your marriage with Hollfeld an i'm.
possibility? Shall l tell you that con.
Slderation for my sisters state and
respect for yourself alone restrained
me from thrashing the dishonora hIo
cur on the spot? He has left Castle
Llndhof already, and will never cross
your path again. Pray forget the in.
suits which he inflicted upon Won IN.
day in my house.
He had been holding both bar
hands and pressing them against his
heart. She let it be so and answered
MS request aftirmativeIy, though with
trembling lips.
And shall We not forget every.
thlng, my dear little Gold Elsie. which
has crowded in between the begin.
nlng and the end of the birthday greet
delight of my eyes-my little Eliza.
Deth Ferber-is standing before me
repeating faithfully, word for word
IS 1t not so?-the last sentence that
was SO rudely interrupted. What was
it?' 90
Here is my hand as a pledge Of
an unutterable happiness" stammerad
Enzabeth. 4 will be yours in life
death, and all eternity"
But she strove in vain to omen her
LpS to repeat the words which ne
SoIemnIy pronounced with the deem
est emotion. Tears poured from her
eyes. and she wound her arms about
MS neck, while he pressed her exuIt.
ngly to his breast.
Now my havenly dream has van
Shed again., he said, with a SIGH 9.
EIlzabeth freed herself from bfe
arms. AT least give me your hand
hllzaoeth; | must learn to believe in
my good fortune. If you leave me TO-
Jay, | shall fall back tonight into NV
DOUBTS. Are you clearly conscious that
you are now irreVocably mine: thai
you must leave father, mother and
the familiar home upon the monntain
Tor my sake?" - -
Yes, l know it, and will it So Rn-
uoIph' she said, with a smile bnt
firmly. Jul
blessings on you, my darling. for
these Words......B But you must know
the whole weakness of my unbeuer
was 1t not mere compassion for nv
Ooundless love that moved YOU 70
yIeId to my tempestuous wooing?"
No, Rudolph, it was the love which
mas dWelt in my own heart since I
II sounds very strange-saw your
angry eyes, and heard your voice con-
uemnlng human cruelty and heartIess-
ness. And it has never left me since
that moment. On the contrary, it has
grown strong and deep, in spite of all
my effort to suppress it, in spite of
all the harsh words which wounded
it."
Who did that"
Yourself. You were violent, repel-
lent. toward me-"
oh! child, those we're the out
breaks of my insane jealousy I have
trained myself to self-control my
whole lifetime, but this most terrible
of all tortures could not be concealed
behind the mask. And for that my lit
tie girl wanted TO destroy the heaven
she IS now opening before me?"
Not for that reason. That would
nave been labor lost, for a warm
glance made t all good again. But
another Obstinate c0mbatant entered
tie, Ii>ts-my reason. It had heard the
universally accepted II nor Of your in
credible aristocratic arrogance. and
.epeated at e; outburst Of the heart
the reaso o. your declining the hand