The Meeker herald., 1907-09-21

l think my brother loved me very
much. He had always made ME his
confidant. One night, he came to my
room and said. with a hesitation which
seemed very singular in his frank, fear
less nature. that he had something to
tell me. Then he talked of Indifferent
subjects for while. and at length.
suddenly-alas, 1t seemed to me pitt
lessly!-the blow fell. He loved Leona
Ashland! Oh. heaven pity me! God
have mercy on me! l knew In that
moment that l too loved her. ], blind,
helpless fool that l was! had made
her my idol. l had not known before
what was the spell which bound me to
her; or. rather. l had resolutely closed
my heart against the conviction. The
veil was ruthlessly rent away.
] was not one to inflict my sorrow
upon others. l strove to go out into
| the world with a cheerful face. But
listened with tremulous eagerness to
every infection of Leona's voice when
she talked with my brother. l knew
she must love him, but there was u
curious fascination in watching how
this passion would spring up In her
pure heart-how the tenderness which
| could never be for me, would grow
into her beloved voice. Day after day
| 1t seemed to me to become full Of a
sweeter pathos.
One night Leona asked me II she
might go alone with me to evening
prayers, as she used before Richard
came. 1t was a pleasant walk. that
hat mile between our house and the
church. in the summer sunset, with
the trees over our heads all odorous
with bloom There was a curious joy.
which was more than half compounded
OF pain. in knowing that she was by
my side, in feeling the light pressure
of her hand upon my arm.
When the services were over, she
asked me to stay little longer and
play for her, as l had often done be-
fore. Hitherto at such times she had
chosen the tunes; but now the fever
fit of inspiration was upon me.
poured forth the story of my hopeless
love. used no words. but the music
explained itself. 1t thrilled. 1t trem.
bled, 1t pleaded, 1t despaired. it strug.
gled. 1t hoped, then, as If for the dead.
1t walled and died out, at last, in
long. helpless cry of sorrow. / heard
Leona sobbing. She stood, at little
distance, alone in the darkness. l left
my seat. 1 went to her and took hei
hands. In the darkness she laid her
tender. plying arms around my neck.
felt her wet cheek against my own
Alas, knew the language of that silent
caress. She loved Richard, but, with
all the fullness Of her angelic nature.
she pitied me. She would be my sis.
ter.
No word was spoken by either of us.
We went out of the church and went
home, under the night and the trees.
One evening we three were alone In
the long parlor. l sat at one end
among the shadows. Richard and
Leona were at the other. where the
moon-for l heard them talking of 1t
-shone in at the open window. Per-
haps Richard thought could not hear.
or that l slept. He did not know what
second sight hearing Is to the blind.
Not a murmur, not culver OF their
voices escaped me. 1t seems that he
had never told her of his love before.
He poured it forth now with passion
ate, fervid eloquence. listened breath
lessly for her answer.
81 cannot" she says; "oh. cannot!
+ thought you knew thought you
must have known" And here the
tender, troubled voice breaks up into
pitiful sobs as she beseeches him to
leave her, only to leave her. Richard
makes no attempt to comfort her.
hear him go out. Then ! cross the
room; kneel at her feet: l tell her
have heard all; and then mad i'm
pulse seizes me; pour out at her feet
the libation of my love. l cannot help
1t. Blind. and poor, and helpless as
was, had dared to love her. did not
mean to tell her. l knew she could
never return it. But when had heard
her grieve, had longed so to comfort
her; l had wanted her to know how
gladly would die to give her peace.
Oh! how can l tell the story? She
did not spurn me. Once more. in the
darkness, her tender arms were laid
about ny neck. For the first time
fresh, pure lips. Her words were sol
emn and earnest: DO not die for me.
Live! live. dear Allen! and, II you love
me, let me be your wife"
When our betrothal was made known
there was struggle in my brothers
heart. He loved me; he strove to re-
joice in my happiness; but he could
not stay to witness it. I. who knew
Leona's worth. did not blame him. He
left home, the next week, for year OF
foreign travel; and, three weeks after.
Leona became my wife.
miss no pleasant sights or sounds
of nature, for in her have all things.
l do not even need to look on her be-
loved face, for l see 1t in my heart
forever, fresh, and young, and fair as