The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-03-11

| should have Jagged; instead, | hurried for
ward;-and clasping her outstretched hands as
she rose to meet me- IL found myself devouring
them with kisses. could not help it.
1t was for the last time, told myself, and my
heart sunk like lead.
When released her hands she raised them to
my shoulders, and turning around that
faced the moonlight looked steadily into my eyes,
without saying word The mute misery in them.
for by this time l had pulled myself together
must have appealed to the tenderest chords of her
nature, for her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, Sweetheart, Sweetheart, how could YOU
were her first words to me- Not single line
have had since the meager little note in which
you told me of your great grief. Not line in
answer to my letter.
II wrote you many letters, dear Dorothy; L
81 never received one
NO. | destroyed Them.
destroyed them? don't understand Come.
sit closer to me-" making room beside her the
rustic seat, You far away after-after
I've been so far away; and for so long.
almost year" l answered, taking my old
place beside her | could not do otherwise.
THAT is better Now tell me all about it, for
have felt very much hurt | felt somehow that
YOU We're putting me away from you; withholding
the condolences you have always given me; even
when little boy. Why did you destroy the let
ters?" slipping her hand into mine.
Why? Dear Dorothy, did not send them be
cause-forsive me, dearest; because knew that
everything between must end sooner or later.
Why prolong the agony? Why keep you in mind
OF me?-and why torture my own heart with cease
less longngs for you kept alive by ceaseless watch
ing and waiting Tor your letters. thought II
best for you, dear Dorothy.
You thought to do me a kindness? See what it
has done for me- holding out me her slender
hand.
You have been ill?" | asked alarmed
did not let me know it?"
why should L? did not suppose you cared
Not care;-I care? All, Dorothy my sweet
Dorothy, you can not look in my eyes and deceive
me; you knew that my life and soul We're bound
up in you. That If anything happened to you it
would mean death to me; and yet
She placed her fingers upon my lips, and the
sentence was never finished. That kissed them,
goes without saying;-and she did not withdraw
them.
slipped my arm about her waist and drew her
close me. The kindly hid her face be-
hind passing cloud | strongly tempted to
kiss the lips mine but did not. | had not
lost my head entirely.
Taking my dsengaged hand in hers, she said:
This is better, much better; l be
that YOU are not scheming to escape me-"
You know. Sweetheart that would not will
ingly escape you, my only thought is to allow you
rid yourself of me,-in the least painful man
ner. of You see, dear, everything is al
tered l walked by the old home came here
1t is empty dark shut up 1t made my heart
sick. Why should such things be-" felt very
rebellious and depressed
You should not have that way When
it, today turned and went all around the
square, to keep from passing.
Sweet Dorothy"-pressing her closer TO me-
How long have we known each other?'
Ask Nanny Chloe; she introduced us, have
been told"
Are you not sorry that she did,"
Are you sorry? Because if you are, am also.
'Sweetheart; You know, you have known al
ways that love you. am glad of every day that
| have known you; of every hour that | have
loved you. 1t is only you that am thinking of
would spare UOU pain"