Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1890)
WKST AFTER MANY YEARS. BY VKLMA CALDWELL MELVILLI, SHK reminded him of a tragedy queen as she flood before him, her face white an the rolie sho wore, save for the dark Hashing eyes, the thread of scarlet that marked the tightly clowd lip and a bright spot that burned on either cheek. " I trust we will still be friend," he was saying, when, with a sudden gesture of scorn, she interrupted: " Thank you, Mr. Clayton, I would not trust you even as an enemy." " IUanchc, what arc you saying? Is this the way you treat me because I have been honest enough to ac knowledge that I have been somewhat mistaken in my feelings toward you. I still love you dearly, but fear 'tis more the love of a brother for a favorite sister" " That will do, sir; you need not again rehearse that odious spmh which you seem to have arranged with such care; and, as I am not in need of either friend or brother, will wish you good-day," and with a mocking bow sho walked steadily from the room, leav ing him as one suddenly bereft of the jwwer of speech or movement. His eyes wandered about the familiar apartment where he had sent so many happy hours with beau tiful, fascinating Blanche Ilird, finally resting on the ring he had mechanically taken from her outstretched hand. In that same room he had given it to her as the seal of their betrothal, less than six months before, on Christmas eve. He brushed his hand across his forehead, feeling that he must lie losing his senses, for here in his (In gers was that same silent witness; but Blanche was lost to him forever. He tried to rememUr what he had said when he first came in, how he had broached the subject He recollected that for days he had been planning to tell her as gently as possible that he had been mistaken, and that he feared he did not love her as he should to make her life happiness secure in hia hands, and yet he knew and she knew that no such thought had ever occurred to him till he had fallen a rfctim to the wiles of coquettish Olive Older. When he came In he felt sure that it was folly and madness for him to think of happiness with other than the latter; now he was having with the bitter con sciousness that the only woman In the world whom he truly loved was as unattainable as the wealth of Ool conda. A dixiy, sickening sensation crept over him m he almost grojrf-d his way out Into the busy street and on toward his office. Hours passed and still there u no abatement of the fever lid? of remorse that seemed flowing through brain and soul, dinner hour can-, but U had no dv WORK. 79 sire for food; iupHr he took at a restaurant, and late that night crept like a criminal into his room at the Utarding house. Well he knew that Ollie Older had watched for him all day, but she, of all others, ho wished most to avoid. Suddenly the scales seemed to have fallen from his eyes, and he could see how she and an Intriguing ri der sister had led him on, knowing all the time that he was in honor hound to another. He saw, too, what ' aduand fool he had Urn. lis wondered how he could have thought the girl even pn tty kslde queenly Blanche Ilird; and as for mental endowments, lint one was shallow and sujKTflelal, the other deep, original and smart; the one, at last, but a toy for man's amuse ment, the other a companion and helpmeet of whom the lest might U proud. He remembered now what a stimulus Ulanehe'a brave and encouraging words had been to him when success in his profession seemed to mock him, and how cheerily she had promised to "bide his gudt fortune." Hhe had believed in him and his ability to succeed when he had lost faith In himself, now she spurned his friendship, and said she would not trust him as an enemy. No wonder! Hut he must do something, he must make one rtfort at least; he would write and tell her the wholo truth; he would tell her he had leeii bUring under a delu sive infatuation, but that it was all dispell"! now, and his love for her a more absorbing passion than Ufore; that such another hour of weakness could never again o'ertake him. He at ow e curuted his purpose, and at midnight lay down to rest with a faint ray of tij shining athwart the dark miiorwe and despair that hjidd"r'd his steps since morning. Karl the following day h litrhr! the not", with orders to the messenger to await an answer, thru nervously paced his of!! llt until the l-oy cam leis urely in and handed him what? Were his ryes deceiving him? No, there was no mistake; it waa his own letter Un owned. M Whom did you ?" he asked, sharply. "The y'Ufig missis in the whiu g'.wnd; iw-t her cumin' out the gate a I went in. hh askrd If Mr. Clayton sent It, and I said n he did. Hie J-wt held it a minute, lookln whiter'n a snow bank, then said, Make it bark Vd that's ail I know,sir.M " That will do. Tut Iick In the jhtri and hare him around Ik re in Un minute." The shock caused a sudden reaction, and a will Ming t,( nt and reverse crowd! m all other sen sations fr the time Wng. !f forgot that U aloii had brrn to t!am IttfA the nIrf and mortification