Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1880 — A DECIDED ANSWER. [ARTICLE]

A DECIDED ANSWER.

I had long suspected there was a romance connected with my Cousin Mirabel’s cameo ring, fer she had a habit of turning it upon her finger and looking it it with tender, shining eyes, but if observed she would instantly desist and cover the jewel with her right hand. After ten months’ teaching, it was like paradise to get down to Stone Cottage, in the shore of Lake Michigan, where my maiden cousin resided. She lived done with the exception of a single ser- ' ant. Her father had left her sufficient money to place her above the reach of want, that is above the want that presses and pursues the poor, but not beyond the dire want, the terrible heart hunger that takes possession of the lonely. , Although Mirabel was a first cousin I bad not heard from her for years until tier letter came to me at the seminary, where I was teaching, inviting me to spend the coming vacation at Stone Cottage. I had been four days at the cot’age and felt quite settled and at home. Mirabel had the rare and excellent trait )f letting her guests enjoy themselves ns hey chose. She did not deem it necessary to be always at their side trying to entertain them, and, fine woman though die was, it would not have been always desirable. Yes, I say to myself with nnphasis, Cousin Mirabel is a fine womm, despite her 30 years. As I spoke [ saw in imagination the tall, elegant figure, the white brow and dark, heavy hair, but, most of all, the reserved and uensive air that characterized this woman.

Ever since onr dinner at 2 o’clock I had been sitting out on the piazza, muffled up in a cloak, for the lake breeze was damp and cold. I believe Mirabel iould live nowhere else than on the shore >f a stormy lake. At 3 o’clock I saw her cave the house by a side door. She was wrapped in her storm cloak and had the hood drawn over her head. At dusk die had not returned. I entered the louse, lmt before striking a light I ooked from the window and saw her •oming through the gloom. I started he fire and lighted the lamp, striving to make the room comfortable for the lome-coming. I heard the outer door open and shut, heard her pause in the , hall to hang up her cloak and then her feet coming wearily up stairs. Very wearily it seemed to me. She tapped on f ile sitting room door then pushed it Mien. I started up, her hair was damp, her face pale, and her eyes unusually large and brilliant. 1 drew her into the room, saying: “ Yt >ur walk has -been too much for you; take this easy chair here by the fire. ” “No, it is not the walk,” she answered, smiling a little at my anxiety. “It is not the walk; it is excitement. Judge Parkhurst has been asking me to marry him—the gentleman you saw here on the first day of your arrival.” “ Oh!” I said, with a long-drawn breath of real pleasure, thinking some happiness was to be granted Mirabel at last. “ I hope you accepted him.” “ No, not exactly ; he is to come for an answer to-morrow. ” The tea had been brought in and cleared away, aud still I was talking about the Judge. I concluded by saying : “He is a strong, true-hearted, honorable man, and you will say yes, won’t you, Mirabel?” “ I don’t know, dear,” she answered, steadily; but, bending down to kiss her, I saw that the dark eyes were full of tears. My proud, impassive cousin weeping ? That was almost beyond belief. She recovered herself without any violent exhibition of emotion. The flame shone op the gold setting as her

ring, and she began turning it with a caressing movement. I drew an ottoman close to her feet, and, laying my head in her lap, I said : “ Dear Cousin Mirabel, please tell me about your ring. I’m sure it has a history.” She put her hand upon my head. “It has, indeed, a history, and I will tell it to you. I have been thinking all day of Kenneth Dee ring, the man who gave me this ring, aDd it will be a relief to talk of him to-night. It may be wrong, but I cannot help it; indeed, I cannot. ” There was a short silence, as if she were striving to overcome some bitter or painful emotion. She began her story in a low voice, and I did not look into her face. ** Five years ago to-night I met Kenneth Deering for the first time. I desired a summer boarding place, and Milly Bently wrote me : ‘We are back again where we spent last summer. I can recommend the place. Nice family, splendid library, and pleasant surroundings. I am sure you would be suited if you were to come.’ “ I was alone in the world; one place was as good as another to me, for I was indifferent to all. I think it was the mention of the library that decided me. Milly was of the dark, slender, piquant style of beauty, full of fire and vivacity. We were too unlike to be perfectly congenial, yet we were friendly enough as the world goes. I remember the first afternoou of my arrival. Milly met me in the hall and introduced me to the ladies of the household. The weather was warm, and I desired to be shown to my room to bathe my hands and face and change my traveling dress. That done, I determined to see the library before I should be summoned to tea. I had seen the book shelves on my way to my own apartment. I was surprised at the number of books, and the fine taste displayed in the collection. Surely some one here must have most scholarly tastes, I thought. It did not seem to me it could be the bustling housewife to whom I had been introduced, nor did I believe it to be the master of the house, a decrepit old man who “shuffled past me in the hall. Having run my eye over the various titles I selected a volume of poems, and seated myself at an open window, but soon forgot my book in the beauty of tbe landscape. The soft summer twilight was gradually enveloping nil objects. While absorbed in a reverie the library door opened, a gentleman advanced a few steps into the room, but on perceiving me would have withdrawn. He bowed, saying, * I beg your pardon, I intrude.’ “ ‘No !’ I exclaimed, ‘it is I who am the intruder ; pray remain : do not permit my presence to drive you away, or I shall not forgive myself for coming. ’ “ He thanked me, and, going to a cabinet of minerals, began comparing them with the one lie field in his hand. The room was already dusk, so he lighted a lamp. He invited me to look at the minerals, which I did with interest, for the collection was large and rare. ‘ Perhaps you can help me classify this odd bit of rock,’ lie said, suddenly. I shook my head. “I am a, very poor geologist, indeed,” I said. Ilis face clouded a little as lie remarked, ‘ I will have to see more about it to-morrow. I must have my supper now. I suppose you have had tea some hours ago. ’ “No ; I had not been been to tea. ‘ ‘A servant, seeing a light in the library, entered. Supper had long been over. Apology was made, but I had not been in my room when the servant went to announce the meal. Kenneth Deering, as the gentleman proved to be, cut short his excuses by saying, ‘ Never mind, Miss Madison, we will have our supper together ; please take my arm. ’

“We had a very social time over our tea. Our acquaintance progressed rapidly. We made so many discoveries of mutual likes and dislikes. We found that we had so many tastes that were congeniel; we told each other so many little incidents that were purely personal, a*nd the other listened with such interest that when we arose from the table we seemed to have known each other for a long time, if, indeed, we had ever been strangers. At tho parlor door he took my hand. ‘ I must say good-night, now, Miss Madison. I rarely spend my evenings in there.’ Ho gave my hand a slight, lingering pressure. From that instant we were friends forevermore. He ascended the stair, I stood in a delicious dream. I was scarcely conscious of my surroundings. I only felt sure that I did not wish to meet any one just then. I moved down the hall to what I supposed my own room and opened the door. Milly Bently started from her easy chair laughing. ‘Come in, come in,’she said, ‘and tell me where you have beeu. Your unceremonious way of entering rooms shows me you have not left off ycur habit of haunting houses. Our worthy hostess was afraid you had committed suicide as you did not answer the rap at your door. I calmed her fears by saying you would be best pleased by being left alone, that you were tired and had probably fallen asleep. Was I right or have you been exploring the premises ?’ I narrated my visit to the library and my meeting with Mr. Deering. She seemed a little annoyed, I thought, and I soon withdrew.

“You know that I am generally considered cold, practical and impassive. I am, but I had met, for the first time in my life, a man who had power to hold my thoughts when lie was out of sight. A strange, sweet sense of being no longer desolate possessed my whole being. I opened the window and looked out; the stars were shining tranquilly in the blue heavens. I was happy, the night was beautiful, and God was good to me. I could not pray ; my heart could find no words in which to express its gratitude and content. My sleep was filled with dreams half pleasant, half painful, dreams of traveling in foreign countries, and dreams of Milly and my new friend. I had scarcely come back to reality by morning, I think, for I was a long time about dressing. I wore a ivhite muslin wrapper with flowers in my hair and at my ttiroat. “The whole family was assembled. I was presented to those whom I had not met the evening before. After breakfast those who had work to do went about it, while we who consulted our own inclination lingered in the wide, cool breakfast room. I took a position on a window seat, overlooking the lawn. I had been there but a moment when Kenneth came up. ‘lf you cannot help me about the minerals, perhaps you can about the flowers,’ he said, smilling, and indicating by a slight motion of the har.d that the flowers I wore called forth the remark. “‘No, I fear not,’l replied. ‘ldo not take kindly to technicalities. I only understand their beauty, which is, perhaps, more than most botanists do.’ “I was seated, he standing; he bent toward me as he said. ‘ Perhaps, and yet, botanist though I am, there is one kind of beauty I do not fail to admire. ’ ‘ ‘ I could not misunderstand the implied compliment, and blushed a little under his steady gaze. “ Milly came up the next instant, and the conversation drifted away to indifferent topics. I could see that Kenneth’s attentions to me were a source of displeasure to Milly. I had a sort of pleasure in seeming to be unaware of her annoyance. “How uninterruptedly events will go on, as if change would never come; then all at once, one scarcely knows how, everything is changed, and is never quite the same again ! “I had been five months at Deering place, and Kenneth was at my side as often as he could bo without attracting attention pr comment. I spent much of my time Jg the library, Mrs, Deer*

ing was always busy about her work in the kitchen. Milly spent her forenoons in the parlor, and in the afternoons she usually slept an hour or so, then drove out to make calls and talk over the fashions with the aristocratic young ladies of the neighborhood. On these occasions Kenneth would be sure to find some excuse for coming in from the field before evening. His manner had long been that of a lover. “ One day, as I was seated at a desk in the library writing, he came in quietly, but, seeing I was busy, he pretended to have some errand in the room. He soon came to my side, however, and put his cool, tender palm against my cheek. Some slight, caressing movement on my part—perhaps a pressing of my cheek against his hand—caused him to bend down and say, with deep earnestness : “ ‘ You do love me.’ I flashed a smile up into his face and asked: “‘ Why ?’ “ ‘ Because I love you,’ he answered. “ To his protestations of love I had always returned an indifferent reply, but that day a spirit of coquetry possessed me. My blushing inquiry had seemed like confession, and Kenneth was radiant. I would not seem to share his mood, neither did I have the heart to check his joy. I kept on with my writing, but I had no thought except of this man, who was all the world to me. He sat by my side and held my hand. I could not deny him nor myself that pleasure. I wrote steadily, with downcast eyes. I was in a delicious, dreamy trance. My interest in my writing was gone. I laid aside my pen, and, passing my hand lightly over his thick masses of hair, I said: “ ‘ You should be at work, Kenneth, instead of hindering me. “He caught my hand and, drawing me toward him, said : “ ‘ Kiss me, Mirabel ; just once, dear ; you never have. ’ “I shook my head. He arose, bringing me to my feet at the same time; his strong arms were about me, his passionate lasses on my lips. I hod no further control of myself, and to his whispered entreaty, ‘Kiss me, darling, just once,’ my arm crept half way around his neck and my lips met his. No use of denying my love for him after that. For one hour complete, unthinking happiness was ours, We did not trouble ourselves by thoughts of the future. We had the present and each other. We did not talk much. With a provoking pretense of industry, I said, ‘ Let me go on with my writing. ’ ‘ ‘ He put his arm about me and held me. ‘I can’t spare you,’ he said. ‘You do not love me as I do you or you could not think of work. Oh, Mirabel, I cannot live without you. ’ “ ‘Perhaps,’ I said, with a side smile up into his fc.ce, “you could not live with me.’ “‘Myra’—he always called me Myra when very grqve—‘do not talk so. Do you doubt my love ? r ‘“No, Kenneth, I would as soon think of doubting my own. ’ “ The time had come for me to go to my room. I said to him, ‘ I must go. ’ “ He arose and stood looking down sorrowfully at my uplifted face. I put my palm against his cheek. “ ‘ Why are you so grave ?’ “ ‘ Because you leave me,’ he replied. “ ‘ I can’t stay right here always. ’ “‘No, that is so; but would to God we might love each other always and no one come between.’

“ ‘ And why can’t we ? I’m sure I shall love you always, Kenneth. ’ “He bent down and kissed me gratefully. ‘ Dear Myra, I am not worthy of your affection. I am Milly Bently’s betrothed husband. ’ I. “ I started back ashamed and angry. He hastened to entreat, ‘ Forgive me, Myra ; I could not help loving you. I have been in paradise ; now I can suffer hell.’ “I shrank further from him. ‘Oh, Kenneth, why did you not tell me tliis?’ ‘“I could not. Myra. I wanted you to love me, and you would not had you known. ’ “I could only say, ‘How could you do so wrong?’ ‘‘ He replied, ‘ I do not feel that it was wrong, Myra. I did not know how much it was possible to love a woman until you came.’ “I had been seated upon the sofa, overcome with grief and humiliation. I now arose and said, ‘lf you are engaged to Milly, of course it is impossible to do otherwise than to marry her. I will not make it difficult for you to do your duty. Henceforth you and I will remain apart. I will go home day after to-inorrow. This love-making, which is but the mockery of love on your part, must go no further. Keep in mind that you are pledged to another woman ; and, if you wish to retain even my respect, leave me to myself. ’ “ He protested. “ ‘ You are cruel, Myra. As God is my witness, I did not mean to wrong Milly, but I was powerless iu your presence. Say that you do not despise me, and I will do whatever you command.’ “ ‘ No, Ido not despise you, Kenneth ; I am sorry for you ; I am sorry for myself ; but still there is something higher than happiness. You must marry Milly. I command it; I desire it. I could never found my happiness on another woman’s misery. And, whether you marry her or not, 1 shall never marry you. No more need be said. Good-by, Kenneth. We will not meet again if I can prevent it.’ “I had been strong, cruel, if you will; but just at the last my voice quivered. It was very hard to be stern then ; very hard to see him standing there in his splendid, manly beauty, yearning to take me to his heart and hold me against the world, and then to turn away to take up again my old desolate life. Some Power higher than myself gave me courage and strength in that hour. One moment my hand was pressed in his, and the next he held the door open as I passed out. I have a confused vision of a sad, stern face that bent toward me as if struggling to speak, and then stood proudly erect as if he accepted the worst that fate might inflict. “ I loved Kenneth more than I knew, until the inseparable barrier arose between us. His word was pledged and should not be violated for me ; that I resolved, and yet I cannot picture onetenth of the agony that resolve cost me, not only on my own account, but on his. i

“We met the next day at breakfast, dinner and tea, but were not alone together for an instant. I would always manage to have Milly with us. When I announced my intention of leaving the following day she brightened perceptibly. Kenneth was civil to us both, nothing more. “ There was no congeniality between Milly and myself, and therefore no confidences. The last evening of my stay, however, I said to her: “I wish you happiness, Milly. Kenneth has told me of your engagement.” She smiled and answered : ‘ Dear Kenneth ! lam sure I shall be happy with him. ’ “ Oh, how I hated her at that moment! I soon made a pretext to leave her room. Kenneth was haunting the hall awaiting my appearance. He detained me by gentle force, and said, ‘ Come into the library, Myra.’ “ I quieted my uneasy conscience by saying to myself, ‘ Surely, I may see him this once; to-morrow I go.’ I took my old place by the window, but the air was cold and the room strangely cheerless. Kenneth lowered the window and leaned against it. I sat with downcast eyes. I felt that he was looking at me, and I toyed nervously with the fringe of my shawl. The silence was becoming painful. I lifted my eyes. “ ‘You had something you wished to Bay to me.’ ‘“Yes, Myra I I have become in

some degree reconciled to your decision. I can see it is best. With your encouragement and example it will be possible for me to keep my honor safe from further doubt. And yet I believe a strong and pure friendship is still possible between us—a friendship that will wrong-no one.’ “‘ I believe so, too; and yetit must be so strong that it will need no reassurances. We must indulge no hope of meeting.’ “ ‘ Still cruel, but right. I understand the purity of your motives, and but love you the more. I have a little token of remembrance for you, Myra,’ he said, drawing a small velvet case from his pocket. ‘Wear it, dear friend, as a souvenir of our eternal fidelity and the purity of our resolves.’ “He took my hand and placed this cameo on my finger, and it has never been removed. I gave him a slender gold ring of mine in exchange. Our love is unchanged and unchangeable. In three months he and Milly were married, and I have heard that he is a kind husband.” Her voice sunk almost to a whisper. I pressed my face against hers, trying to express my sympathy. We sat thus a few minutes ; then she lifted her head, saying, “It was wrong in me to trouble you with my private griefs. ” “ No, it was not wrong. I shall respect you all my life for knowing of your temptation and your triumph. A weaker woman would have yielded; you were firm, and I honor you, Cousin Mirabel. ” “A sense of having done right has a wonderful power to sustain one,” she answered, “and I am not unhappy, except at long intervals, when I am overwhelmed by the memory of * what might have been. ’ Generally after such a day as this I hear news of Kenneth. Two years ago to-day I wandered up and down the beach, thinking of him, and that very night I heard that his wife was dead and that he had sailed for Europe.” “ And have you heard nothing from him since ? ” I asked, in surprise. “ Not a word, but I know he has not ceased to love me, and he has some good reason for not writing.” Her absolute belief in his devotion was something wonderful to behold. The clock struck 12, and we arose and bade each other goodnight ; the fire had long been out, and a dismal rain was falling. The next morning was bright and beautiful ; all the clouds had cleared away, and Cousin Mirabel was positively radiant. “I had the sweetest dream,” she said, in answer to my compliment on her looks. While we were enjoying a cozy and delicious breakfast there came a rap at the door. A messenger from the village hotel had brought a note for my cousin. She did not recognize the writing, but tearing it open hastily she saw at the bottom of the page the name of “Kenneth Peering.” She ran her eyes over the note ; I saw good news in her face, and was not unprepared for her joyful exclamation : “O, Clara ! Kenneth is at the village, snd will be here to-day.” She caught up the note and read from it: “Ever since Milly’s death, two years ago, I have been a wanderer. I believed you to be married, and, much as I desired to see you, could not trust myself to visit you. Only last night I heard that you were free and living in this neighborhood. ” She looked up and said, “ He may be here in a little while. My dear Kenneth, I know his impatience.” Sure enough he had followed close alter his message, and, before I could collect my scattered, wits, a handsome bearded stranger was clasping my Cousin Mirabel in his arms, utterly regardless of my presence. I was presented when the first rapture of meeting was over, but still they had only thoughts for each other. I never saw such perfect affection existing between two persons. When Judge Parkhurst came he got a “decided answer.” I always spend my vacations at Cousin Mirabel Deering’s. There is no pleasanter place in the world to visit, and the perfect love and trust with which the master and mistress of the house regard each other leads one to believe that Kenneth was right when lie said, “We were intended for each other.”— Chicago Ledger.