HER TEST.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 30, Issue 9186, 13 October 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

HER TEST.

He had been upon his knees for sfven minutes and twenty-three seconds by the stop watch. pleading as only a man who loves can pit-ad. The beautiful girl placvd one of her slim white hands upuu h;s bowed head at last, and said—- " Aii. 'Us useless. Orestes, for me to deny that I love yon. Still. I must be firm. I cannot consent to he y..urs now. You must be patient. Y,. u ni ,; s . wail for two years at least.'' Orestes Gumin-rt leaned, and his strone foini trembled with emotion do you pin me to this cruel - nc asicea. •■ Have I not proved my ..ieyotion : Have I not cut mvself down trom thirty-rive to s,-ven;.-en" cigarettes per day for your sake r Haven't J quit trying to sine tenor iust to make yon happy :- Di.lu't 1 hire a carriage and take you to the opera last week, on the night tnai Fred Merlin ;n:,-i Lulu Hampton went in a street car ': " He looked into Hortense Hemenwav's great, soulful eyes and awaited her answer. She sighed thrice ere she replied. " I know yon have done all these tilings for me," she said, " and yet I must ask you to wait. Oh, I know yon will think I am cruel, but rersembex that you said only a moment ago that you would do anything in the world for me.! Now lam going to put you to the test by making you wait two years." " Why aid I say tnat ? " he asked himself. " Fool that JLreas to i i3Te cat out those words before- it was too late." Then speaking aloud he said—- " Well, be it so.' But when I said that; I wonld do anything-inthe world for vou I meant anything that would promote your happiness, How will this long, weary wait make you happier, since vera admit, that you love nie ? It can bring only cruel, unrewarded suffering to both of us." " Nay." she almost sobbed, " it is not so. This may prove to be for my happiness after all. If thert whs not a chance that it would do so I would consent now fo be yoars. But vou knowSam Simmons has gone the Klondike. I must wait at least two . years to see whether he is going to come back with a fortune or not." Then Orestes Gumbert quit pleading. He knew that she was practically his.