A TRIP TO THE ISLE OF MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2531, 29 September 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

A TRIP TO THE ISLE OF MAN.

CHAPTER IV. Next morning wo started for our promised stroll on the headland, and returned, pretty well tired out, about 3 o'clock, to dinner. After dinner wo sat and chatted till it was time to keep our appointment at tlio church. When we irot there, tho congregation were just beginning to arrive, and wo loitered about for some time, waiting to see if Bella and Sarah were really coming before we entered the church. At last wo saw them and I must confess that my pulse began to beat moro rrepidly ; a 8 I had made up my mind to tell Bella that evening how fondly I loved her. We shook hands when they arrived, and entered the church together. Sarah walked first, followed by Walter, and then Bella and I. I have very little recollection of the church, the congregation, or the sermon ; my thoughts being entirely engrossed by the fair being at my side. When the service was over, and we got outside, Walter said, " Now, don't you think that we might venture to take a very short walk before returning home ?" The two girls looked at each other for a moment, and then Sarah said, "Wo do not often go out, but I think we might go a little way along the river side." The river alluded to was a small stream that flowed into the harbonr, and the road, which lay alongside of it, was just the 'beau ideal' of a lover's walk. There were tall trees planted on cither side, and, as the roadway was narrow, their branches mingled overhead, so that it was only at intervals that the rays of the moon (which was near the full) penetrated, and fairly lit up the path. After a little demur, Sarah took Walter's arm, and went on in front, and Bella and I followed. She barely placed the tips of her fingers on my right arm, and kept her eyes steadfastly fixed upon the ground. We walked very slowly, and the few people, who were going our way, soon got ahead of us. At length, I looked back, and saw that we were the last on the road ; and, then, with my left hand, took hold of the fingers that rested on my right arm, ani drew her closer to me, saying , , at the same time—"Bella, I have been so wishing for this time; so longing for this opportunity to tell you something. Do you guess what ?" I bent my head to listen, but she kept her eyes fixed upon the ground, and made no reply. " You must have seen, you must know, that I love you. Tell me, have not my eyes already betrayed tho secret ? I loved you from the first -moment that I saw you, and shall never cease to love you as long as I live, I want you to own to a little love in return." As I said this, I put my right arm (keeping the hand that had rested upon it still clasped in mine) round her waist, and drawing her still closer to me, kissed her half-averted face ou the cheek. Still I got no reply. "Tell me," I continued, "that, at least, you do not dislike me ; or give me one kiss, and I will take that for an answer. You know what I had to tell you to-night, I am sure. Come, Bella darling, give me tho kiss I ask for, and make ma happy. Our faces were very close at this time, and our pace a very slow one. At last she raised her eyes to mine and our lips met in the first kiss. Poets have written a good deal about kissing. Byron, who should have known something about it if anyone did, says somewhere that " To judge a kiss' strength it must be measured by its length ;" and in another place he speaks of " the rapture that dwells on the first kiss of love." There is no need, I think, to attempt to describe the feeling produced by the simple contact of loving lips meeting for the first time. Tho young know all about it, and the old have not yet quite forgotten. All I have to say is this, that it was a real living kiss at that time, and the ghost of it haunts me even yefe Ah me ! It is a very long time ago, and ou that head (if she be still living) there must be silver threads mixing with the golden. She is probably a matron now with marriagable daughters of her own. She doubtless'Joves her husband, and is beloved by him, and he may count her kisses by "the thousand— but notth.it one; that was mine. I wonder if her memory is as good as my own, and if the thought of that kiss has ever intruded itself when giving a more prosaic salute ? Well, after this, I became confidential. I told her all about myself; how my father had arranged that I should enter a lawyer's office as soon as I got back ; how two or three years must elapse before I should be in a position to make her my wife (I might as well have said five or six) ; how that did not matter if she would only be loving and true ; and then I told her how bird I would work : how I would try to get and save money to hasten tho time when I could come and claim her, for I need not say that that kiss broke down all restraint and timidity, and she confessed to a love as ardent as my own. In the midst of plans, vows, protestations of love, and projects for the future, we were recalled to the present by the return of Walter and Sarah. The latter declared that they had stayed out longer than they should have done, and must now make all haste home. We had resumed our, arm in arm, position, when we saw them coming, so I perusmed they were quite unconscious of the tremendous disclosures that had been made during our short walk; and that Bella (in that kiss) had given me a promissory note, that she was bound to pay in the future date, not particularly speciDuring our walk home, I could not help but bewail my miserable fate in having so soon to leave her, and extorted from her a promise, that her lips were to be kept free from contact with any othar male (father oxcepted) until I returned next summer, r.nd gave back the kiss as pure as I received it. We also arranged to correspond; my letters to be addressed to a fictitious name at tho post-oinoe, which she could call for herself, or get a friend to do for her ; which last she considered the safest plan. It was not that we were either of us ashamed of our love, but we know that onr parente would consider that we were both too young for so serious an engagement. , When we got to the end of Duke-street, Sarah halted, and said that she thought we, (that is Walter and myself) had better go for a turn ©r two on the Pier, and not return with them; so with sonio reluctance, wo left them to go home alone. In shaking hands at parting, I felt a slioht pressure from Bella's slender fingers, in response to my own stronger grasp, and this I took; as an assurance that our compact was not regretted on her part. We strolled a faw times up

and down the Pier and T confided to AValter what had taken place between Bella and myself. "By jove !" he said, "you did not lose much time about it; but you will both have plenty oi leisure to think the matter over before the wedding comes off; and you really think that your lore is going to last a whole year, and that you wilt come buck next summer and renew your vows?" " I am sure of it," I sairl. "Well," he replied, " I am willing to believe that you believe that you will" do so, but at the same time I believe that your belief is all my eye. It's all r.ibbish what is sakl about absence making the heart grow fonder. I'm sure it don't do anything of the kind. It would be a regular waste of feeling if it did, and sec how unjust it would be to the remaining portion of feminine humanity. What an acquisition you would bo at an evering party with those blue eyes and that golden hair ' ever present,' as you say they are going to bo ? I tell you what, love is a sort of disease, and change of air is tho best remedy for it, and will cure you in a month. I don't mind confessing that I tried tho soft solder with Sarah, but she only laughed at me. She's about the best hand at quint chaff I ever came near. Slie soon stopped the blarney, and I believe she'd pique me into falling in love in earnest if I was to be much with her. I suppose you don't forget that I have got to be at home on Saturday next. I had a week's holiday before we started you know, and I think the sooner you leave hero the better. Your (Onplaint will only get worse the longer you stay. The crish will come at parting, and then you will begin to improve." "If you think I shall forgot Bella in a month, or in twelve months, you niv very much mistaken," I said. "I don't say you will forget her," I replied, " but I think you will forget enough not to wish to renew the acquaintance next summer," I saw it was useless to say any more, and so walked home in silence, scarcely hearing, and not at all heeding, the further remarks ho made. {To be Continued.)