The Romance and Tragedy | Page 9

their
appointments, drawn by fine horses, but as I look back to that day of
days, that shabby public hack, with its rough-looking driver, holding
the reins over a pair of ill-fed animals, stands in my memory as almost
ideal.
Of course I did not leave my promised wife at the boat. There was no
reason I should not take that delightful sail up the river with her, and

there was every reason why I should. I sought out a secluded spot on
deck and there, comparatively free from observation, we let our
thoughts revel in our new-found happiness.
It was possible, unseen, to occasionally clasp each other's hand, and in
this way a sort of lover's wireless telegraph kept us in communication
that emphasized to me the fact that my happiness was real and not a
dream.
Our conversation was not very animated; we were too happy to talk,
and the beautiful scenery of the Hudson was lost to us on that occasion.
To look into each other's eyes and read there all that was in our hearts
was the supreme pleasure and happiness of the moment.
When the boat arrived at West Point, Lieutenant Harper, then Professor
of Spanish at the Academy, afterwards major, and since promoted to
colonel for gallantry in the Philippines, met Miss Wilson at the landing.
I had planned to at once take the ferry across the river--there was no
West Shore Railroad at that time--and return to New York by train, but
Lieutenant Harper insisted that I should dine with them and take a later
train, which I did.
Of course the, to us, great incident of the day was unknown to Miss
Wilson's friends, and she did not enlighten them until after I had gone.
The two or three hours spent with Lieutenant Harper's family, while I
was supposed to be simply a friend of Miss Wilson, passed quickly. I
had hoped to be able on leaving to see her alone for at least a few
moments, but in this I was disappointed, and while the clasp of her
hand and the expression of her eyes conveyed a great deal to me, our
parting that evening was in its details most unsatisfactory from a lover's
point of view.
During that first week of our engagement, while separated, we
corresponded daily, and the rejoicing was mutual when, her visit ended,
Miss Wilson returned to Brooklyn.

Then for two short weeks I enjoyed to the full the privileges and
delights of an accepted lover. What visions of future happiness those
two weeks of close companionship opened to my eyes! The refinement
and natural dignity of the woman made her caresses of exquisite
daintiness and tenderness. Spontaneously and absolutely without a
suggestion of affectation her love was poured out generously to the
man who had won her heart, and each evening it seemed as if my
affection had increased a thousand fold.
Oh, what a wonderful thing is pure love! What would the world be
without it?
The day of our parting was drawing nigh.
At the end of September Miss Wilson was to return to her home in
Chicago. A month later I was to visit her there, but the thought of that
month of separation so soon after we had become engaged saddened us
and our hearts dreaded the ordeal. Still, come it did, and as I watched
the train pull out of the station, carrying with it all that I loved best in
the world, I felt a wrench at my heartstrings and a loneliness that was
inexpressible.
For a month I consoled myself as best I could with the letters which
reached me almost daily and always brought me happiness.
Then I turned my face westward.
Miss Wilson's father had been dead for many years. She, with her
mother, resided with her married sister, the wife of a general in the
army during the war, and at the time of which I write, judge of the
Probate Court. Until his death, a few years ago, he was one of
Chicago's best known and most highly respected citizens.
As the relatives approved of our engagement, my reception by the
family was all that could be desired. As to my reception by Miss
Wilson, I think it safe to leave it to the imagination of my readers. It
was entirely satisfactory to me.

My visit was of necessity a short one. For though I was not again to see
Miss Wilson until the time of our marriage, a full year away, I had to
return to New York after a few days and look after my business
interests, which required constant personal attention.
The days of my visit flew speedily, and back in New York I settled
down to business with increased ambition and the greatest