Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-15
A CONVERSATION, AND WHAT CAME
OF IL.
BY CLARA SYDNEY.

motions OF Iauy VINO sat near nlm at q WOrk
table
The gentleman was fine, noble-looking man,
with frank, well-fOrmed features and pleasant
expression. He was handsomely dressed and
to judge by the looks of his hair, you might
have said that be had a wife, had he looked in
ofhsT respects like a married man-whieh he
did NOT
The room in which the two were sitting beto-
kened wealth and taste. It's occupants were
evidently in the upper ranks of life.
The lady addressed was a person of fair, in
teresting face and graceful form. She certainly
did look remarkably we'll, as she bent her head
with its abundant and shining hair, and piled
her white hands in the task which employed
her sight and apparently her whole thoughts.
Probably a conviction Of her attractiveness
and worth had caused the question which her
companion put III such hearty, abrupt tone
that May started and dropped the red worsted
work upon which she had been intent.
What question" she cried, with light
laugh" just as if / cared about being mar
riedi"
Why should you not care, May Surely it
Is the best and happiest state for man or wo-
man
Granted! with a proviso," said May; "but,
Mr. Rossiter, if you think so, why have go"
never married.
question by asking another; but tell me-
now, why you are. at thirty years of age, still
single!''
How dare you say am thirty years old?
Upon my word if you were not brother to my
slster-in-law, I'd not speak to you again for
week
May pretended to pout and the pout was
quite becoming to her full arched lips.
Dldn t you yourself tell me Your age, and
only the day before yesterday Your memory
seems very short, Miss Benton"
Well, didn't expect you was going to
throw 1t up to me that | was an old maid, to
pay me for my confidence in you
'Oh Msy-did / say that and if I did
you can break my glass house by finging
back my very taunt. But, come now, do an
swer my question
:" never could get any one to have me-
said May, shortly. Arc you satisfied ?''
No You need not tell me that person so
interesting and attractive as You are has never
had ardent lovers. / know better, May-so
tell me truly why you are not Mrs. Somebody.
now ?"
May suddenly sobered down and said. nery-
ously-'' It's because no man trh0se IoUc / coAId
return ever loved me-"
And she resumed her work.
How her face had altered. There had come
over IT stern, hard expression, as if she were
saying, inly-
= Ii matters nOt-I can wrestle down these
yearnlngs for something worthy and noble, and
true and strong. against which to lean for
something winning, and tender, and loving,
which 10 love. If there Is no heart ON earth
whose best love is the love / want | can do
without it-I can walk to the end of life as
have walked thus faT.''
Rossiter regarded her in long silence He
had known her for many years and had often
wondered at her great indifference to the atten-
tIonS of gentlemen. He had even, on more
Inan one occasion, taken her to task for her
manner towards them.
. ou won't allow them to become acquainted
with you at all, he said. % When you are in
trOdueed 70 man, that's the last Of it. All
the young men admire, but they are afraid of
you You chill them 10 death | heard one
man say that he thought you a beautiful and
interesting creature; but then he would as
soon undertIke to warm into love an iceberg az
yourSelf-even if he had courage enough to
make the attempt
A skeptical smile had been the only answer
u such remarks
HO" could May believe that she was capable
OF inspiring affection In others when those who
knew her best were 50 lightly touched by it.
ROssiter had been for three or fnur vears ab-
sent, and had newly returned when the above
conversation took place. He was a comfortable
old bachelor, happy in disposition; happy in
possessing an independent fortune; and happy
In MS sister home-nOt to say happy in the
GOmpsnlOnShip OF May, whom he honestly be-
lleEed 10 De about the best and most lovely girl
In the world. He had once dearly loved and
suddenly lost a fair, promised bride; and never
SINCE had he allowed himself to think of loving
And, besides, he didn't know ne he wished In
marry lie was well sathed with his state
and condition when he was ut home; TO be
cure he did feel uneasy and dissatisfied all the
while he was abroad. Nobody company seemed
10 Nil the void in his heart. lie did not miss
ms sIster so-and MGy-Oh how glad he was
to see them when he re;urned-and how strange
he thought IL was that May didn't rush at him
In the hall and hug and kiss him Just as his sis
ter did; but lie took full satisfaction of tbscon
trary creature when she did Come TO welcome
him.
And so May isn't married yet,n he said
- well it's rather too bad but I'm f,lzf offt.''
May came very near signing, but she didn't
at least not audibly. How many still-born
sigh. there are in the world
1t is well il is no crime 10 smotber thcrn n,
their birth.
Well, ,.Rossiter sat studying that still, stern
face before him; and he thought new thoughts
new as to their present relations
May, he said at length" May, was ever
there "a man that you could have loved had he
asked il ,'' -
Like crimson dye, up rose the hot blood of
that bowed face, and the hard look was burnt
out on The Instant-but she only said, not lift
ing her head or eyes
ihGt you have no right to ask =
nave no need to ask dear May Forgive
t10' IA'Stahe' Dut feel as if | had been
favored by a revelation of-of-tbat b.y. hoen
y blind and stupid fellow as ever lived. Nav.
IL a man whom you regarded as you do the
PLAIN old fellow before you. were to ask for your
love, what would you say -
les, said May, dropping her head till her
face was hid among the wOrsted.
viii you have me - cried Rossiter. spring.
lns up. and Oyer5etting his chair
les, said q voice from the worsted depth
hossiter was on his knees and most feryentlv
embracing chair, worsted. and woman.
Marry me Will you marry me l' said he
IL les said the voice from amid the worsted
- men, men mold your head up, and let Inc look
upon the face Of my wife. 81. George. Nav
believe We loved you for years
ana L HHOU I've loved you almost ever
n,ia sinSJ l hne" you, said May, yielding to the
genue force which drew her from her low seat
two. ~ was i"Vun iOi
And that's why you never cared about any
.YIu c9tn npany and attention, my May?''
ha. ,