Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-28
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flown with such heavy surge and coldness
through so many hearts OF the land had
passed her by, to all outward seeming, quite
untouched.
Sylvia Farnham's mental ailment was OF
that kind, talking over which the best OF
usare apt to shrug q little, and say, "Non-
sensep So reluctant we are to admit our
bel OF of things we do believe, We know
how Sylvia Farnham might sit bereaved,
though death had neither touched nor
Threatened the least of her beloved. Think
of the capacity for human tenderness and
devotion q gentle, clear-headed girl will
garner mp from her own nature and our
literature in the years which pass between
sixteen and twenty-three. And 1.-THE
time seeming full come-it seeks lavish
outlet, and is driven back ashamed, will not
the heart sink and quiyer under the sick
ening weight?
Sylvia had never been specially in love-
though she knew very well that, as Amer
lean girls 90, her wedding bells must ring
before many years, if ut all and she
thought marriage the "true state" as We
all think, whether we say it or not. Not
long ago she had observed among the office
signs OF the town new name, "Philp Ell
caren," and by and by she began to "in-
clude" its owner-a man firm OF hand and
stop, with eyes and voice passing those of
most men in clear, kindly breadth and full
ness.
Will you tell me The common result OF n
Girl of Sylvia Farnham' Is stamp seemgmnch
OF such man? The demand OF right
soul for virtues like its own being appar-
emily fully met, how about the human IN
Stincts the mobiles truly leeR What need TO
go over the old theme wherewith thesweet
singers and ready writer's have found their
best occasion for all times.
Sylvia and Elcaren had notvery long met
mt social gatherings, and talked. and play
ed chess before, scarcely with her cOgni-
ton silently, and, as it were, in the night
the food-gates felt the opening pressure,
and the tide olherwhOle lifes love set forth
in steady flow toward This one man.
And so, reader, if you have been in love,
as you very probably have, you will see
how girl who had been cool and stately
as Diana for twenty-three years, could
come to thrill and glow by virtue OF n sin-
gle step, and voice, and tOuch. She was
afraid Of herself, she was coming TO love
him so! How could she who had .sdetcst-
ed" such things, let her hand he retained
80 long in his the last time they parted5-
More easily, clearly, than to have with
drawn it properly away. tell you there
is a painfulness almost counterpoising the
bliss of that sort of incident. The high
reserve of n whole, pure maidenhood can
not be thrown off, though but partially,
with ease, even under rising loves quick
ening light.
You having been in the state presup-
posed, win know how il was with Sylvia
after an event like the following. She was.
you will remember, in the mood We have
Just discussed, entering on passion which
at its full would have thrown herself and
the whole world besides at the feet Of this
beloved And yet back of it all, was the
maiden delicacy growing doubly sensitive,
and ready to take keen alarm at word.
II was a social evening at Mr.. Mayhew's
The parlors were full-the talk and passing
to and fro very brisk. Not especially oh.
served, as she thought, Elcaren was soon
ut her side; but before long n gay little
piece of the world in the person Of Miss
Euphrasia Lance, came between them ina
little breeze fairy, veXatious yet insinua-
ting de tropness and the result was that
Sylvia found herself, after brief eye-par-
ley with her companion, separated from
him, and seated at chess on a thoroughly
golden rule principle, with good but prosy
and purblind DIR. Akerly, the checkered
field before him his world for the time be-
inc.
FOR nearly an hour she saw nothing of
Elcaren. She was beginning to really
chafe at this quiet puppet-handing which
the Doctor enjoyed so much, when the
voice again reached her car. Any other
one at the same pitch she would have sim
ply have heard and MISUNDERSTOOD, but you
know there will be voices for us alone,
whose most careless cadence rings clear as
silver bells.
She could just distinguish Alf Mayhew's
words, though he spoke in q higher key.
The first were:
"Now, Phil, you may as well be honest,
and own you're trapped at last. No girl in
her senses could ever have looked and act
ed that way to fellow who hadn't made
himself pretty definite" P"
II seemed to Sylvia as though the blood
had all gone out of her heart, for il hardly
seemed to quiver in its still suspension,
while her face glowed furiously. SO her
burning ears took in the second speakers
words.
"How little You know me- All, to jump
at that style of conclusion | assure you
that no word of this kind has ever passed
my lips" (But what had ho not looked y
'1f yon knew her as wellas do, you would
never had fallen into this mistake. She
either wants to be married or wants to
hirt, and what they vulgarly call the dead
set is her plan of operation. tell you,
Alf / would not marry Venus herself if
that were her style of attack. My ideal of
the sex can never stoop quiet 30 briShy
nor 30 low to conquer
Then that was his estimate Of her, Syl-
via Farnham How the tide rolled back
upon her suilocatng heart How she dis
engaged herself from Dr. Akery she never
knew; but what remained Of that evening
she spent in n shaded corner Of tho desert
ell dressing room not crying, bat knowing
for the first time what real misery meant.
Yet as she donned her hood with the rest
you must have looked carefully at her, and
known her well, 10 have told that hers had
not been generous share OF the enjoyment
ofthe occasion.
At the hall door she met form she
knew quite too well, waiting, before he
went his own way, TO bGstow her safely i'll
the carriage, which bore her home some
distance ont Of town.
What matter il she could not holp
thrilling under the old look2 The one she
gayo back was as full Of gathered and
naughty reproacb rs ever cut keen from
eyes voicing an insuILed heart. His own
glance changed 10 one of surprised inquiry.
But what Of it2 He knew his part woll
enough, no doubt.
SO yog see ii wns quite over. The tide
could not we'll bo colder or wider VIII ch
flowed between her and him. She did not
meet him very often, but when sbo did,
that man must have been very singularly
obtuso who did not SEQ that the epetnt
Onnues was henceforth prom uncod on oil
mental intercourse of his as concerned her.
self - 1Ig.i a1 q 4ot 2.tUNl We