Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-02-20


the one word--"Rayln
But, after the first moment a kind of
constraint seemed to fall on both. Sylvia
recognized that the Ray who had come
back was not quite the same Ray who
had gone away There was a certain
hardness about him, q reserve most unlike
his former self. The old Ray would have
poured out questions and explanations in
n breath this one neither asked nor
offered any. lie told her, indeed, regard
ing his mysterious disappearance, that he
had been carried off by vessel lying on
the coast, but nothing beyond, not word
of his life in all that time since then
Nor did he seem curious about the details
of Sylvia's life; he listened, but asked no
questions; he heard of Colonel Darches-
ter's death without other comment than
that of an indifferent acquaintance. Was
1t any secret resentmentY Was it the in
sensible arrangement which separation
too often sets between even the fondest
hearts9 Sylvia could not understand the
change, but she felt 1t all the same, and
showed its reaction in her own manner.
No one would have taken them for other
than the most undemonstrative pair OF
friends, or dreamed that these two had
once parted with aching hearts.
That was what the old, passionate ro-
nance had subsidized into-a quiet, COM
monplace sort of friendship, that might
seemingly have been broken off at any
moment without pain to either. They saw
each other constantly, but never word Of
love was spoken between them, and still
Ray continued equally silent about the
past and future. Sylvia knew that he had
other society than hers; she had heard
especially of a certain Helena Rivers who
had been fellow-passenger on his return
voyage, but she had not heard it from
him it was only by the merest chance
that Miss Rivers name came TO be men,
toned between them.
Sylvia had Just opened book she had
brought home, and, turning to look at the
frontispiece, gave little exclamation:
"Why, that is like"
"Well," said Ray, as she stopped, "like
whom ?"
"Like Miss Rivers, l think, !" said Sylvia,
handing him the book. as it not?"
Ray Just glanced at it. ayes, there is
resemblance" he said; then, after mo-
ment "You know Miss Rivers, then,
Sylvia?"
"I have seen her once or twice, when 1
was giving Annie Heaton her music
lesson" answered Sylvia. "She is related
to the family, believe"
"Ahr' Ray pushed the book aside,
then, with kind of bitter recklessness,
Sylvia" said he, suppose ne'er-dowell,
who has made a failure of life gen
orally, found marriage with such girl
as that on the cards, would you advise
him to try his chances"
Sylvia did not reply for a moment, con-
scious of the eyes fixed on her; then,
opening the book again, she said, with a
of bo 10 ftxra nd
very sweet"
VERY pretty and very sweet" repeated
Ray, in the same half-mocking tone. 1.-TWO
excellent reasons; but there is third,
that she is also very rich-you say. moth
ing about thatY"
"Not to you, Ray" answered Sylvia,
quietly looking up in his face.
There came sudden light into Rays
eyes, under which Sylvia's sank, it was
so like the old time. But he did not
speak, and after a pause she began again,
with kind of timidity: But Ray,
why should you talk about max
ing a failure OF life? You are only
twenty-six; is that too late to begin over
again, and do all you once dreamed of
doing-if you still care for art?"
"Art" repeated Ray. II turned my
back on art years ago for the sake
Fortune-who, in reward, turned her back
on me-" he ended with hard laugh.
"But is it too late?" urged Sylvia. "Try
once more, and win them both. Open
your studio again and set to work-with
Miss Rivers face for inspiration, if you
like" she added, with a smile.
Admirable advice!" said Ray, mock
ingly. "Shall we set the wedding bells
ringing? Sylvia"-he broke off sudden
L., do that
to me? You must know that the only
face l ever wanted for inspiration is the
face am looking at now?'
my pale face?" said Sylvia, with a
quick, incredulous glance.
"Your pale face!'' echoed Ray, taking
her hands, and looking down at her with
the same tender, eager eyes that had
searched hers at their long-ago parting.
"My darling my beautiful white rose,
more beautiful even than the blush-rose
1 left sweetest cheek that has grown
pale with watching for me-yes, for me
tell me so-tell me so, Sylvia"
as it true ?" was all Sylvia could say.
go Ray, is it trueY" Her senses seemed
to fail for very happiness; she hardly
heard the passionate words he poured
into her ears. "Oh," she said, at last,
clasping her hands, and laughing that
she might not cry, 'yes, we will open our
studio now! Oh we shall make our way
we have each other; we can work~
"And would you really come to good
for-nothing without a penny H-come to
him, and work for him, Sylvan" said
Ray.
dWould II" said Sylvia, and voice and
eyes supplied any want of words.
"And you shall come" cried Ray, with
an eXultant ring in his tone; Eyes, but to
do nothing harder than look at me and
talk to mel told you of my misfortune,
Sylvia, but not of my fortune. That was
the beginning Of luck for me. | am nota
Monte Cristo,'n he went on, jestingly,
perhaps in his turn to cover some emo
ton, "but still have heaped up treasures
enough in my wanderings to make future
work purely labor of love-"
"But, Ray" said Sylvia, amazed, "why
have you kept it from me all this while?"
Rays dark cheek Redeemed little. 81
am ashamed to own my weakness" he
said, "but, Sylvia, a life that is turned
violently out of its natural bent is very
apt to get permanently warped. In those
years when l was plodding through an
uncongenial task, without one word to
encourage me, kept brooding over all /
had given up; and when the prospect
lOOkGu Just AS tdIh, llOHtu dltcI ulOitlii
said to myself, with a despairing sort of
pride that, if it were to my life's end, I
would never see Sylvia again till could
satisfy her prudence"
"Rayr' cried Sylvia, in incredulOus re-
proach.
81 know, Sylvia, it was shamefully un-
just but not perhaps wholly unnatural.
Well, came home, and for the first mo-
ment forgot everything, with your hands
in mine. But then your manner grew so
constrained, so cold"
because Of yours"
"Was it thatS Yes, suppose so; but
saw everything wrong, and kept waiting
for some sign from you. But tonight you
brought back the old time so completely,
it was too much for me-"
"Thank Heavenl' said Sylvia, softly.
So the wrong was righted, and love and
faith had their reward even in this world
which chances, perhaps, less rarely
thon Gonna xuot111 Ia aua no haliaVa The