The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-01

famous, crowned with the laurels she
/ fondly believed his right. She could
never pass the place where he had work
ed without moments pause and wist-
fnl glance upward, as if she might still
see his face at the window, or his shad-
ow thrown across the lighted curtain.
And standing so once, as if her yearn-
ings had the power 10 bring up a ghost
out of the long buried past, she heard
voice speak her name-"Sylvia!'
Rays voice. Sylvia stood motionless
with dropped eyes for an instant, not to
lose the sweet cheat, then turned slowly,
half expecting to see nothing but empty
air. But there was form beside her
Rays form, his face, his very self un-
disguised to her by the changes of years.
1t was suddenly as if she had only wait
ed for this moment through all that
time; she never doubted nor questioned;
she only laid both her hands in his, and
looking up in his eyes, spoke the one
| Raw
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, a reserve most un-
| like his fermer self The old Ray would
have poured out questions and explana-
tions in breath; this one neither asked
nor offered any. He told her, indeed,
regarding his mysterious disappearance
that he had been carried off by vessel
lying on the coast, but nothing beyond,
nor a word of his life in all that time
since then. Nor did he seem curious
about the details of Slyvia's life; he
listened, but asked no questions; he
heard of Colonel Darchester's death
without other comment than that of an
Indifferent acquaintance. Was it any
secret resentment? Was it the insensi-
bic arrangement which separation too
often sets between even the fondest
hearts," Sylvia could not understand
the change. but she felt it all the same
ner. 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 subsided into-a quite com
mon-place sort of friendship, that might
seemingly have been broken off at any
moment without pain to either. They
saw each other constantly, but never a
word of love was spoken between them
and still Ray continued to be equally
silent about the past and future. Sylvia
knew that he had other society than
hers; she heard of certain Helena
: Rivers, who had been his follow passen-
ger 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 mentioned between
them.
, Sylvia had just opened book she had
: brought home, and turning to look al
: the frontespiece, gave little exclama-
ton:
: "Why that is like"
t "Well,"' said Ray, as she stopped
). ''like whom?"
!, "Like Miss Rivers, I think" Sylvia
handing him the book as it not?'
: Ray just glanced at it. eyes, there is
V a resemblance" he said; then, after {
}. moment, ''you know Miss Rivers ther
i Sylvia?"
: "I have seen her once or twice, whel
: was giving Ami Heaten her music
lesson" answered Sylvia. "she is rela
- ted to the family, believe"
d "Ah!' Ray pushed the book asid
then, with kind of bitter recklessness
/ "Sylvia," said he, Suppose ne're-do
we'll, who has made failure of lif
4 generally, found a marriage with sucl
a girl as that on the cards, would yol
. advise him try his chance?"
= Sylvia did not reply for moment
!, conscious of the eyes fixed on her; ther
- opening the book again, she said, with
: smile: "Why not? she is very prett
and very sweet"
N "Very pretty and very sweet" repeat
ed Ray, in the same half mocking tone
T. "Two excellent reasons; but there is
- third, that she is also very rich-yo
. say nothing about that?"
- mot to you, Ray" answered Sylvi
- quietly, looking up in his face.
{ !. There came sudden light into Ray
II eyes, under which Sylvia's sank, it wa
so like the old time But he did no
!, speak, and, after pause, she bega
again with kind of timidity: "Br
! Ray, why should you talk about maxim
a failure of life? You are only twenty
- six; is that too late to begin life owe
:. = again, and do all you once dreamed {
doing-if you still care for art?"
=, "Artl" repeated Ray. II turned m
: back on art years ago for the sake {
fortune-who in reward turned her bac
on me-" he ended with a hard laugh.
-, "But is it too late?" urged Sylvi
:. 'Try once more, and win them bot
Open your studio again and set to wor
- with Miss Rivers face for inspiration
- if you like" she added with smile.
tn admirable advicew said Ray, noel
h ingly. ''Shall we set the wedding bel
its ringing? Sylvia"-he broke off suddel
al ly-"why do you say such a thing
nd that to ME? You must know that IL
,fv only face ever wanted for inspiratic
,ot is the face am looking at now?"
-er "My pale face? said Sylvia, with
M quick, incredulous glance.
he "Your pale face" echoed Ray, takil
fl her hands, and looking down at h
with the same tender, eager eyes tn
lin had searched her at their long ago pal
re- ing. "My darling! my beautiful viii
a rose, more beautiful even than t
,ot blushing rose left sweetest cheek til
of has grown pale with watching for me
,ft- yes for me-tell me so-tell me
ad Sylvia?"