Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-04-27
THE YELLOW GATE.
I.-MINERYA,s STORY.

whole statement was fib. Jane did not
fear the damp in the least, and was as
fond of summer moonlight as any lady
of forty five, with bunch of gray curls
on either side of her thin face, may be
permitted to indulge in soft sentiment
But there are martyrs who do not walk
on heated .plowshares, or pass through
the fire of other than daily trials in life.
Minerals happiness had been elderly
James care from the cradle.
1t was a sultry August evening, rem.
dered luminous by the full moon; the
town of Baden-Baden lay in the valley
twinkling with stars of lamps, and in
closed by the mysterious shadow-land of
Black Forest stretching along the slopes
of neighboring hills. The Conversation
Haus had been the scene of gayety for
hours; groups of Germans had slipped
coffee at the adjacent cafe; groups of
Russians had retained their striking in
dividualty of race amidst the travelling
English and American thrOng; while the
townspeople inspected the whole with
the shrewd speculation of the watering
place resident All the charm of Arts
most lavish decorations, aided by the
most beautiful setting of Nature, was
still to be found here. The banquet.
table glittered with its ornaments of
crystal, flowers and rich plate; but the
viands, highly seasoned with excitement
of gain, loss, rapture and swift despair,
had been swept away. Baden. Baden,
robbed of its gambling, yawns now in
the summer night. The music waited
from that orchestra pavilion, where the
gasjets gather to the semblance of a
gigantic bunch of grapes, was delightful
to the listening ear. Now the softly
modulated tones were audible only in
most subdued harmony, and again u
melancholy horn pealed out a sustained
note that seemed to wander into the for
est depths seeking the ghostly echo Of
some wild huntsmans bugle.
Minerva had been silent, even pensive,
during the evening-a mood not unbe-
coming a fair young widow in weeds,
with a brown curl hanging down her
back. Herbert Wilson at least seemed
to sustain himself in the cleaning by
studying her delicate profile with little
conversation. Elderly Jane saw it all
quite plainly. Minerva was beauty
and very amiable, with a surface seldom
rippled, because the velvet smoothness
of her disposition was rarely disturbed.
Somebody had been in love with her
since the age of fourteen, when the eldest
boy in the academy at home had bought
package of candy as votive Offering
after bcholding her in white muslin and
pink ribbons. Elderly Jane could not
understand it, as men were able to exist
very comfortably without her own socie-
ty. Here was this artist, Herbert Viii.
son, whom they had met at Rome,
traversing the route of his predecessors,
and discovering real artistic talent in
Minerals sketches of landscapes, which
may have been attributable to the grace
of the amateur, the sweep of her silky
eyelashes, the delicious hours spent on
the margin of Swiss lakes.
&" hope he may prove as good hus-
band as poor Harry, for l believe she
means to marry him. Minerva is weak, :"
reflected elderly Jane, and rose abruptly
from her seat.
Poor Harry was Minerals first mate,
and not considered half good enough for
her when he was alive.
The lovers expressed surprise on learn
ing her decision to depart. How anx.
ious they were about her health, and
how glad to be rid of herl She was such
good old Jane to feel herself de Sr0p on
moonlight night, only Minerva must
go home with her-well, at least escort
her to the yellow gate Jane smiled
rather grimly in the darkness, and CON
sentcd. The trio passed between the
rank of booths, brilliant with gas and
stocked with charming trinkets, and
crossed the wide promenade before the
deserted Trinkhalle; then Jane declared
further escort to be unnecessary, and
sped along the street where they lodged,
alone.A
oh, the glory of the summer night,
with the Eichtenthal avenue frosty white
in the moonlight, and the noble trees
forming canopy of foliage far above
the headl There was a subtle eloquence
in ali nature, as Herbert Wilson and Mi
nerva strolled salong the path together,
shielded from all this world of strangers
by closer tic of sympathy that both
were foreigners-a separate sphere
amidst all these revolving planets.
The artist had roamed from Italy to
Spain, from Algiers to Cairo, with his
portfolio, and was weary, now that the
freshness of novelty had worn away. The
widow had Yept for poor Harry in all
sincerity, but that very serenity of tenn
permanent which elderly Jane had fos-
tered long had brought her safely back
into deep waters again, after her ship
had stranded amidst the cruel rocks of
sorrow What more natural than that
the artist should find in her society re-
pose, and she in him-protectiOn? The
secret had passed from eye to eye in a
long mutual gaze of recognition, had
trembled ON their lips, but remained un-
spoken because events had not fastened
revelation. The strains of the orchestra
followed them along the path, the laugh
ter of unseen persons reached them from
shadowy depths of sidewalks, while their
own voices were subdued Here space
OF smooth lawn stretched, bathed in
moonshine; fountain scattered its
waters in snowy wreaths in the center,
and the shrubbery distilled rich odors in
the warm night. Minerva paused, and
hummed a little sonnet, The past was
folded away in soft obscurity, like the
lines of forest on the horizon; the future
lay beyond, bathed in light, like the
peaceful meadows about the Echtenthal
convent; life was full of placid content
ment to Minerva, who always impaired
this soothing influence TO the man at her
side. There was silvery radiance on the
fountains wavering column, on the
glossy leaves of pendant. branches, and
on the road.
All the particulars of their first meet.
ing were rehearsed minutely-the sur
prise, the wonder Of recognition, the
doubts and fears Of possible aversion;
and then, where the shadow was deep.
est beneath the trees, Herbert Wilson
stopped to whisper, with his lips touch
ing MinerVas cheek; 81 love you"
v n.-JANE's STORY.
Jane passed along the street alone.
She was half-minded to take walk by
herself; then decided TO spend an hour
on the balcony instead. The street con
sisted Of row Of lodging-houses oppo.
ste the rear Of several hotels. These