The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-13
SKIM.MILK AFTER CREAM.

ing, changeful, deep-hued eyes of hers-a
scarlet spot, like a bursting damask rosebud,
on either smooth, round cheek. She was
sitting on the sofa by Perry Williston, lean
ing toward him, her warm, moist, slender
little hands clasped in his. And Perry
looked straight into her face--her face that
was the one. of all the world to him, her face
that had taught many man what love
meant-his thoughtful, clear gray eyes
never Ainching from their earnest, steadfast
gaze; his lips, that had touched Mareia's
with reyerent tenderness often in the long
before, never faltering; his pale. truthful
face never blanching; his features-purely
Intellectual, perfect Grecian-giving no eyi-
dence, howe er slight, of the terrible wound
in his heart into which her words had thrust
barbed arrows with firm, unerring hand.
He took her face between his hands and
pressed his lips to her smooth, unlined
brow.
"God bless you, Marcia; and may your
future be radiantly happy. | thank you
for this confidence. 1t helps me to believe
that we are indeed friends"
"Friends until death, now that we under
stand each other, Perry, if you SO will"
"As l do. 1t will always be CLEAN of
silver over my lonely bachelor life to feel
that one woman will think kindly Of me"
"Bachelor life? The idea You will
marry, Perry; never fear"
"You mistake, Marcia. | could never be
content with skim-nilk after cream"
"But you have the cream yet to find 1t
was not l. You always had shockingly-
long list of imperfections booked against me,
you'll please to remember"
81 never deemed you perfect, l know"
smiled Perry Wil!iston; "but you have all
the requisites for development into the per-
fection of noble womanhood. And, Marcia,
| shall never find another woman who can
so completely satisfy the demands of my
mental nature. But forget myself! Once
more l wish you all happiness"
Again he pressed reverent caress upon
Marcia Gilbert's brow, and so they parted.
You smile at such parting between a
man who has loved woman madly, and
she-having held his lile-oilering as an un-
acceptable sacrifice? 1t is not true to ro-
nance? No! But it is true to truth.
Perry Williston, at nineteen, had given to
Marcia Gilbert the reverential, idolatrous
worship of his idealistic intellectual youth.
She had received it because hers was a nature
that craved love, and hated perplexities.
When he found that she had been bound to
another, even while she had accepted his
idolatry, he had thought life worthless, and
dreamed Of casting the divine gift back to
the hands of its giver. But, like many a
rash youth, he lived to see his folly, and
lived to love Marcia again, when she was
Free to be wounded again to understand
her at the last. He knew that, indeed, hel
heart held large place for him; but, witt
NIL their many afinities, he knew that hC
would never measure up to the standard tina
Miss Gilbert had set for the man to whom
she could resign her heart, her passions, he
life.
Perry believed she would never find he
ideal; but when he met Marcia again, sh
had found him, and Well, Perry Willis
ton bore the wound bravely, and went bacl
to his quiet pastorate.
Marcia married Oscar Lindsay, knew
what happiness meant, and knew wha
loneliness meant; for in five years she was
widow.
Helen Haynes and Perry Williston wer
cousins. From childhood they had bee
companions from childhood Helen ha
loved Perry. He had always liked her be
cause she was vastly superior in education
! tastes, and manners to the girls whom, dul
I, ing his home life, he was forced to NEE
: For many years Helen preserved her secr'
in safety, watching with bitter, jealous heal
during that period when Marcia Gilbert
hands had swept the chords of Perry's lifi
! awakening joyous notes and walls of miser.
y At last the dread influence was a thin
i of the past. Marcia was Mrs. Lindsay, ar
e Perry was back to the quiet farming con
i munity, attending to bis pastoral duties Wi
y calm, earnest face and pleasant, uncloudt
$ department. Daily, now, he met Hel'
r Haynes, his cousin, companion, and pla
= >, mate, Of the long ago.
o The years came and went, and the youl
7, clergyman had reverence and love alway
o and only for the memory of Marcia Gilbe
" that his heart enshrned. 1t was memo
E, too sacred ever to be spoken of, and Hele
le his constant companion, waited patient
q for the time that she was sure would col
Or waited and was rewarded. 1t came abo
s, so gradually, without any words, every o
o. treating them as persons soon to be marie
Helen's family regarding them as betrothss
=, arranging for tho wedding, that without a
,oye-vaws, any definite understanding W