The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-25
From the Argosy.l
The two Roberts.

soft as velvet, was, like the tabled path OF
love, strewn thickly with the golden kisses of
the stars.
AS he gained the hill, whose summit gazed
on the little watering place which was for
few weeks to be his destination, he in
voluntarily drew rain and sat silent moment
enjoying the moonlight scene. On his left
an old-fashioned brick house reared its
twisted chimneys aloft So close was he to
it that its sharp gables seemed to cut the air
over his head, and only strip of green lawn,
bordered by horse-chestnut trees, separated
him from the windows, cleaning il the
moonlight.
1sceptre and crown I'd fling them down,
If might
Robert Edbury hushed his song when he
perceived, for the first time, his very cleSe
proximity to the house and the windows.
'The substa initial home of some substantial
farmer" he said to himself. had better
move on or his daughter may think 1 am
serenading them"
Too late! Just then window was opened
softly overhead, and lady's face appeared at
it, In the rush of bright moonlight Robert
caught sight of the long ripple of gold-gleam-
ing hair, and was sure that the face was
lovely. At any rate, the voice was.
Robert, de ar, is it your"
For halt minute Robert Edbury was mute
with surprise, and made no answer.
ut Is you, Robert. Why don't you
BE spoke, then, low, and with hesitation.
"How did you know it wasI?'
''Of course knew it was you" There was
dash OF petulance in the sweet voice now.
"Who else but you would be riding and sing
ing in that absurd way at this hour of the
night. and halting before the house? Have
you cold, Robert? Your voice sounds diff
ferent from what it usually does"
Perhaps it is the night air." answered
Robert, wickedly. and getting his wits par
TALLY together. ''Or may have cracked it
with singing" But still he spoke in the
most subdued of tones. II did not. expect
the pleasure of speaking with you.''
"The very idea of your coming on horse
back at this night houri You know you
ought not to be out. Why did you do it !?
Where are you going9 Into Spafeld?"
s'But what for?"
'To see a friend"
"Who is it?" came the quick response.
''Not-not Nelly Cameron ?'-with sh ade
ofjealousy in the tone now. care the Cam
erons receiving this EVENING""
"Not that 1 know Of" returned Robert
Edbury, promptly. 81 swear to you 1 was
not going to see Nelly Cameron. I have not
spoken with single young lady to-day ex-
Cept yOuTS6us
''Poor Robertr and little laugh rippled
lightly on the air. "But do 20. You know
what your health is, and that you have no
business to be riding at this time of night.
you ought to take better care of yourself.
7 on will be laid up tomorrow; your voice
already sounds strange and altered. Good
night"
"One moment" cried Robert Edbury,
earnestly, as he leaped from his horse, fast
ened the bride to the gate and STEPPED inside
beneath the window, where CLEANED that
give me flower-you can easily reach that
clustering bine by your easement. Perhaps
perhaps I shall wish to ask you sometime to
forgive me some great offense. Won't YOU
give me flower for token?"
Chow strange you talk. OF course would
give you flower; but these are only honey
suckles, and you know we promised to give
each other nothing but roses. But stay v'-
the pretty voice caught itself. 'I have a
bunch of violets on my table. Would you
like them?'
"Anything-anything that comes from
your hands" whispered Robert, more sin.
cerely than he always spoke.
The bright face disappeared for moment
from the window and then returned--a white
hand cleaned in the moonlight.
"There, take them. and now you must gol
Quick! hear some one stirring. Suppose it
should be mamma! Good night, dear
Robert"
The window was softly closed, and in an
instant after Robert was creeping for the
violets in the wet grass. He found them
where they fell. But, as they were fallingIthe
quick eye Of Robert Edbury bad discerned
something, bright as a star, falling too. The
small strip of grass where he stood was en-.
t:rely in the shade, hidden from the light by
the large horse-chestnut trees, and he had 10
grope in the dark for this glttering thing.
An instant's search revealed it to be what lie
suspected-a lady's bracelet. 1t was a
slender circlet of gold, studded with crystal.
The quick movement had unclasped it from
her arm; and Robert, with smile, put it
side by side with the wltbered bunch of yo-
lets in his pocket as he rode away.
"Sceptre and crown, I'd fling them down."
sang Mr.. Edbury az he rode swiftly on in the
purple dusk of the trees. "Sceptre and
crown, if I had them, I'd fling them down
for one bare chance of hearing that lovely
voice once again."
he was alone; there was no one to see
him; and taking the violets out of his pocket
he kissed them tenderly. 1t was most alb
surdly silly of him to do it; but who of us
does not do silly things in the heyday of our
youths morning? Silly things that we blush
for afterward. perhaps Just as Robert Edbury
blushed when putting the violets quickly
away.
1sceptre and crown, I'd fling them down,
If might"
But his song got no further than that; 1t died
away in thought.
Passing arm-in. arm down the crowded
dancing-room of the Spa the next evening,
with his friend Norton, Robert Edbury's
quick ear was caught by note which at once
arrested his attention. He had said he should
know that divine voice again, hear it wherev-
or or whenever he might, and he was not
mistaken. A certain remonstrance lay In its
tone; not to say misbelief.
"But who could it have been, Robert, if it
was not you? 1t frightens me to think of it.
lit was somebody of your height and fig
ure. 1t must have been yourself, Robert"
But tell you it was not, Jessie. should
like to know who it was"
she was gentleman, I am sure,"-with
stress upon the word. "You need not be
put out, Robert.''
Robert Edbury turned and saw close beside
him, leaning on that other Roberts arm, a
young girl surprisingly beautiful. Roses
mingled with the bright gold of her hair,
shone in the bosom of her dress, and bunch
OF them was somehow intertwined with the
slender gold wrist-chain attached to her fan.
Mr.. Edbury caught his breath, as, turning
ner race, the glrrs soft, vlolet-blue eyes rested
for moment unrecognizingly on his.
"Who is she?" he whispered eagerly to his
friend. slow lovely she is! What is her
name? By heaven! never believed in d-
vine loveliDess before: but here it is, pure
and undefled. What is her name?'
SIT is Miss Chassdane," was the answer.
"She and her mother live at the Grove, half
mile out of town."
"A farmhouse" remarked Robert.
NO, it is not. 1t looks not unlike one.
They are people of property. Yes, she is
very pretty. pn introduce you, it you like. !"
Half an hour later Robert Edbury was
bending over the young lady's hand in the
pretty secluded gloom of a vine-wreathed
window. They were as much alone as it is
possible for one to be in the heart of a busy
unheeding crowd. The first notes of a
Strauss waltz were reckoning the dancers.
and gay couples went laughing, hurrying by.
"You are not engaged for this valse?'' said
Robert eagerly.
Some remembered cadence In his voice
struck the young girls memory, and forget
ting to answer him, she looked at him doubt
fully, while rosy blush swept over her fore
head. She half knew him and half did not
"Will you let me look at vour card 9D he