The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-07-30

i
would shrink from infiicting on his most
hated enemy. The French proverb is true
ct least for women: sAimer, c'est de
souffrir. s5 $50 1
"Ah, but you don't, understand, Dick.
You can't understand it until you are where
/ am. Love is the one divine mystery in
life. For Loves sake everything, even pain
and torture, becomes almost to be coveted;
and, where love weds two hearts, no suffer-
ing can be born entirely by one, nor be un-
shared by the other. Love is as willing
to endure, as eager to enjoy. But
1 might as well talk of the sidereal Heavens
to blind man as to you of love. Wait until
YOU know what it is-until it opens your eyes,
gives wings to your souland body, transforms
the world, and makes a fellow feel like
a seraph. Aheml Dick-come, old fellow,
don't look like sepulchre, for I'm the hap
piest chap alive. l feel as though l could
touch Heaven with my hands," and he
Strengthened himself upon tiptoe, laughing,
and then subsidized to look at the miniature,
adding, sbut Heaven is not so far away, and
concluded by kissing the picture.
sBahI'' calculated Dick, turning disgusted-
ly away with his hands in his pockets. 'sThis
is intolerabls." Then drawing out his watch,
81 will say good night, Jim, and leave my
adieux for the morning. Well get through
this tug with as little demonstration as posi-
ble-pack and dispatch our traps, leave this
dear old den. am -hen separate like two
pieces from an exploded meteor"
The following morning Dick was up long
before day, and with the aid of an extra pair
of hands had his boxes ready for removal as
the breakfast-bell rang. The two chums ex-
changed but few words during the meal,
and then withdrew TO their parlor, which
wore the look, as James expressed it, 'of all
your Observation-Disclosures, Dick, and all my
craziness."
s.Oh, it is not strange that the room We
have lived in together replied Dick, SHOULD
have gone daft and wild at this outrageous
break-up; it is enough to affect the compos-
ure of granite bowlderJ These poor arm
chairs look already like abandoned and empty
armed old crones who have sat down by the
wayside of life to mourn for those that are
not. November seems to have permeated
everything within as well as without. You
hit upon fitting season for this sorry busi-
ness. Mygatt.
"Oh, let it be Jim till the lastl'' pleaded
James, Selling his friends hand. "When you
say 'Mygatt' 1 feel as if you had thrust
me to the other side of the Atlantic" and
tears filled his eyes.
| Lane, who had horror of scenes, cody
threw off dampening phrase.
"You shouldn't mind that so long as you
voluntarily remove yourself infinitely fur
ther away But good-by, Jim-good-by.' y
A lurking smile lowered over James's face
as the two men looked in each others eyes
for moment; but Lanes face was pitiably
sad and hastily drawing his hand from Jim's
he darted down stairs and was off for his
| office
The evening found him installed in his new
quarters, and for the first time during many
| weeks he went to the theater to drown
his Loneliness. After that he grimly
set about hardening himself to his
new life, drawing with in him.
self more and more in proportion as
his old chum, who after his marriage and
return to the city urged him to spend an oc-
casional evening with him and his wife
But he continued infexible, and so remain
ed to his friends Lizzie an invisible although
real parsonage whom she always spoke of as
'Poor Dickl" Often in moments of reflection
she half regretted having been the means o.
estranging the two men, and rendering the
life of one so lonely and gloomy. In hel
impulsive moods she formed many scheme
for going to Dick himself and pleading re-
newal of the old time intimacy; but hel
plans ended,as did James attempts, il
nothing more effectual than a sigh and s'Pool
Dickl" This state of things remained un
til at the end of the year James ant
|
the baby was week old they decided sh,
should be named Ricardo.
THAT'S as near being Richard as a CIR
can hope to come" laughed james. Il
this little cherub does not bring poor Uncl
Dick to his senses we will give him up TO
good, or bad rather"
Lizzie was already beginning to grow
strong again, and James made final APP
peal to his friend to come and do homage t.
his little namesake; but Dick did not come.
A few days after this Lizzie complaine,
of feeling i'll 1.-THE physician came, and leav
ing some trifing remedy, predicted that he
i'll feeling would pass of in a short time
But she continued to grow worse, and late il
the evenining her husband hurried ava,
again for the doctor. When he returned h
found his wife dead in her nurses arms.
The blow had come too suddenly and un
: expectedly for him to feel the sharpness c
F the pain that moment. Numbed and para
lived, he fell by her bedside, stretching hi
arms helplessly acres her body. After
time some friends gathered in the room, an
, the stricken man was helped to his feet. ID
staggered against the wall, his face white a
the dead one before him. and, slowly draw
ing his hand across his brow as if to swee
away some terrible vision, he sank into
chair with great seb-the echo of a heart
! break.
e Some hours later, as the cold gray daw
r was breaking, james wrote on card tn
2 three words, Lizzie is Dead" and sent
r messenger with it to Lanes room. Die
: read the message, and sat for some time al
sorbed in reverie. A sense of remorse stol
o into his heart, and pierced it like dagge
e He looked at the clock over the chime.
and his eye fell upon calender.
e 1T is still November" he said. "Pot
: Jiml' and drawing on his cloak, an
: pulling his hat well down ov,
his eyes, he passed into Il
S street, y and walked in the direction of h
friends house.
IS Upon being admitted, and informing Il
servant who he was, he was shown into
l. room where lay the dead wife.
e By her side, like a statue, stood jaime
, Lane approached him, and, standing a lit
n distance removed, looked for the first time