Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-24
FOB THE
SET TN A SILVER SEA
ROMANCE BY B. L. FARJEON.
AND KISSES JOSHUA NAVEL
liking OF HOLLAND" BELLS OF PENRAyEN,' ETC

of sending out boat to inquire the bust
ness of the unexpected visitor.
On the deck of the vessel stood two
men, close to the bulwarks, their eyes fixed
upon the land. One was man in the
! prime of life, the other man whose hair
was fast growing white. They were both
handsome and distinguished but there
was worn look in their eyes, as though
they had passed through some recent
trouble For some time they gazed in
silence then the younger of the men
spoke.
9. 1t seems but yesterday"
"Eh!" cried his companion, who did
not hear the observation, and thought it
addressed to him.
1t seems but yesterday" repeated The
younger man.
"Since when?"
"Since 1 visited this happy isle. |
passed some delicious moments lying on
tumbled hay in field where men and
women were working; 1 thought was in
Arcadia and remember well the walk to
the market-place, over the hill-slopes and
between hedges of barbery and roses. l
can trace the perfume OF syringa at this
moment
You were ever a rhapsodist. This isle
is happy one if happiness is to be found
in stagnation. I was surfeited with it.
When lived here-how many years ago =?
"a lifetime, it seems-I was fit to die of
lassitude. But time brings changes" He
frowned at this, thinking of the change
time had brought to him. He was fugi-
tive when he first sought shelter within the
peaceful land he was a fugitive now but,
then, the future, an earthly future, was
before him he was scarcely in his prime
now, his hair was whitening, and nature
was whispering, "Your time is coming;
the earth is waiting for you He brushed
these thoughts away; it was his habit to
rid himself of unpleasant reflection, and to
this may be ascribed the circumstance that,
though he was old enough for them, there
were but few wrinkles in his handsome
face. sit is to be hoped" he continued.
that the inhabitants have grown more
amenable to reason"
"To what end, Mauvain?"
ITO the end of proper enjoyment of
life.
According to your understanding oft "
s'It is not to be doubted, said Mauvain,
'who is the better Judge, they or 1.
g For my part, never had the inclina-
ton to teach other creatures how to enjoy,
believing they had promptings of their
own. regard nature as perfect; have
no doubt you find imperfections in her.
1t appeared to me that the inhabitants
of the Silver Isle had fair enjoyment of
life."
"They may have, in their way"
''Then the end is served a thankless
task to try and improve upon it. -
"One must do something with his days.
You are happily constituted the flight of
butterfly is food enough for your indolent
soul but / cannot lie down and dream the
hours away"
''If my impressions are correct, the men
of the isle have wills of their own.
"Then," said Mauvain, with a smile,
g we must try and convince the women "
The younger man smiled also. but the
smile almost instantly died from his lips.
You had larger experience than l, he
said mine was but fleeing view, and
when beauty is first presented to me some
thing within me prevents me from staring
it out of countenance. The women of the
isle are fair.
Very fair; am afraid when l lived
here I scarcely did them justice.
Never too late to repair an error,
Mauvain.
1t shall be my aim"
"Mauvain, will make confession to
you. l have not been fortunate with
women hitherto"
1T is at once confession and revela-
ton. Your friends think otherwise"
"My friends fatter me never merited
their good opinion, being in that respect
like many other luckier dogs than myself,
who are better thought of than they de-
serve. Do you know, Mauvain, there has
ever been in my heart an unsatisfied long
ing? The days have glided on smoothly
enough. There have been laughter, music,
flowers, fair and gracious women, sweet
protestations, and sometimes sweeter tears,
old wine and young beauty in their full
richness. These should be sufficient for a
man, and are. for most; they have not
! been for me. Sometimes the flowers have
faded in my hand or as | inhaled their
/ fragrance; sometimes the music Jared or
/ heard in it the discordant laughter OF a
disappointed hope; sometimes | saw
wrinkles in the. fairest face They have
not brought to me what have yearned for
in my heart of hearts.
"What have you yearned for, Harold !?
Describe it.
Difficult, if not impossible, for it
springs not SO much from others as from
an unsatisfed longing OF the soul. The
wind has whispered it the leaves have
murmured it l have seen it in the loam-
ing. The fault is in myself that have
never loved"
you are poetizing, Harold, as have
heard you do hundred times before, or
you have lied terribly"
of must choose between the two, 1
have lied terribly. One must say some
thing. Am l fair?' You are beautiful.
Do you love me- With all my soul.
Swear that you will never love another 2
l swear it Is not that the way the