Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-08-06

Shelah repeated the two lines OF
poetry in calm, even voice, without u
shade Of pity for the proud man who
stood before her--who, for the first time
in his lazy, indolent life, was humiliat-
ed. He stood for few moments ir-
resoute, and then again essayed to
speak.
"Shelah. had hoped"
But she interrupted him with an inn
patient gesture.
Il see you will insist on talking on
that disagrceable topic; SO | will bid
you aurevoir," and, with naughty in
clination of her head, she walked
away.
He stood looking after her until she
disappeared among the trees, and it
seemed to him that all the light and
happiness of his life had gone with her,
| Until this moment he had never known
what il was to suffer; until this his IAN
guild creeds had held that no wise man
feels strongly, and to glide through life
untroublcd md lnmoved IL ~ possible
IN il il polite But now he suffered; ;
he suffered dumbly rs dog, passion
ately rs II barbarian; now he was met
by that which, in II moment, pierced
his panopies Of Indifference and eseap-
ed his light PHILOSOPHERS.
ooh, God" he thought, If it We're
anything anything but this (! love
her wildly, madly, and yet must give
up MI hope Of ever winning her Can
this be the punishment for my
past thoughtless, giddy career If 50,
the penalty il far greater than is merit
ed by the crime. But, if she had only
given me the smallest ray Of hope, how
different my future would have been
how bravcly ! would have struggled to
overcome those habits, which are more
the result Of circumstances than of in
cllnation. And would have succeeded;
for with her love NJ IL beacon 10 guide
me, ! would have found no task too
difficult nor any obstacle lsurmount-
able. But now well, I'll only live for
pleasure if there IL such II thing for
me. Ilcnceforih will worship ut no
time but ut the present, and have no
friend but self. And, rs the poet
says.
y may be true, and hope Il h.
That death will end this pnin,
That ON the shores OF another world
will be happy ngain;
Aud feel with the fullest love and pride,
| The olden, golden Joy
hat came Of trusting women md iOd
| Ere love was II broken toy
And he went forth into the world
again unchanged in outward appear
nnce, except he was colder, prouder
and more cynical than before. And he
plunged into all the pleasures and dis
Hipntions with II rccklesncss that bord-
cred on desperation. Elmer Royston
had always been great bclcycr--lf
the words are not too sonorolls aud too
earnest to be applied to his very mcon-
scquent views upon amy and every sub
jcct in the philosophy of Let us live in
the present" and To this was added u
firm belief in destiny or fate, rs he
usually called H. llc believed that II
persons life was marked out for them
upon their entrance into this world and
nothing could change or dcyintc them
from the course. He was reckless to
the utmost stretch of rccklessncss, all
serious and quiet though his daily
manner and, though he forced himself
by II strong will to II subducd and duh
anguor in keeping with his former life.
the pcnt-up-passion within would break
ont occasionally in n sudden burst of
anger; u midnight debauch, or, worse
still, IL not inlrcqucnt sitting ut the gam
ing-tablc He had gained the rcputa-
ton among the "boys" of his set as be-
ing the most daredevil of the lot. Ills
word was law among them when il was
uponan particular style of dress or
question of etiquette, lie had To com
mend new kind Of wine or smoke II
new brand of cigars To make popular,
and had only to adopt II peculiar style
or color Of crnyat to make il the
agony"
But was he happy had he found
in this life the happiness without which
there can be no contcntmcnt2 No;
never since that evening when he part
cd with Shclah Forescuc had he known
tho true mea ling Of that word. Her
face was before him ever; her voice
camc to him even when surrounded 10y
gny companions, and when tossing up
ON his bed, and in vain trying to COM
pose himsetto sleep II was there nj
ways He cursed himself for his folly,
and tried to believe that She spoke truly
when sho said, "The dream is done"
but Mt that very moment knew that one
kind word from her would Still the
troubled waters of his soul,
lfdcath should oNrrtnkr YOU
Ere You hear my nat God speed
Aud friends should all forShkr YOU
In Your darkest hour of need
You know I'll never chidc YOU,
All | will never blame
Though nthcr tongues dcride Sou
IN think kindly Of Your name
When friendly tears cease flowing,
And YOUR requiem has hcen Said;
Aud when the grass il growing
On Your enld aud silcnt hrd,
When dearest friends forget you
The ones you held most dear
Declare they never met YOU,
| will shed for yum one tear,
Wcwill avail ourselves 81 the priv-
lcgc accorded to authors, and ask our
readers to step with us across the inter
vcning space Of three years, which
elapsed between the parting of Shclah
Fortescuc and Elmer Royston and the
present time.
II is an unprctcnding little cottage
Al. al