The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-03
CONFESSION IN a STORM.

/ lietty lashes--a little, slender nose
Ia mouth fit for Queen Iitania-
white brow, on which clustered ring:
of gold, in a very fascination of dis
order-a cheek exquisitely fair, with
tint upon it Of the sea shell-twC
little, helpless hands-two little
slippered feet, and you have the
picture before Roydon Howard's
gaze, and the inventory successively
dotted down by him in his mental
diary.
lawfully pretty" is the silent
verdict rendered, "and absolutely
good for nothing else. All, if life
were all summer such women would
make perfect wives"
An audible sigh followed the lat
ter thought Of this most grave phi
losopher and a sigh SO deep, SO
protund, that it startled the girl from
her reyerie.
"a penny for your thoughts, ma
jor," she said. in a low. musical
tone.
The voice suited him. ! was like
all else about Fay Riehings-in per-
feet attune.
you bid too low" answered the
man, 4and yet too nigh, since you
ask upon subject OF whose reply
you must be conscious. You forget
that, spending the last hour in your
society, my thoughts couldn not wan
der far"
but you sighed. Must l hold
myself responsible for that sigh,
too ?"
Il fear so-in remembering that
my furlough is rapidly slipping
away, and that within a month l
Lust rejoin my regiment on the
plains, leaving many friends, leav-
ing my charming companion Of this
morning. Do you still bid penny
to inquire into q thing SO iieeting as
a sigh ?"
The color deepened q little on the
beautiful cheek.
His charming companion of the
morning" This was how he re-
garded her-.his man whose brave
deeds bad preceded him, until, be-
tore meeting him, Fay had assigned
him something akin to hero wor-
ship.
A little sharp stab Of pain shot
through her heart, bu. she smiled
bravely.
4All that was scarcely worth a
sigh from YOU" she said. 1T is
never those who 20 amid new scenes
who feel most keenly the parting,
but rather those who are left be-
hind, amid the old familiar sur
roundings, and say, Yesterday he
sat here, or Yesterday we heard his
laugh" or perchance find 2 glove
that he has dropped, or a cigar half
them it is something
felt, something tangible"
"Do you think so? Does the sand
sigh for the retreating wave when
one oncoming claims its
welcome ? / should indeed be glad
to feel that Miss Fay sometimes
gave me a thought among the many
new aspirants for the hour she has
bestowed upon me. A
soldiers life has many charms, spite
Of its pain, in the long, solitary
he holds sitting at the door
Of his tent, when, instead Of the
plain stretching before him, he views
the mental panorama Of his past.
I'm afraid mine viii oonfne herself
to one figure. Can you guess whose,
Miss Fay 2"
There was an instant's pause-an
instant when something stirred in
Roydon Howard's heart, prompting
The impulse to cry out, ''Who but
yours ? Make imagination reality
Come with me Share soldiers
.ife, and let our mutual love smooth
.he rough places !"
But scarcely was it born when he
,trangled it. He had no reason TO
suppose that this girl cared for him;
but, even so, at best it was but
passing fancy.
And in time of real danger where
would she be 4? How would she fit
nim to ride forth TO meet foe ?
Either with hysterical weeping or
;woon. No, no Here under the
yreen trees, in a ball room, at the
lead of luxurious dinner table,
'uch women were charming enough
o turn a mans brain, but an mo-
nen:s of peril, when death, no Ion
,er clothed in the poets rvthm,
;talked before them, bare and un-
,ainiv, it was. little wonder they
he'd sfrieliing from his grim pres
snce.
Therefore the pause lasted an in
Itant only, then Roydon answered
ais own question with a laugh.
81 declare / am almost growing
If in anybody's pres
nee but yours, Miss Fay, | should
apologize for so unwonted mood.
But you are wholly lsponsible Tor
{. and IL must be with YOU SO old q