Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-05


less world. They little guessed that
the casualty they had mentioned in
their fiippant chatter had been ordained
to restore me divers lost blessings.
But for a moment forgot my amiable
commentators. I forgot even my
unpleasant posture "A somewhat
shaky perpendicular. And l certainly
did not remember the sorry solaee Of
seeing quite little company in the mis-
cry of seatlessness and endangered
equilibrium, for with unseeing eyes was
gazing through the coach window upon
the Kaleidoscope fragment OF world
through which the train was darting
like great, fierce, fleet serpent with its
kissing of steam, and rattle and glitter
of iron and steel, while | was thinking
very intently of many things.
I thought of the accident that had
happened scarcely two hours before. /
had been half doing in my seat when a
thick, turbulent cloud of black and
binding smoke darkened the air; when
/ was conscious of a strange iolting sue
ceeded by a dreadful crash In that
hour of fright / regained my voice and
hearing. / cried aloud, and heard the
shrieks of those around me. ] heard
the stcntorian announcement that rang
cheerfully through the wrecked coach {:
"Nobodv is hurt :" and my lips as well
as my heart responded "God is good"
l thought, too, of the first time l
met Larry Murray. The day of that
meeting was very beautiful and happy.
A garden party had gathered on fine
old lawn, where the trees were tall and
ancient and full of tuneful birds-wherc
delicate, reposcd shadows moved in
sunlight and moonlight over the vclvcty,
odorous Rrass-wherc one could see de
lightful fountains and great plots of
brilliant flowers, and far away glimpse
of the turquoise blue OF pretty little
valley lake. There wcsc dancing and
an orchestra in gildcd Moorish pavil-
ion, amid picturesque tanglc OF exotic
palms, and wild waltz was ending
when some one brought him to me.
Love, that mysterious and puissant
sentiment, must have mutually in
weighed us in that first moment. His
dark eyes, pleased and wondering.
turned toward me a lingering, question
ing gaze, before which | trcmblcd and
blushcd without comprehending why.
We danced and dincd, and sang and
supped together, and in week were
betrothcd. Our bcsrothal, however,
was not unwisely hasty. His parents
and mine had been friends, and society
recognized him as gentleman of
wealth and worth and much professional
distinction. And that our affection was
real and leal, We both knew Never
theless that glad, sweet summer ended
in grief and anger. suddenly Larry
seemed oddly changed. He was still
devoted-too punctiliously 50, fan.
cied-but the dear, spontaneous tender
ness had gone from his manner, and o.
times he would watch me with gloom
inquisitorial gaze tina, would haunt me
for days with an agony of disquietiug
speculation.
And sometimes he would speak
vaguely, in a cynical sort of way, "a if
he doubted the unselfshness of oil hu-
manity, and my own fealty to him most
of all. l was proud and | was loyal,
and his ambiguous denunciations panied
aud augered me, and finally became no
longer endurablc. And so, one day,
when one of his inexplicably chuTlish
moods had become insufferable, ended
our pleasant dream by quiet little
homily of resentment that / tried to
make as dignified as possible.
Larry" 1 began, with commendablo
calmness, though my wild tears were
rioting unseen, latterly have fancied
that You regard our engagement as a
misfortune to yourself. cannot con.
lecture why. l have fancied, too, that
you suspect me guilty of some gricvous
fault or wrong, and that am not quite
worthy of your love, that 1 am sure
despite this melancholy mystery is mine.
You are not brave enough" 1 went on,
hotly, "to tell me what you suspect.
You are not manly enough to explain the
strange and cruel hints with which
you have outraged my pride and grieved
my affection for weeks. And so, Larry,
although l love and honor you as 1 never
loved and honored any other, i believe
am acting rightly in making you free.
l shall be gratifed If you will consider
yourself no longer betrothed to me-"