The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-10-28
OUT ON THE LAKE


-IIord Herbert Of Cherbury.
OUT ON THE LAKE
Wide open blue eyes. fringed with
ietty lashes-a little slender nOse-a
mouth fit for Queen Titania-white
brow, on which clustered rings of gold
in a fascination of disordcr--a cheek
exquisitely fair. with the tint upon it of
the sea shell--two little, soft, helpless
hands-two little, slippered feet, and
you have the picture before Roydon
Towards gaze, and the inventory sue
cessively dotted down by him in his
mental diary.
lawfully pretty" was the verdict
rendered.; absolutely good for nothing
else. All, il life were all summer, such
women would make perfect wives"
An audible sigh followed the latter
thought of this most grave philosopher;
sigh so deep, so profound, that it
started the girl from her reverie.
"a penny for your thoughts, major,
she said, in low. musical tone.
The voice suited her; it was like all
else about Fay Richings-in perfect at
tune.
You bid too low" answered the
man; land yet too high, since you ask
upon a subject Of whose reply you must
be conscious. You forget that, spend
ing the last hour in your society, my
thoughts could not wander far"
'But you sigh. Must hold myself
responsible for the sigh, tooP"
al fear so-in remembering that my
furlough is rapidly slipping away, and
that within a month l must join my
regiment on the plains, leaving my
charming companion of this morning.
DO you still bid penny to inquire into
a thing so deep as sigh?"
The color deepened a little on the
beautiful cheek.
His charming companion of the
morning." This was how he regarded
her-this man whose brave deeds had
preceded him, until, before meeting,
she had assigned him something akin
to hero worship,
A little sharp stab of pain shot
through her heart, but she smiled brave
ly.
"All that was scarcely worth a sigh
from you," she said. at is never
those who go amid new scenes who feel
most keenly the parting, but rather
those who are left behind, amid the old
familiar surroundings, and say, Yes
terday he sat here or Yesterday we
heard his laugh or perchance find q
glove that he has dropped, or a cigar
half smoked-to them it is something
felt, something tangible"
"Do you think so? Does the sand
sigh for the retreating wave when al
ready one coming claims its welcOmeP
l should indeed be glad TO feel that
Miss Fay sometimes gave me thought
among the many new aspirants for the
honor she has sometimes bestowed on
me. A soldiers life has many charms,
spite of its hardships. and there is some
fascination, spite Of its pain, in the
long solitary musings 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 will conline itself to one
figure. Can you guess whose, Miss
Fayw
There was an instant's pause an in
slant when something stirred within
Roydon Towards heart, prompting the
impulse to cry out:
"Who but yoursp Make imagination
reality! Come with me! Share SOL
dier's life, and let our mutual love
smooth the rough places"
But scarcely was it born than he
strangled ii. He had no reason to sup
pose that this girl cared for him; but
even so, at best it was but a passing
fancy.
And in time of real danger where
would she be? How would she fit him
to ride forth to meet foep Either
with hysterical weeping or swoon.
No, no! Here. under the green tree,
in ballroom. at the head of luxuri-
GUS dinner-table, such women were
charming enough to turn a mans
brain; but in moments of peril, when
death, no longer clothed in the poets
rhythm stalked before them bare and
ungainly. it was little wonder that they
fed shrieking from his grim presence.
Therefore, the pause lasted an in
slant only, then Roydon answered his
own question, with a laugh:
81 declare. 1 am.almost growing sem
timental. If in anybody's presence but
yours Miss Fay, 1 should apologize for
SO unwonted a mood. But you are
wholly responsible for it, and it must
be with you so old story to inspire it
that l will not waste words. Blythe
way, there is my horse. Ihad no idea it
wasiso late. Az revOiTI Remember, l
have the first and last waltzes this even
ing"
The girl stood motionless, watching
him as he strobe away-watching him
vault upon his horse, his tall, superb
figure showing to such splendid adyan-
tage; watching horse and rider as they
cantered out of sight, the latter turning
first to give her farewell salute with
his whip.
$50, in scarce a month, will he ride
out of my life." she murmured to ther-
self, with white lips. 80, Roydon, is
it that you are too proud to ask me to
share the peril and privations OF a SOL
dier's life, or that it would give you no
pleasure to have me share itP
"Will you go out on the lake with mo
this afternoon, Miss FayP" asked Major
Howard, a week later. 1T looks lit
10 squally, but we will keep close in to
shore, so as TO run home if the clouds
thicken."
"Of course l will come" assented
Fay, '.and as to the clouds, don't
watch them too closely. l rather like
storms"
"What perfect picture she makes"
thought Roydon. as he promptly, at tho
appointed, time, assisted her into the
sailboat he had named in her honor,
the yachting dress of dark blue fitting
closely to the exquisitely-outlined fig
ure, and on the golden braids nestled a
coquettish sailor hat.
Fifteen minutes later a splendid
breeze had carried them far out into
the lake.
The storm has concluded to post
pone itself in our special favor" said
Roydon. glancing up at the blue sky;
''or perhaps they don't think soldiers
should be too severely tried as sailors.
Which is it, Miss FAYE"
"Do you appeal TO me as the spirit of
the storm cloudp If so, shall call on
IL to avenge me-"
He answered her simply by . look,
but it caused her eyes to droop.
She stretched the. little white hand
down to the waters edge, watching the
current resist it as the boat sped on
ward.
so" he musod, "am resisting the
voice of my heart-so must resist to
the end"
They spoke but little. They were
~ n.