Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-10-13


have told as. of nv boat.
inn. but I am sday and must
talk to some 80 - I ana going
e write Eea zaion of one 81
my aaua1Ie EXT
Affhnx ess Eor me
In the erin ses such
pes ionate <tHn q h;sA
handsome fs.s k fsk2sf 4
/ went. ! could not tel you myself.
There are many strange things in
this world, and among the strangest,
is the unconscious sympathy, that
subtle union Of thought and viii that
takes place in two individuals.
| knew was 70 GO with him, could
/ do otherwise than 60? / cannot
describe to you my feelings toward
him; it Is that Of a nameless attrac-
ton, combined with strong repul-
sive force. There are times when /
care more for him than all else in the
world, and at other times / am com
pletely Indifferent; it il matter of
small importance whether / see him
or not.
What can be the meaning Of this
state Of mind, / dare not and cannot
ask my soul / have already dis
missed him two or three times but
have been driven back to a refuge
ever opened TO. receive me by my ir-
ristible desire to see him again.
If ever prisoner stood wildly, i'm
patiently listening for the prison key
to be turned once more In the key
hole. tremulously longing for glimpse
of the hitherto unseen world, that
prisoner am /, standing, as / nervous
ly finger the thread of my destiny;
eager and anxious to follow the slow
ly unwinding clew; and yet shrinking
back from my expected fate.
To you, who are 20 calm and serene
this is all nonsense-mere talk-but
you have INDUCED me and / mean to
tell you all my woe, and win, after
wards, no doubt. bitterly repent my
folly.
To be misunderstood has been the
fate Of all human kind and ! can
scarcely expect o kinder judgment
than that given to braver souls than
mine, who have struggled ont of fery
trials, nerved by the worlds scorn
and their own noble determination to
lise superior to the hiss and tapping
wings Of that courageous bird, which
calls its kind and bears valiantly
down, with screech and hiss, to over
come the fallen. A show Of courage
from the PROSTATE one, it is well
known, viii drive away an attacking
flock Of geese. Forgive me, Irene.
But by this time, we are well on
our way to the boathouse. Iwalk by
his side, half dreaming, listening, now
and then, to his never tagging con-
versation, with the question in my
mind, "did he ever hesitate for q re-
mark p know such q case has new
er occurred, but still, / wonder il it
could occur.
We walk past handsome mansions
with cleaning marble and plate glass,
flashing back the rays Of the sinking
sun; by dainty ladies with gallant es-
corts. Have they feelings like mine ?
and then shudder and pray fervent-
ly that never may they feel the mer-
tied self-contempt that harrows my
soul.
Radiant children, laughing in Wild
glee. rolling hoop, rush past US with
the 1.-THE grace Of health and active
motion.
We watch their breathIess competi-
ton for the goal-and see, with amuse-
ment. that q youthful and modern At
lanta has gained the post. She stands
smiling in painting cCmplaeency at her
less agile companions.
We join in the laugh az we pass.
there Is such q contagious cheerful
ness in the air, and we feel instinc-
lively that we must smile while we
can; for there is an underlined sense Of
sorrow in store for US.
All my friend, I live in the shad-
ow of fear. The houses along the
street become less pretentious; the
women less curiously robed; the chill
dren more rosy and noisy as we mOve
slowly on to the suburbs Of the city.
Grass grows in the street, and here,
where an avenue sweeps in, we see
steep walls Of earth, lining roadway,
which sweeps out to the forest be-
yond-
Looking down the Avenue, there
lies before ua the sunlit windows.
towers and all that il quaint and pic
turesque, nothing that can offend the
eye or cause the slightest tinge Of dis
gust.
It is an ideally beautiful scene, and
of course we pause to gaze and ad-
mire. But reminded that it is getting
late. we leave the street and step care
fully down the rocky path, leading to
the water, past q cottage. queer and
old. swarming with little black faces
that peer ns st from all points. One
small piece OF humanity stood on q
stool-a little rag-a-mufin. dirty and
torn in raiment, but entirely absorbed
in his occupation Ct transferring some
precious worms from his hand to d
bottle. l glanced away in amuse-
menss and nv eyes fell on two woolly
heads bent over . magazine. while q
third urchin was swinging his arms
I, preparatory 20 standing On his head
Arthur laughed and told me that this
was the state Of civilization AZ my an
cast0rs many years $50. II ! . rnfs
with me t0 object 70 erezythiag BE-