Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-01-27
Vol. XVIII.
{ Writtea.tor HE Beacon)
B IL u ia.
CHAPTER XII.
BIT ERIE.

go by all means then and avoid that
! dire alternative; but do not stay late,
for ] cannot 60 with you to watch over
this desperate individual shall be
Obliged 10 60 down town on some bus
mess"
Il am so sorry; | wish you could go.
Leave the horud old business for once
for frolic. You won't. Oh it is too
bad that | cannot influence you IN the
slightest degree. Heigh no Do you
ever feel, cousin, as il your soul had
been compressed, forced into such a
small compass that a rebound is inevl-
table, II ! were old Atlas to-day,
know | should heave of the globe in my
mad gamboIs and rejoice 10 see it SPIN
nlng through space. But here ! am a
poor ordinary mortal, who must content
herself by sporting with the common
place objects around her. A poor JOY
Tor a soul like mine"
"You poor, silly darling" she said,
as put my arms around her and fond
ly kissed her cheek. Tears came to my
eyes, and fearing she would see them,
kissed her again and ran quickly out
OF the room. Walking slowly down the
street, | forgot the people around me,
and it Was not till reached the beach
that | came back TO the outer world.
Slowly pacing the sands, the roar Of the
surf formed diapason OF sublime woe
that harmonIzed with the Pulonian
blackness ofmy soul. lstooped picked
a pebble from among the myriads OF
stones and shells, and hurled IT among
the huge, rolling pillows. The waters
swallowed it eagerly; but, poor thing,
1t was soon rejected and flung back to
ITS fellows, and The waves swept un~
heedingly past the despised offering.
Just so with me" SAID, ualfaIoud.
81 was cast out into the foaming sea Of
life; II tossed about, the paythng for a
time in careless sport, and a. last am
stranded with never hope of a relen;-
ing wave carrying me back to humani-
ty or love for humanity"
-----Ale you ssT- nymph or a priestess
Of Neptune invoking her deity p said a
light voice behind me.
i
ing towards him, dreading to show the
flush on my face.
Though one can no longer believe
in those ancient chimeras, vet the i'm
agination loves 10 picture aud dwell OIL
the gorgeous pageants Of the gods.
Yonder clouds seem but a grand, glow
ing gateway to some land Of iuconceiy-
able splendor, fit habtation for diyin-
ity."
Yes, but those ancicuts found their
Imagination considerably restricted to
terra frma, and settled their gods very
comfortably on Mount Olympus"
Your practically is appalling, Miss
Breta; so no doubt YOU will consider
the question am about 10 ask YOU in
all its bearings. win you allow me to
accompany you in your walk on the
beach? was wandering along in the
most detected frame ofmlnd till caught
sight OF Aphrodite lingering with the
sea and half embraced by It's cloudy
spray. The bewitching VISION lured me
inscnsibly nearer to be reused from con-
temptation OF the alI-conquering god
dess by her very mundane words and
actions; it remains TO you now 10 re-
pair the injury done 10 my aesthetical
nature by the charm oil your highly IN
structive conversation"
| looked him fairly in the face now
with unfeigned scorn.
"Your time must hang heavy on your
hands when you have nothing better to
do than follow peaceful pedestrians with
tauntlng words of hattery. Were / a
man, could find better occupation"
Pardon; you know | was only Jest
ing and spoke as would to other young
ladies'. ! see my mistake, and if you
can overlook it this time, will promise
never TO offend in that way again"
81 suppose | will have TO be magnan-
imous and accept your apology and
company, but fear you will find my
society dull. am peculiarly blue this
evening"" and gazed across the water
with such wild despair 10 my eyes
that my companion was touched.
"1f you will tolerate me, Will be
happy he said, IN such deep, sympa-
thetlc tones that tears came into my
eyes, but with proud elevation Of my
head / forced them back, and stood
calm and stone like, with no sign oflife
but the futter of the pale rose ribbons
on hat and dress. Young, despairing
love is very wretched. He watched
me silently a few moments, then quiet
ly took my hand, drew il through his
arm, and IN the same low tones but with
a decision to which | unconsclously
yielded, SAID
Come, you must not stand longer
in this dampness. We will walk"
/ felt nothing but the warmth and
light of his presence; ] knew, but it
seemed like dream, that he was close
beside me, bending towards me with
passion in his face that made eve-
ny fibre Jingle. would be com
PEELED TO look a. him, but resisted The
influence till realized that / was
mastered at last; then, with strange
delight could resist no longer,
looked up. With a cry we were in
each others arms. He held me close
70 his heart, and | could feel its quick
beating as my head lay on his breast.
50 was conquered, yes, conquered; no