The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-10-14
TEN EYCK'S FRIEND.

Ten Eyck had fallen asleep on Ho
bart's lounge. As there was screen
before the lounge, Ten Eyck was, oi
course, invisible to any one else who
might enter the studio. The place was
empty when he had come in, but what.
ever belonged to Grant Hobart was
share and property $50 declared) Of
Warren Ten Eyck, and therefore, the
latter, having free entree and his own
key, felt at perfect liberty to sleep, read,
lounge, or amuse himself by any avail
able means, either in Hobart's presence
or absence.
So he had chosen, or, without choos-
ing, had happened to fall asleep on the
lounge behind the screen.
1t was nearly sunset when he awaken
ed, reused by sudden soft confusion
of sounds-the door closing gently,
footsteps in the room, then Hobart's
voice, another
Was he still asleep and dreaming
The voice was the voice of Helen Blaine,
the woman he was engaged to marry.
Ten Eyck half-rose, with smile on
his face, ready to call out welcome OF
greeting of some kind-for he supposed
this visitation to refer solely to him
self.
He was not sufficiently awake to re-
mind himself that Miss Blaine had no
possible means of knowing he was to be
found at Hobarts studio at that par
ticular time, especially as he had left
her in the morning with full intent to
spend the day with his cousins in
Orange.
At the first consciousness of her pres,
ence he rose, smiling, He had heard
her voice only; then, instantly after
ward, his sense made room for these
words, uttered in soft, purring tones,
half-scolding, half-coaxing
"And all these days that l have not
seen you, bad, careless boyl What
have you been doing with yourself, not
even to write TO your poor girl ?"
"My love aud my angel !" said Ho.
bart, softly. He seemed to think it
necessary to say no more.
Ten Eyck sat gasping, while long
kisses were exchanged. Itseemed as if
the world were crashing asunder and
failing his feet, but he kept firm hold
of himself amid the terrible conflict of
feeling and passion which had so sud-
denly assailed him.
He did what perhaps the niceties of
honor might condemn, but what ninety
nine honorable men out of hundred
would have done constrained himself
to resume again the attitude of Sleep
and listen with every fibre of his being,
mental and physical. And this is what
he heard between those long pauses
lovers delight in:
Glow fortunate we should meet |
You will put your bonnet of. You will
stay little while. Oh, but You must !
No one will come in now. / would
have tried to see you this eveningin any
case. knew Ten Eyck would be
away"
81 would rather be here than any
where in the world, dear-you may
know that but il will be dinnor-time
directly. Oh, don't tease about my
bonnet If you could see how my hair
is all screwed and twisted up, you would
beg me to keep my bonnet on. Do you
love mep Do you expect to be for
givenP Nearly week since I saw you,
1t Is week to-day, Grant"
81 have been so hurried and 30 wor.
ried, l am dead tired, dearest. Say
something sweet to your poor boy.
Don't scold and frowD, now that have
you to myself for five precious minutes.
expect you to pity, forgive and love
me. deserve il all.
Poor, dear darling There, and
there, and there would kiss away ali
your worries and your troubles il J
could. Dear old pet, what has happened
TO vex and tire him so?"
"I did not see my hearts delight fol
q whole week. Is not that sufficient
And now she scolds me-"