Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-12-13
Brainard was mot to be hurried.

said at last. lhe truth Is, Gfey, lhyr
"a and | are too unlike. | am no mat,
for sudden sparks and flashes that dazzle
and bewitch me ou; of my senses. Bu
l cannot follow her; cannot keep pace
with her flights; | cannot half compre
hend her. There is something in her lif'
which my life cannot grasp. And ther
she looks at me with vague, reproach
ful wonder in her eyes which is too much
for my philosophy. She is a skylark anc
am q clod."
=. But admitting your comparison for
moment" | said, "skylarks build their
nests upon the solid ground. Did it ever
occur to you that your hardy, rugged
strength might be more to Thyrza Har
rington than all the brilliant parts, al
the merely aesthetic civilizations in the
world: Besides, there is certain sort
Of knowledge-whether it comes by in.
tuition or otherwise-that women gair
earlier than men,"
Hal shook his head.
"All very well in the abstract" ne re-
marked -" but you see 1t does not touch
this case. What is a man to do when hC
sees that the woman who has promised
to marry him feels deficiencies in him
and when he knows that his failure to
meet the wants Of her nature and TO give
full sympathetic recognition TO what shC
regards as best and highest in herself,
Is constant trouble to her: Tell me
that"
was silent, trying to think what
should say-wha, it was best to say.
Presently his hand fell heavily upon my
knee.
Tell me one thing more, he added,
in a low, intense voice. " What is one
TO do when he believes, even when he
does not know of a surety, that there wa:
man in the world-in her world, toe
who could be to the woman he loves
all that he has failed TO be: What should
he do in such a case ::
Hal"
Il believe Just that, Grey; | have be-
licyed it for six months Pleasant state
of things isa't it :"
"Now that YOU have said that much
you must say more lanswered. What
DO YOU mean by these strange words
Have YOU seen Fayette B.ackmau
since he came back from Heidelburn;'
Never. Have not had glimpse OF
him."
That's because YOU were away SO
much for months before we enlisted. He
was in Hilltop half the time
He used to be a good enough sort OF
fellow before we went abroad, said.
IL hope they have not spoiled him over
there. Bat 1t i, not he you are talking
about"
1T Is, though" he answered, his face
darkening. " But tell YOU what It Is,
Grey, will not do the man injustice.
lie is just the one to charm the fancy OF
girl like Thyrza. He is all that | am
not-all that she wishes | was. lie Is
interested in all the things that interest
her-in poetry, music and everything
that am such dolt about. He can
lead her where | only follow her aiar of,
and with his careless grace Of manner.
his easy flow Of talk, | feel ike a great
clumsy idiot beside him.
"Fayet,e BIackman may be Adonis
and Apollo and Mercury all in one Tor
aught | know" | replied. Il will not
dispute you, but it does not follow that
you have any occasion for jealousy.
Ny words stung him, and he sprang
up from the log on which he was sitting.
jealousy" he cried. Am jeal-
Gus: DO you look at i, in that way !;
Jealousy"
"B wha; else it :" l asked. " Look
here, Hal; do you think that because a
woman is engaged-or married, even
she must become at once blind and deaf.
can understand how cultivated wo-
man may enjoy the society Of 4 cultivated
man, and yet not have the slightest idea
of falling in love with him"
Il spoke in some heat, for had al
ways loved Thyrza Harrington.
He turned white as a sheet.
You do not COMPREHEND he said,
with a certain quiet dignity. Il am
casting 10 aspersions upon Thyrza. 1t
is not easy for man TO say what have
said tonight, and you may have misun-
derstood the words wrung from me by
pride and passion. l do not think size
is even aware how this man has become
between her and me. But | see it and
what am | to do about it: Am TO sit
still, like craven, and let her drift help
lessly into my arms, when | believe she
would be happier inthe arms Of another !:
What am | to do about it, Grey y
:" For Gods sake, do nothing rash.' /
exclaimed, drawing him out into the road,
where the few remaining rays of daylight
fell upon his face. u do believe you are
mistaken, Hal. For Gods sake, and for
your own souls sake, do nothing rash ~
"I will not act hastily; and will try
to do what seems to be right" he said,
putting his arm over my shoulder. " Bat
life plays at cross purposes with US from
first to last"
He stood for moment looking off in
to the west, where the camp-ires of the
grand army stretched away for miles and
miles, twinkling like stars in the distance.
Near by, our own white tents looked
ghostly.like in the gathering darkness.
Occasionally aroll of the drums sounded
like far-off thunder, or a buglc note shot
upwards through the stiffness. Hal turned