The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-23

every year. And when / did look at it it
was only with one hurried glance of the
eye, one thrill and spring of the heart, lest
I sinned, lest 1 made him sin, and /
wrapped it the closer away again. But
the day after 1 had seen that face was al
ways day of mourning. And at last l
knew that he had no longer wife; and
year went by year and year, and ne had not
come. Sometimes, in wandering and think
ing, my heart would beat so loud that it
seemed as if only fasting and prayer would
still it, and I blushed and burned to think
/ wasted throb on one who had long ago
ceased to care, who never came to see; and
one day I took his picture, that of the
boyish beauty and that of the stalwart man,
and burned them both to ashes, and prayed
that my love might burn to ashes with
them, and my heart be cold and at peace
in that my 6ftieth year.
But if | had not learned every line OF
the latter picture by heart, whether would
or not, might have not known Maskelyn
when he came sauntering by the gate that
night, and gave look at the porch, and
started as if a bolt had struck him, and
stopped and leaned his folded arms on the
gate, and stared at me as | sat there.
He knew me. In the softly beginning
shadows of the twilight, my face seemed
hardly changed, and air and attitude were
still the same He knew me but did not
believe in me; he thought something had
happened to his brain or else that he saw
vison in trance. He lifted his hat and
rubbed his forehead; he half turned to go
away, then he wheeled about, opened the
gate, and came slowly up the path, with
his solemn gaze still fixed upon me- All,
how sweet the honeysuckle breath came,
stirred by his advancing motion.
"Liviar he said.
"Maskelyn!'' l replied. And | felt as
he did-impossible to say whether l was
dead or alive, whether it is this world or
the next, whether l really saw him, or it
was as it had been many times, before,
that dreamed l did. And then [ said to
myself :-"The worst has come. l shall
hear presently that Maskelyn is dead. y
But he was saying to himself and yet
heard him :-"Can it be? 1t is so? Her.
self? In the old home My God If she
should yet be free" And then a glad cry
and we were in each others arms. And
we were fifty years old. Too old for such
ioy; and [ drew back all blushing and
ashamed, only to be taken in those arms
again. He broke off bye-and-bye branch
Of the honeysuckle, and twined it in my
hair
"What would Belle and Alice say ?"
murmured.
"Who are Belle and Alice ?" said he
And in the sudden jealous spasm that
had, realized anew my fifty years and
their twenty.
II am SO DID," I said, "and they are sc
youngP'
"For me you have eternal youth" he
answered. awe are going to live back
ward all the years in which l have lost
you, since you are so good, my angel, ai
to love me still; to refuse to reproach me
to forgive me"
And sometimes I ask if they to whom
fate seems kinder, and gives smooth cur
rent of love in their early season, have hall
the depth of delight in it that they fine
who at later day love with the concen
trated force that, spread out over all the
intervening years, might have been shaI
low and stagnant pool. Did | love Mas
kelyn any better at twenty? Not any
fraction so dearly. Did he love me more
cannot answer for that. One could hardly
love more than an abject worshipper loves {
saint in her shrine, and so he seems to love
And so I am to be married tomorrow
sit here in daze, while Belle and Alic,
are weaving garlands on the steps below
1t does not seem to strike them as any
thing strange. "We were always sure yor
had a romance and a hero, Miss Livia,
they say. "Oh, it is like reading a new
chapter. And you are going to come bacl
here, after you have seen the great world
and never let us lose you?" And forget
as see him coming up the walk while
they weave, that / can no more ride ant
ramble without fatigue, for now I have al
arm on which to lean; and l know that
shall thrill once more to sunset and sun
rise. water scene and mountain view, To-
there will be eyes to double all the beauty
and reflect it back on mine. [ forget tha
any time has been stolen from me when
look at Maskelyn's face, that has onl..
grown stronger and more rugged and no
Bile in the full light of his noon. thanl
heaven, that is letting me begin this life
however short the life may be, SO blessed
so blessing, although at fifty years.