Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-09-20

w Ief hhfIiie' SIic Wofv thih Whitr
dress, wher, In reaching her arm up
ward, the material caught In tho flame
OF q candle aud blazed upward, She
uttered q slight scream, aud stood
paralyzcd with terror,
IIe tore of his coat aud threw Il
about her. With hut u few slight
burns, she was unharmed but as he
held her IN his arms, close TO his Wild
ly.bcating heart, no knew that sophis-
try and false reasoning lay IN the ruins
of his pride at his icct-thot he was
but man, aud she but q woman, with
the glorious dover of her beauty and
genius and that, TO gain her, hc would
count the world we'll lost.
Eleanor hc said in low, sup
pressed whisper; my lovel my wife !
But, It she had waited for these
words she heard them not, She had
swooncd upon his breast.
The next day, she would not sec
even him, so carefully must she rest to
be able to undergo the evenings per-
iormancc.
Each hour now which delayed the
telling of love dragged into IN eternity.
lie longed to see the marvellous eyes
forget their sadness, and to hear the
sweet lips murmur Yes to his wooing.
Evening came at last. AS usual,
the house was crowded. More lovely
than ever she appeared at the stated
time. The exquisite voice has lost
neither strength nor sweetness.
lIe had come TO the front of the box
tonight; he wished not to lose u sim
gle gesture. His glance dcvourcd her.
The opera was almost finished. II
was at the close of the third act of LA
Somnanmbula,' and Eleanor was sing
ing the pean of praise and thanks
giving which is so beautiful test of
vocal skill. Higher and higher rose
the lovely voice as she advanced to the
front of the stage, smiling ut the audi
encc, when suddenly her voice broke.
A man, clad in n common seataring
dress, had carelessly strollcd into the
building, and strangely enough saun-
tered into the aisle of the better por-
ton of the house. On him her glance
rested. Her face grew deathly pale.
Her hands clasped convulsively.-
Then she stretched out both arms
toward him, in sight of all the wonder
ing people.
pierre! Pierre!' she cried, and
oh, the matchless longing, the exqui-
site joy of those two simple words
Then recovering herself, she took
up the strain, where she had dropped
it, and ended it in II burst of melody
which seemed scarce human.
Like one man the house rose to
their feet, but the sailor stood as if
carved in stone. Like one walking
in his sleep, Jack Desmond left the
place.
What did the scene mean he had
Just witnessed? From one source only
might he learn; yet he dared not seek
the truth. Merciful heaven even
this torturing suspense were better
than the mere torturing certainly
But next morning came note con-
tanning but three words:
Come to me-
She was waiting for him.
Have | done wrong not to tell
you? she began. 'Ah, but l thought
1 never should see him more, my
Pierre He loved me {; but he was poor
and l had no dover, SO he went to
sea, and l sang, that 1 might save
enough to marry on his return. He
did not come, / thought he had for
gotten me but last night l saw him.
! am rich now-very rich. We can
marry. Oh, tell me are you not
glad for me?'
For moment the man heart beat
to sutfocation. He who loved her so
well to give her to this man of the
people, whom she preferred to him.
Yet might it not be that she did not
know her own heart? lie forced him
self to calmness.
Eleanor he said quietly, remember
your lover is where you left him.
You have scared far above him -
May you not regret your choiceT
with Pierre?' she questioned,
proudly. 'Ah, night and day through
all these years have dreamed of him.
You love no other?'
None.
And as she spoke, she raised her
eyes to his; but the veil Of sadnesss
had dropped-they were lustrious with
their newborn joy. They answered