New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11


of heart if you Withhold your 6euet from my bare
assertion. Yet a wise man once SAID; oeileFe u
because It is incredible. For ten long years mao
never once dispensed with my strrup-cup ON RS
inu of a morning: aud We: 10 ~ TACT that my OhlV-
ion oil tho previous evening was repeated on TINS
very morning. | left my morning draugut' my
nick -mcup' untouched on my blessing table, ana
silhcd forth with brisk step and smiling FACE 10
greet my fair companions. l had AGAIN literally
forgotten my temporary remed{-my chrome poi
son Nav more, encouraged by the unOOtTuslNe
but ever-rradv sympathy OF my now constant COM
panons | never once rolapsed INTO my FORMER nap
its of excess during the whole OF the ensuing week
Having the house entirely to ourselves Tor the sea-
son was uoW tar advanced, we naturally became III
srparables Together we ENJOYED our daily walks
and excursions, shared the same meals held our
long and ever more sympathetic ana conhdentlal
f,fe-d-ftieI IN q snug corner OF the pubic sitting
ROOM 1t caused none of us the least surprise when.
at tho weeks end We felt as If we had never been
STRANGERS to each other.
=" one of ms. at least. the idea of parting. per
hans forever became almost insuppOrtS6le. For
getting my former presentiment, had now become
a prey 10 the daily incubus OF an Impending iare-
WELL Yet was not in love- Long sInce had /
taught myself the btter lesson that celibacy IN lts
drcaricst aspects and phases, was my preordalned
lot was more than what society calls detr-
mental / was literally an impossible Such, at
least was the stern Judgment when my self -scrut-
nizing conscience had finally and irrevocably pro-
nuuuced against myself My morbid SensltlVeho5S
aud quick selt-cOnscou had, as 10 were
branded me, TO my own eyes with the stlgna-the
bitter brow mark-of a social CAIN But the eyes
beholds its object through colored spectacles.
The last evening had arrived that We were 10
sI end together: and proposed farewell Visit 10
the Lake OF the Col tavorite place OF resort LOT
tourists A brief half-hOurs Walk from the auoerge
brought us thither Never was more ioVeiy au-
tumnal evening" All three sat down silently on
the shore side by side. No one uttered werd LOT
some minutes: each of us thought the more. A
light shower had fallen little while before, and
the distant mountain range was still spanned by
the faint arch OF u rainbow. We looked long ut 1t
and al each other alternately aid speecnessly.
The stiffness Mt last became oppressive. for there Is
n silence which, like darkness may he felt! The
spell was broken by Sylvia.
How beautiful is Wonder rainbow y she said
Yes murmured, half unconscious and just
M wonder brilliant arch melts away into the dusk
of the cleaning. 40 shall the brighter hues CT my
prese mt life fade again into the outer darkness of
the past
Yet, she whispered, edging unconsciously nearer
TO me- there IL beautiful old Greek faole W hch
represents Iris rs the chosen messenger OF the gods
to mankind, the divine harbingor of hope and love.
The last mOnOsyllabo iiutteTed little thought.
on her lip and caused mo nsJinctively to raise my
face to hers She slightly changed color and IN
that single glance read the oracle OF 80 woman
eye. Yet, even then. my conscience smote me- anf
shrank and recoiled from accepting the full inter-
probation. Involuntarly l clasped her hand and
passonately ex claimed:
Sylvia! would TO Heaven we had never met or
met never more to part. Nature has endowed you