Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-22

| do not look at me so-at twenty-four
woman is no longer young but You have
trihed, and come and gone, while my pa
rents have grown weary of waiting SO
| felt that l must put an end to their uneasi.
ness this | have done to-day. He who
neglects chance to be happy fully atones
for his error when he loses 1t completely
from his life. Do not blame me too Sc
verely it is better for you it is done and
cannot be undone.
You want to punish me-, cried des.
perateiy 90, believe me, when l say |
bitterly and deeply repent my folly; for.
give me, Annie you cannot be so cruel
as to call happiness lost, when it is yet in
your power to give, as soon as you
will -"
at is too late = said she sadly. "Even
if could I would not do it. You are not
only man, you are an artlst-never forget
that In art, as in life, you have gone,
hitherto dreaming outside tae hedges, in
stead of simply and bravely stepping into
the blooming garden. You threaten to
sink into apathy and idleness. Some
storm must sweep your soul and stir its
depths, and make you free and wideawake.
This storm ara she who sends it to you
o, do not be angry with me. When In after
years, you shall compose glorious song,
your heart will beat higher than If
you held in your arms loving wife
even me. Therefore give you, in
stead of the happiness you ask from me,
pain. And even if | am only woman,
yet can appreciate that sorrow is some
times grander and holier than love"
"Then you DO love me, Annie, broke
in hitter accents from nv lips,
Very dearly, she said. simply; and
for this reason We must part.
A sultry breeze came from the garden,
as we trod the narrow path between the
Indigenous which surrounded it. They
were rose hedges, which stretched far
away on them the slanting sunlight fell,
and over them the night moths huttered.
They seemed endless, these hedges but
suddenly they parted, a gate stood wide
open and before us lay the garden, with
its grayeled paths and beds in which the
flowers bloomed in masses of velvet soft
ness. She softly retarded her pace, but |
passed the gate, she following, quite dis
lance still outside the hedge-rows. A half
smile played a moment about her lips,
then it fed and her eyes began to dim with
unshed tears.
corn, two we'll known fgares the smaller
wore an immense straw hat and was gesti-
culating violently, while the other followed
him with head bent down, evidently &C.
quiescing.
"What is it, Annie ?" asked |, disturbed
in my dream, and turning my gaze from
the evening sky down upon her fearful
eyes.
She pointed gently to the advancing fig
ures. "Your old mistake, said she, with
forced gayety in the tones of her voice;
" just as ever you walk past the gate; per-
haps, to have this hour end sooner; or
perhaps you had already forgotten me and
had gone chasing along the hedges in
dreamland after half. finished symphonies
and night. moths.
"Do not jest, Annie, said | chokingly;
"my symphony has closed with sudden
transition into the minor. ., do not con-
denim me Look even on the hedges
bloom flowers, few and wild, truly, but
with an odor as painfully sweet as our last
moments together. Yet they are roses,
red roses, too, and they preach at least for
giveness, even if they do not signify love.
There were two late roses which had
taken from the heart of the hedge before
my lips touched them the leaves loosened
themselves YEARLY and fell in shower
over Annies beautiful dress.
YES" cried she, from her hearts
depths eyes, forgive you. You have
found roses along the hedge-wild, early.
fading blossoms. So take parting kiss
from me for moment enjoy the happi-
ness you have, dreaming, missed for you
must lose me forever
She had thrown herself into my arms
and lay motionless on my breast; her
brown hair blew against my cheek and for
a moment her full, red lips glowed against
my own. "Aud now" said she, "go and
be real artist. bless you and will ever
pray to God that the memory of this hour
may never be sffaced from your heart.
Farewell"
She freed herself from my encircling
arms. At the turn of the path tall figure
appeared it was her betrothed. At his
side she stood for while, looking across
the waving corn, in which the clang of the
sickle vet was heard then she walked
slowly into the garden. The birds were
silent, and over the castle the sunset cast
its dying glow; with 1t, dear friend, per-
ished my youths last hope,
1t is sad enough, yet feel clearly, that
though 1 dreamed away my all, it is not
lost; from the seed of those dreams sad.
ness and it's healing shall yet arise, as
Annie prays.
At your side let me begin the
work, you accomplishing, l striv-
ing. Let us go on a journey,
long, long journey. 1 will not
be alone; in my opinion, one does not re-
pent his folly in closter as truly as on
iife's wide ocean, breasting it's stormiest
waves. Art and life are wonderfully, deeply
earnest to their nights lead paths which
require wakeful eyes and contracted
thought, which must never, let the pros
pect be as alluring as it may, lose them
selves in the evening glow along the
hedges"