The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-08-27


have brought his picture for you. 1t
does not tlatter."
| lighted the gas that she might
show me the face of her lover. She
onwrapped the photograph with ten
der pride, and gave it into my hands.
1t was n pleasant face; | could not
wholly blame her A dark and pleas
ant face, with laughing eyes.
81 hope you may be very happy,
That was all that could say.
She took back the picture, pressed
it to her lips, and reiolded it in its It's
sue-paper covering.
When she had done this, she stood
there in silence, as if she had fallen
into some exquisite dream,
To the hour of my death | shall
never forget how she looked standing
there. The outlines of her body were
long and graceful; the gaslight over
her head made soft her features, and
cast deep shadows around her eyes
A tremulous ecstatic smile lowered
about her lips OF sudden she
seemed to me most beautiful-witl
the beauty of fragility.
adele" | cried, "do not stand you
are not strong Sit down at once"
She came slowly out of her reverie.
al must go now," she answered
"You wish me well, | know"
With an indefnablc impulse,
went close and took her hands.
81 wish you ever JOY. ! hope yot
may be very happy"
Every happy~ she echoed dream
lily. Good night" And before | re
allied it, she had gone.
What are premonitions? Are the.
identicle with misgivings, the unwel
come uncanny offspring of experience
and distrust?
A week later Adele said to me
81 pray that | may never have
daughter. | would not chance he
being cursed as | have been, by suf
fering. / would not feel the awfu
possibility that another woman nigh
live to ask for bread, and get stones
to weep her heart away in tears Q
blood"
"But you are happy at last" cried
"Ah yes!" she melted into smil
ing mood. Perfectly happy"
saw Randall Fielding that even
ing for the first time. He came t,
take Adele home. He impressed nj
as a goodnatured soul, and as ex
tremely fond of his betrothed H
did not, however, appear as one capa
bic OF intense feeling. 1t scenes
even possible to me that he might b
marrying Adele because she was pref
ty and dainty and loving, and becaus
he wanted a home. For myself,
have little faith in the love part OF
mans second marriage. Perhaps
, am too cynical,
A fortnight passed. And now
knew the day that they should wee
very quietly-no guests invited-or
: ly myself.
} The afternoon previous-that las
afternoon-Adele came to me for
last little visit.
! could not find any reason for til
, peculiar tenderness in my heart tC
) wards her that day. Tenderness an
| pity mingled there until | could hav
} wept without the slightest effort.
t could not have felt more strangel
/ had | known she would have gone t
her death upon the morrow.
: Love or denth, where lies the ditte
S ence, after all? And SOFA great Year,
D ing grew III my heart as we sat sid
r by side in the freight. And Adele
g plaintive voice sounded piteous as
t death-song.
She went away at last alone,s Fiel,
V ing did not call for her. They ha
(, not so arranged it, hated to hay
her goi held her hand close at par
4 ing. 1t seemed to me we might nj
G meet again,
'To-morrow," she gave me par
! ing injunction, "at two. Come earli
/, to help me dress"
/. And still / detained her
+ "You are very happy, Adele?'
!. 81 am happy enough to die"
y Goodbye, then and may Heavt
l. bless you, dear!"
| watched her disappear in the ca
s. ly darkness of the March evening
o watched until / could no longer $,
y anything. Then went back to n
freight,
| Happy enough 10 die!" | said
die? And all because she is about
Y fetter herself for life with what2 WI
G is this man, this Randall Fieldin
d Adele, that you should make an id
" Of him? Is he very noble, or great
If mind and heart? To me, very orr
II nary being, not very tall, and rath
d stout, looking asif bis food were easi
d digested, his nights pntronblea.
e What is any man, Adele? Al
Of mate clay! Would that you could $
N as | see but for an instant, and wa
d for ever after disenchanted.p
d, had dream that night. ! am
d, strong believer In dreams, To me
)" dream of water OF OF young obi
ID bodies trouble, distress.
D. | dreamed ! saw Adele rnnnil
O. with young child in her arms,
In off towards o tempestuops sea. T
10 wind blew bitterly the sky was pl
" pie with anger. stroye to overta
OF her, but she fed from sight, and
knew she had plunged into the sea-
/ awakened siek ut heart. Con
r. there be new trouble in store for hC
er Oh, merciful God prayed, ratl
Ie let her die
= Nevertheless, | set'about prepari
to attend her wedding.
ed v =
u The clock had Just ceased shjki
= the hour Of noon. 7 was brushing |
ly, hair before the mirror, when suddel
y. suddenly my arm fell at my ST