The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-08

Mlicn TINS stranger was possessed of
without being sad his face was grave
grave for his one-and-thirty. years; bu
once. as he suddenly looked. up ans
smiled at some Renaissance of his faith
er youth, of which Mr. Lorraine wa.
speaking, Sydney noted the light it len
TO his face, changing il in moment
addlng sweetness to the lines about tn:
mouth, and lighting as with sunshine
the blue eyes. His talk was chiefly Will
Mr. Lorraine, and with him about the
papers and books on botanical subject:
which he had brought from his father
he appeared to be not ignorant him
self OF the subject, and spoke as if i
were one on which he was accustomed
to express opinions. And sydney grew
quiet and listened, and then found hel
thoughts drifting away into speculation
OF what his home might be like, anc
what his life might be-
Il suppose he is soldier" recalling
his nationality. L dare say father has
told me, but | quite forget"
You are very quiet. Sydney" Hel
fathers voice recalled her to the fact
that dinner was over. Are you going
to show Count Lindenheim our beauti-
ful garden?"
NO, father, am not" And then
turning in an explanatory manner to
her guest, Whenever father saws that. >
| she began, 1T means that he hopes ]
am going somewhere where shall re-
| main ignorant of the fact that he is writ
ing or reading by eandle-light. And
that is forbidden"
"She takes great care of me-" remark
J ed Mr.. Lorraine, "and, unfortunately. il
is impossible to deceive her.
True, father. and that kind of wo-
man Is very tiresome III everyday life' y
And Why"
She had spoken jestingly. but Count
Won Llndenheim' S eyes were turned
| gravely upon her, as if demanding an
explanation of her random words.
We'll, why, Sydney?' her fatherques-
! toned also during the little pause.
Il feel as if [ were an oracle she re-
| piled, having to give two answers to
| the same question. To u0u. father. be-
| cause, speaking from experience, men
+, are always doing things that they do
not wish to be found out" And then.
her voice changing, and losing its light
| tones as she rose, and turned toward
| the earnest eyes still turned toward her.
Because men can never quite rise to
| the same heights they were on, before
| they were found out"
Having. spoken she walked away and
| left them, and she was notquite certain,
| DIS no COlnucHt 1oUoNeu ueT words,
whether the rapid English had not "a lit
| tie perpleXed him.
But apparently it was not so. for a
very short time afterward. as she sat in
| the low window-seat towing with the
peacock fan she again held. the door
opened to admit the two men. And al
most Immediately the younger walked
! over to her side, and picking up the
| conversation where they had left it off:
Then you think that no man can re-
main what a woman believes him to
be-" he asked.
THAT he must be found out? That is
exactly what | told father"
"Ahi but the oracle must not mingle
its answers. Mine was d;fferent-and I
disagree with it"
And Why" she asked, her voice
growing more serious. and the fan fall
ing unnoticed on her lap. do you
think that the woman is deceivable, or
! that the man would never do anything
that he would not wish hel, to know? l,
| you know, only deplOred her keensight-
edneSs-it is her misfortune"
NO, il is not, there disagree. But
| is 1t fair to put us ON heights. and then
blame us because you find out we are
| not capable of remaining there? 1t is
blaming the idol, when You should blame
Perhaps" she said thoughtfully.
He had spoken seriously, but when he
noted how grave her face was, he smiled.
| And then, NO, no." he added; I'VE
won't quarrel, when after all we are
agreed. 1t is truth, truth. we are both
| defending; you only say you deplore its
! presence sometimes. because it shows
| up what we should notdiseover without
| its light. And l say, better discover it. -
And still am not sure" she made
| answer more lightly, IF it were not bet
| ter to live in a fools paradise to the last
| moment posSiblei"
Don't answer her, Lindenheim, :" Mr..
| Lorraine said who had drawn near. "She
| would state anything to lead one into
| an argument, and would always say the
| thing most likely to cause spirit OF
| contradiction to rise in her hearer. ]
| know her better than to take the adroit-
| ly disguised hook. Enough of argu-
ment. Sing, Sydney, sing"
1T is postponed" said Sydney, philo-
sophically. Il will sing. And you also
l am sure" turning to her guest. ~Our
united talents will, | am Sure-father, y
breaking off suddenly.
MY dear child, yes"-in rather a hur-
| ried manner-~what is it,"
There was guilt in the tones of your
voice. Where are you?"
Il am here" rather neryously: Il can
hear you perfectly. Sing Yesterday" ,"
Sydney gave little slight shrug as
she sat down at the piano. There is
no use being too strict" she remarked
smiling. One must overlook shortcom-
ings as often as it is possible"
| Particularly when they make people
happy"
"That is very bad reason" she be.
gan.
~We are arguing again. he said. THAT
has also been forbidden. Let me hear
the song first"
She sang one or two simple little Ger
man songs that suited her voice. and
her listener remained ON by her side
| whilst the twilight deepened so gradu-
| ally. that very soon the one bright spot
in the room came from the candles on
the piano. Then she paused. and asked
But now it is your turn, do you not
sing?"
NO" he answered, but / play"
She gave up her place TO him. and re-
sumed the seat where she had been be-
fore, in the low window-seat by the
| open window.
The night had grown still and quiet
the rosy lights had all vanished, and
| thousands of stars shone overhead in
the clear blue sky. The gentle stirring
of the acacia trees below. the soft scents
that the night air was bringing from
the roses and honey-suckle, seemed tC
belong to some different world from tht
one in which she had dreamed away the
| afternoon hours. Perhaps it was Men
delssohn's dreamy music. interpreted
| by master hand, that had somewhat
to do with the change. And when al
| length he rose and came and stood b,
her side he did not at once speak. anC
T..
seemed necessary.
1T is magic" he said. as round thu
corner of the dark building opposite
came a sudden stream of moonlight
that touched with silver the trees be
low.
~Yes, it is magic she answered 9
thought your playing had conjured i
up, and feared to speak, lest it should
all vanish away. But now that you hav,
spoken and the charm still works, le
me thank you"
aFor the musics All, that remind
me of home When | am there, | al
ways play until | am told to leave off
Nv father is very fond of music
And what does home consist OFF, sh,
questioned. He was standing in from
of her, leaning against the wlndow-sash
and she looked up at him as she spoke
The moonlight was touching her witt
its weird light, and he paused momen
before answering
Home consists of father and fiv
sons,D he said. Somehow a home want
a woman to complete it. always thin
so when am there, which is not otter
am soldier.
@Ah." she stirred a little and sat NOR
upright. And then. You have not
sister, she added as If that were no
the first thing she had meant TO say
NO. / have never had a sister, an
my mother has been dead many years.
Yes she said. after a pause. some
hn,xr hama dcgz seem "a ronIlirR a Wf