The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-17

] Myrtle returned. He scarcely thought Of Miss
! Smith during his visit except when Jim made
some aiiusion to her. Jim was an addition to
the old-time parties and one not at all TO Char
| leys mind He kept ahangug around Myrtle
entirely too much and his remarks about Miss
| Smith always seemed peculiarly inappropriate.
| Charley wondered how on earth he had ever
| heard of Miss Smith, and what business it was
| of his 10 be limiting anything
There had been another addition to the family
/ gatherings in the way of beau for his sister
Dora. For two weeks these three young men
| and the six girls had high old time together,
| sleighing, skating and even coasting From the
| latter sport Myrtle and Fannie abstained. They
were too stuck-up. the others said, since they
had been to school at Boston. 1t was
! not often that Charley had a chance to see
| Myrtle alone. There were so many, and
they were nearly always together But at
length, weary of general conversation in which
Myrtle seldom had much to say, he procured a
| sleigh only large enough for two and took her
away from the crowd away from Jim. away
| from all the world, not sound to be heard but
| the muffied tread of the horse and the merry
jingle of the sleigh bells; nothing to be seen but
| the mountains, and the snow, and the stars
In these rides he learned to know Myrtle as he
| had never kDwn her before. And he loved her
as it is only granted to us once in life to love-
| 1t was the last night before her return to
| school. They gliding for the last time
over the silent snow. The tinkling of the horses
bells alone broke the stiffness Of the night and
spirit of sadness seemed to settle over them. He
| drew In the relns and allowed his horse to walk
| as slowly as he would
when will you finish SCHOOL," was asked.
Il shall complete the regular course in june
| but intend to take special course in music
next year"
''Then it will be more than year before you
come home for gooda"
YES"
THAT seems like long time"
The most commonplace words are sometimes
| the vehicle for thoughts far other than literal
do6p of fhop, vOr,ld ha ord ha
| comes medium for the tone, and the tone will
mean the same, be the word what it may. A
| free translation of his last remark was:
Il love , you Myrtle, more than have the
Eyes, it seems like a long time, were the
| words she used What she said was, II have
| loved you since we were children together"
| Oh! language IS so weak when We would tell
| the feelings of our hearts. But Nature has
| given symbols more potent than words. Who
| can tell how it happens? One hour of perfect
| happiness is given to each of us, l think, that
| we may know thereafter the nothingness of life.
| This hour was theirs.
Myrtle when you come back from school
| will you be- ny"
| The sentence was never finished. With cry
of horror, cry of despair, she tore herself from
| his embrace.
Remember, Miss Smith"
| At first he did not understand. "What do
II mean it is not right, when you are already
engaged"
Who saws am engaged3" he cried, angrily.
"Everybody!"
There flashed across his mind the thought Of
nightngales, the Southern moon-"oer the
| mountains"-"break too SOON" Several things
| now required to him with meaning. The
| cordial reception he had met with the evening
he took tea with the family, Miss Smiths Il
knew you never cared for me because were
rich. the half UNDECIDED little jokes that had
passed around the table, all came back now to
tell him that though loving and beloved, his
lips were sealed. His heart sank within him,
and he knew now what that sensation meant
He could not deny it. But ne told her how it
happened; how he had no thought but one of
sympathy with girl in distress; how she had
taken everything for granted, and al! the long,
dreary tale.
Now" he said. "can any ore say am bound
when never spoke one word of love to her all
the timer
Charley, it is a common saying that actions
speak louder than words but it is none the less
true; and you are bound
Her words were to him funeral knell But
he rallied. He resolved to free himself from the
ENHANCEMENT and return and claim Myrtle
his bride. He said AS much.
mo" she said; my love and my respect must
60 together"
Little did he know what pain the proud words
cost her. And who can say that had he cut loose
from the net Iii which he was ensnared, she
would, loving him she did, have had the more
| than human strength to abide her resolution.
They were before her fathers house. He
| refined up the horse and the next minute was
| handing her from the sleigh
Myrtle, | must say good bye to you now /
| shall not come with the girls tomorrow to see
| you off," She gave him her hand, and holding
| it in his own, he continued, DO you remember
| when parted more than two years agog
| Il remember" All, she did indeed remember.
| She had lived on that parting kiss for many
| day.
II may never see you again, and if obey you
| the life before me will not be happy one
| 0, love, give me one more kiss to look back
| and rememember when" The blood mantled
| to her cheek but she di1 not turn it to him
before. 1t was her lips that now met his in all
| the earnestness of love- in all the wild abandon
ment of love that loves in vain. 1t was long be-
| fore he suffered her to withdraw. AT last they
| parted in silence, and he gone.
| She watched the sleigh glide down the road
heard the last tnke in the distance of the horses
| bells and when she had thrown her aching head
| upon her pillow sob after sob convulsed her
| bosom till at last she fell asleep.
| When Charles went back to his business it
with the firm resolve to break with Clytie. come
what might might. He stuck close to his work
all day, and In the evening returned to it again.
| He must make up for lost time, re said. He
would have Como mad if he could not have
worked. AS it was,
1.-THE sad mechanic exercise,
Like dull narcotics soothing pain"
! Brought him something that seemed like relief
rest such the Siberian exile feels at the end of
| each days weary stage that takes him further
| from his home.
| 1t was three weeks after bis return before he
| could muster strength to go to Clytie. He was
! resolved to show her that she had msconstrued
| his actions. He was confident that so far as
| words were concerned he had been discreet He
| had never asked her to marry him. had not
| even told her that he loved her ''What can she
| have to reproach With ne asked himself
again and again, as he sat in the parlor waiting
| for her. Presently he heard her come slowly
| down the stairs She dragged herself into the
| room with step far different from the one with
| " hich she used to run to welcome MIN. He had
pictured to himself how he would extend one
| hand to her and not seem to understand when
| she raised her lips for him to kiss; how he would
call her Miss Clytemnestra, and how she would
then address him as Mr. MONTGOMERY But she