Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-29

|
lane and Ter Chloride of Nitrogen alley9
81 think" meditated Cottle, "that one
day in this town will satisfy me. Ihls Is
not the kind of place for vacation. l
shall leave this chemical laboratory to-mor-
row. l prefer to worship nature as
whole, not in dissected shape"
But fate had other things IN store 1or
this sweet singer AS he was retracing his
steps toward the hotel a young woman in
the bloom of her beauty passed him. Cot.
tie had seen many lovely creatures, but
never one like this. Her face was to him
perfect poem, shrine of loveliness at
which he Immediately fell down and wor-
shipped. Cottle's dress and manner were
different from those of the scientific inhab-
itants of Noesis, and he attracted the young
lady's attention. She looked at him as
she went by, and for "a moment he bathed
in tine light of the two most glorious eyes
he had ever seen: 1t was enough. From
that moment the poets soul was in chains.
He stood transfixed on the spot, gazing af-
ter her as she slowly walked down the
street. A small boy passed him at that
moment, Cottle seized the youth ny the
shoulder with convulsive grasp.
"Who is she?'' he demanded in a whis
per.
| "Who's who?" inquired the youth.
'sYonder maiden with the fathom less
eyes,"
The boys glance followed the direction
of Cottle's extended finger.
"That's Miss Hypatia Green, professor
off,
''Say no morer' exclaimed Cott,e, inter
rupting him; she is an angelr'
"Ah, go way!'' exclaimed the boy, as he
started down the street; 'tare you luna
tic?''
Cottle meditated moment. Was he a
| lunatic? No; it was impossible. He must
| be sane. Such face could only be the
outward evidence of truly lovely soul.
She must have q warm, true, womanly
heart.
''Noesis p exclaimed Cottle, 'syou are The
town for me. Yeu may be full of physics
and mathematics and chemistry and astron-
omy, but where that face is there is poetry
enough for one mans life, and here I stay"
EPISODE H.-SHE DOES NOT LOVE HIM.
"And do you never feel longing for
something deeper, sweeter, stronger than all
this array of cold, scientific facts %
81 do not see how anything could be deep
er or stronger, and If by your peculiar use of
the comparative term 'sweeter' you mean
to indicate dearer, must reply that to every
well-regulated mind science is tic dearest
thing on earth.'
81 am afraid do not understand you"
"And | am quite sure donot understand
you.'
That was the way Hypatia Green and
Alfred Swinburne Cottle talked after
months acquaintance. The young poets
vacation had stretched out from two weeks
to seven. He had met Hypatia, had gazed
into her wonderful eyes, and had been less
able than ever to fathom their secrets. He
loved her deeply, distractedly he would
rot have been poet if he had not done
that. But when he talked like poet to her
she did not appear to comprehend him at
all. She took all his metaphors seriously,
and was utterly unable to grasp an analogy.
If he used an argument, however, she could
spring to its logical results long before he
could. She was puzzle to him and he was
to her. Hypatia had never met man like
this before; she did not understand all his
talk about beauty and the value of art
Once he praised her face, and that really
astonished her.
"Why, Mr.. Cottle, what do you mean ?"
81 mean that your face is beautiful. Don't
You know what beauty is ?''
'eNo, what is it?"
eIlectlon oi appearances.
',But appearances are of SO little con-
sequence"
'sCan you not understand the delight that
one feels in gazing upon field OF waving
grain
eyes Of course one naturally feels de-
| lighted to see the rich results of rational
labor
Cottle groaned. 1t was enough to make
any man groan. Here was woman with
the face and form of a Greek goddess who
could not be made to understand that she
was beautiful. From that time forth Cottle
never again talked of beauty. He talked of
love. He tried tc find the silent chord
within her heart that passion might awaken
but all his efforts seemed useless. The con-
versation with which this chapter opens oc-
CURED as they were on their way to we'd
ding. He thought that the beautiful cere-
mony might touch her heart he was DOOM
ed to disappointment and dismay. The
town of Noesis had wedding service of it's
Own, and this was what Cottle heard:
"Will you take this woman to be your
lawful welded wife, to have and to hold and
to protect in sickness or in health, until
death you shall part? Will you provide her
with properly constructed home wherein
the laws of rational sanitation are strictly
complied with, and will you see that she is
provided with food and clothing scientifi-
cally prepared? And will you provide her
with such books and periodicals as may be
necessary for the proper pursuit of her
studies And will you agree to provide for
such children as yeu may have, nurses who
shall take care Of them while this woman is
engaged in scientific experiments ?''
Il will.''
"Will you take this man to be your law
full welded husband, to have and to hold
and to obey, save when his commands are
contrary to the laws of science? And will
you promise to aid and assist him in all
scientific works, even until the end of your
llfe?'
'I will.''
The word Glove" was not mentioned in
the ceremony. Cottle began to fear that it
was not known in Noesis.
''Tell me, he said to Hypatia as they left
the church, "do you know what love is ?''
"Of course do.''
Cottle's heart gave great leap. Hypatia
continued:
Glove is the affection one has for ones
parents and brothers and sisters"
Cottle's heart fell again with great force.
"But did you never hear" said he, ''of
love for one who was not relative ?''
"Oh, yes,' she answered, "for we are
told in that part of the Bible which science
permits us to believe that we must love our
neighbors as ourselves, and suppose we all
do to certain extent,-that is, I don't
think much about ii myself but have no
objections to any one who does not interfere
with my work"
''Do interfere with your work?''
'tNOt in the least.''
''Then you have no objection to me ?''
"No, can't say that have any objec-
ton to YOU"
"Do you think you ever will have?"
''No, think not"
'Do you think that you could always be
happy in my presence ?''
"Why, how strangely you talkr'
"Hypatia, it is useless for me to conceal
it longer-I love you. Will you be my
wife?''
"What for?''
"Because love you desperately.
I cannot live without you"
'ls that what you call poetry?''
'sNo, no, it is the solemn truth"
ooh, no, it is not. You can live very
we'll without me. OF course I am q good