The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-08-09
AFTER MANY DAYS.

the parlor, and one Of the voices thrills her
as no other voice has ever done-Kingsley
Dunhau,'s voice.
ale is singing with her," she says, and
shadow crosses her face and settles in her
eyes, making them look as if tears are not
far away. She puts out hand with q
gesture Of repulsion, as if to put away fate.
.S,he does not need his love as l do" she
cries. with bitter rebellious feeling at her
heart II more than half believe she does
not care for it. But he thinks she does.
And she will accept it, while I, who would
value it more than all the world, or a thou
sand worlds, am left to remember and re-
greet that the only mans love l ever cared
for was not for me-"
Then the outstretched, rebellious hand
drops heavily at her side and tears come.
Hot, passionate tears, fresh from the heart
that is full Of the dumb ache that comes to
those who believe that their love is valued
as lightly as a wayside flower would be by
TIE man to whom it was given.
Then she listens again. She hears Mary
Crayle's voice, clear and flute like in its
sweetness, but it makes no such music in her
Leart as that other voice does. Years may
coma and go, but the sound of that voice
will linger there forever. Her heart will be
haunted by it as life is haunted by the
ghost of a dead but unforgotten love. Hers
will be haunted heart and haunted life,
she thinks as she hears Kingsley Dunham's
voice ring out in silver melody in the song
he is singing with Mary Grayle.
II am a foolish creature" she says pres
emily. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself,
Alice Crawfords To love a man who cares
nothing for you and behave in this silly way
about it, Haven't you any pride. If you
have it's time you began to make use of it.
A woman is fool to give her heart to any
man unasked. and yet"
And yet Alice Crawford knows as many
other women do, that many a woman's
heart is given without the asking. a feeling
of shame comes over her to think it is SO in
her case but she knows it is useless to deny
the truth.
She brushes away her tears and forces her
self to be calm She then goes down the
stairs and enters the parlor.
Miss Grayle looks around from the piano
as she comes into the room, and says:
kingsley has just been wondering why
you did not come. We want your help. He
has brought us some music"
Alice Crawford hardly dares trust herself
to look at the man who stands by the piano.
But she feels his eyes upon her, and it is as
IL he compelled her to look at him. In the
look she gives him there is something like
defiance. He has made her love him-with-
out knowing it himself, perhaps-and she
will not let him see how her heart responds
TO his lightest touch if she can help it. She
has resolved to conquer her heart Pride
shall help her to do it.
Ali but it is easier to talk of conquering
hearts than to do it. She will find it so.
Kingsley Durham bows, with smile
Frightening his eyes sunshine brightens a
spring that has been in shadow.
I'VE have missed your voice sadly in our
singing" he says. "Shall we go over the
music again, now that you are here to try it
will u.s."
@If you please" she answers, and goes to
the piano and puts Miss Grayle between the
Stra Iowa nd hor ic
action. Has not Miss Grayle come between
their iiv s.
Then they sing
Alice Crawford has never sung more brill
iantly but here is something in her singing
that Kingsley Durham has never noticed
before-something that jars like discord.
They cut of tune, many other voices
and lives have been.
Once she looks toward him and catches
him watching her with earnest, puzzled
look in his face. He seems to be trying to
comprehend her her MOOD A flush of
color comes into her cheeks and she turns
away abruptly. Does he guess her secrets
The thought brings with it u kind of fierce
anger. 1t is hard enough to know that she
loved him; she can not bear to feel mans
elation over her weakness. Anything but
that
By-and-by they tire of singing They sit
down together and talk of this and that
She feels that Kingsley Dunhan is watch
ing her, and she is on guard over her heart.
Her mood Is changeable. One moment she
is gay and her conversation sparkies with
wit and jest. Then, suddenly, sAasseems to
shrink back into a cold reserve. He has
never felt that he understood her, and less
tonight than ever before. She is puzzle
70 him. 1t perpiexes, and fascinates, and
battles him.
Hiss Grayle gets up and goes out of the
om- An awkward silence follows her
going. He breaks it by saying:
Il misc your face at church last Sab
BATH
Il am not going any more" she answered.:
''at least not to your church. do not like
DR.. Canfield's sermons"
She does not tell the truth. For the truth
is she is not going there because she has
made up her mind to conquer her heart and
the work, which will be difficult at best,
will be more difficult if she sees him often
She must keep away from him as much as
possible.
Il am sorry" he says. Il have grown ac-
customed to seeing your face there, and l
always find it hard to give up familiar faces
when care for them"
His voice is low almost tender She feels
his eyes upon her face, though she does not
look at him.
Il must go back to my work soon," she
says, trying to make her words sound quiet
and commonplace. 81 have had long and
pleasant rest and begin to tire Of doing
nothing. L"
Then Miss Grayle comes back and she gets
UP suddenly, leaves her sentence unfinished,
and goes to the piano and begins playing a
dashing little fantasia that hasn't particle
OF soul in it.
He does not stay long. He excuses himself
by saying that he has work to do and he
feels in the mood for doing it. He says good
evening to Miss Grayle and then stops by
the piano.
II have something l want to say to you
some time" he says, and then pauses as if at
n loss.
Il suppose you want to tell me how