The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-03
SELECT STORY.
LOVES WINDING WAYS.

stepped in dreamy erohantment, in
soft golden light and delicious per.
fume, and yet-Oh, dear why can
all the world be happy?'
A fluttering, dolorous little sigh has
abruptly broken the soliloquy in two,
as it were, and seems out of harmony
with both of the scene and the speaker.
Yet troubled shadow had drifted into
the bright, girlish face as swiftly as a
dead roseleaf futters downward in the
wind.
Suddenly quick step sounds on the
crisp, brown grass behind her, and
"What ! Miss Amy Lester lehing,
as live !" calls out a ringing, mascu.
line voice in playful railery. "What
unheard of thing is going to happen
next, / wonder ?"
She gives slight start at first, but
glances up coolly enough into the fair,
handsome and half-laughing face of
the intruder, who has turned out of the
wide lane which intersects her path to
join her.
Haven't l right to my secret sor-
rows as well as other people p she re-
tOrts, with a smile aud flash of her
brown eyes which leaves him in doubt
as to whether she is in Jest or earnest.
"But really, Mr.. Gston. l didn't dream
of seeing you to-day. l thought that
thai"
"W.ll, and what did you think, Miss
Amy?" he questions softly, as she hes
i,ates and s,oops suddenly to pick up
some OF the gorgeously-tinted Autumn
leaves lying in the path.
"That you We're probably on your
way to the city by this time" she fin
ishes calmly, pinning the bright leaves
AN affective bit of color-against the
bodice of her dark dress.
"On my way to the city without say
ing good-by to you7 Surely you
didn't think / could do that, Amy Les.
ter d? Why, l was just going to call
on you when ! chanced to find you
here"
His voice has all at once lost its
playfulness, and, stopping in the path,
he imprisoned in his own the little
hands that are neryously toying with
the leaves
81 wish knew what you were sigh
Ing for just now,' he adds, after trying
in vain to make her meet his earnest,
impassioned gaze. "Was it-had it
anything at all to do with my going,
Amy-delr
His low tones actually tremble over
that last word uttered so hesitatingly;
for the heart of the wllfnl girl stand
ing there beside him is sealed bool,
to him still, and he hardly dares to
venture upon even so much as that.
Will she be angry? An, no, not
that, she merely turns a pretty, amused
face toward him, flashing her brown
eyes fearlesslv into his, at last, full OF
the sanciest indifference.
"Sighing for you? Why, what an
idea !! she exclaimed, lightly, while a
dimpling smile, suggestive of sup,
pressed laughter, hovers about her red
lips. 81 didn't think you were so vain,
Mr.. CASTOR, though l shall miss you a
good deal,' she added, quite as if ii
were an afterthought This has been
a pleasant Summer, has it not ~
He glanced almost angrily at the
sparkling brunette face, so full of limo
cent Inconsistencies. She had quietly
withdrawn her hands from his CLASP
even before she answered him.
pheasant !" he echoed with re-
proachful bitterness. "Good heavens
and is that all it has been to you
You know l have loved you, Amy.
You could not help knowing it, though
| never spoke of it before. But | am
going so soon now; must tell you be-
fore we part. Aud oh Amy -dar-
ling y turning upon her suddenly
again with pleading, imploriDg eyes
how eau you help loving me little il
return ?"
Her brown cheek pales at this pas
sionate outburst, and she turns hel
head aside-away from the sight o.
that handsome, impassioned face al
most too winning at this moment tC
be resisted.
An indignant answer is trembling
reproachfully upon her lips.
"Because you are soon to marry Is
abel Goodwin, millionaire's daughter
Because you have sought to gain my
love only for Summers pastimel"
But she is too proud to give it utter
ance. She will not permit him t.
think that he could have won he
heart under any circumstances. In
stead, with another light, careless
laugh, that CRATES harshly upon his ex
cited feelings.
"How7" she echoes indifferently
"Oh, simply because / don't choose tC
burden myself with ANYTHING so seri
Gus as real love affair. l don't be
lieve in tying ones self down in tha
fashion, and spelling ones chance 10
just as charming time next Summer
and the next, and so on. You know
what the poet says;
"'We'ye spent some pleasant hours together
But JOY must often change It's wing;
And Spring would be but gloomy weather
II we had nothing else but Spring."