The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-24

think that he might now speak, think,
look, without any mental reservations
there would be nc longer any need IA
watch his actions, or TO force back the
words which would tell her that abe ex-
ercised a deadly power oVer him. The
girl received him with a smile, yet, when
be touched her with his hand, be did not
feel his brain throb or his blood rush mad
y through his veins, as he had expected,
he bore his pa. through the evening
quietly, and owned that 1t was 9 pleasant
one; still the flavor was not what hs had
expected. Hs called to mind that when
he was abroad for the frat time he had
been served with a peculiar diRh, which
he remembered, and often longed for when
unattalnable, After several years he had
visited the same cafe and ordered the
same dish. The same cook prepared It,
and the same waiter served II, but the
taste was not the same; expectation had
heightened the flavor, and the real was
inferior to the ideal.
So 1t was with Frank. Before, when
the siren had seemed unattainahle, he had
luxuriated in her beauty, admired her
grace and genius, and reyeled in her wit;
now, when he felt that he might call these
his own, his eye began to detect deacien.
Cies, The girl noted his critical attitude,
and Chafed at the calmness OF his keen,
watGhful glance, Where was the open sd.
miration she used to read in his eyes ?
Piqued at his indifference, she grew silent
and irritable, and when he bad her fare.
we'll both were conscious that an ideal had
been shattered,
He buttoned his oyercoat and prepared
for q long walk to the lonely chambers,
where he lived the usual careless, comfort.
less life OF q bachelor whose purse is lin
tied. all the way home hesubmitted him
lie felt as il he was sitting by the ashes
Of a falling fire which he had no means OF
replenishing, the night was coming and he
must sit in the cold, II passion died out,
where was he to look for the sympathy,
the respect, the tIus iriendlincss which
alone can supply Its place in married life ?
Then he thought OF Elsie. He had made
q mistake, but q very common mistake.
He had thought that the excitement Of his
interest, the enchanting Of his fancy and
the enthrallment OF his senses was love,
and 10 1t was only passion, He analysed
his teelings more deeply yet, and, getting
below the surface currents which are
stirred by the winds, saw that the quiet
waters beneath had kept unswervlngly on
their course.
When he reached his chambers he sat
down by his table and drew paper and
Ink toward him. II shall not accept your
dismissal, Elsie" he wrote hurriedly in
answer to her piteOus letter; II should
be very shallow II l could not read the
motive which prompted your letter. !
shall come down as usual, and We will
talk over 1t till We understand each
other fully, Tell them you must believe
me when l tell you that l love you all the
more for your act Of sacrifice, and that /
love you more now than | have ever done
before"
Frank and Elsie have been long mar.
ried, and are content. There Ia no fear Of
his Bwerying again, but the s:desCrib-
ed left its mark on Frank. He knowsnow
that he was on the verge Of committing a
.grievous mistake, and one which might
have darkened all his future life. For II
is not great events, involving tragedies
and tears, that impress themselves most
deeply upon the body Of our habits and
thoughts, but the tendency OF our life, as
in the case before us, Is often most deeply
affected by what Is no more than ian eve.
ry-day occurrence"