Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-04-07
Love aud Pity.

This is tho room to which she came that DAY;
Came when the dusk was falling cold ana
gray,
Came with soft step In delicate array.
And stood beside me In the freight there,
And rs n rose with perfume rich ana rare
Thrills through with sweetness ils Immaculate
air.
So sweetened she this room since then
To answer some mild written words Of mine.
She'd come herself; thus much might d.
vino.
We heard the grind of traffic In the street,
A wall Of bells and sound Of passing feet;
She in the freight by me took her sent.
Then knelt down and dared to touch her
hand,
with revcrent fingers, and that shining band
Ofgold which her wrists delicate fairness
spanncd.
oh. though whereby despair is half consoledl
Those slender hands lay once within my h0lh,
About my wrist felt the fingers fo!d!
oh, beauty in which all hearts might rcjoiccl
At last she spoke, and the low murmurous
Was like the soft, pathetic, tender noise,
OF winds that come before summer rain
Once lcaped the blood in every clamorous
vein, u
again.
NV tender friend she pitcd my despair,
But loved not us loved. Gould forbear
10 ask for more, then would she grant my
prayer.
Perchanco she could not know love more
Then PAUSED the low sweet voice compassion
ate,
zone kiss!" said and felt the warmth and
weight.
or arms about me, and her lips on mine,
While all the room with glory was nshinc,
And then, as men who hope of life resign.
Confronting death with cold. unflnching
I put from me that protrcred sacrifice,
And all was silent but for her low sigha.
She piticd meme only! So it set
My single star of hope! And yet and yet,
am so glad my heart can not forget.
For rs I sit here lonesome, day by day,
Feeling the lessening life sands slipaway,
She seems to glide in ut the twilight gray.
And then do not hear the streets dull roar,
/ only hear the football on the floor,
hear the whisper of her dress once more.
With hands on mine she knees down by my
side,
MY lfe's one love, but nc'cr to be my bride,
MY hands enfold those brows SO white and
wide!
Nay. nay, it's Death. not she, comes up the
stair,
Soon shall he enter saying, Have. good care;
For by dark ways we co. Ali Death to
where!
IT seems j had been jollrneying by wild ways,
! looked fur down where dreadful hell fires
blaze.
And dwarfcd flond.chdren looked at me and
said:
Come play come play!" and then my steps
were led
Through graveyards where ! saw and heard
the dead.
| Then DER wild waves I seemed to hurry fast,
| To drown--yet not to drOwn-until at last
] touched the shore and knew the peril past,
Then weakness came upon me and fell.
| And heard the chant of many great sea
shell;
I held my breath Us meath some holy spell.
SHE.
Through fcvcr-time we watched him, night
and day,
And when it had quite burned itself away,
| " eak unto death upon his bed he lay.
My mother, praying, xnCccd against the bed
| ] sat beside, my arm beneath his head,
When low, he opened his changed eyes and
said:
"what, love, and really your and sought my
hand,
And felt until he found the golden band
| With which he knew my wrist was ever
SPAWNED.
And seemed content and slept through all
TINT night,
| But, with IL storm of sparrOws in gray light,
| He woke and started us in sore alright.
But smiled composed to see me sitting near,
And then he whispered quickly, kiss Inc
| Gear,
+, rnow / feel indeed that death is here"
S, me Will" he moancd, and tossed from side
| toad
| Then, lit I. Bridegroom turneth to his bride,
| My huni iuhs. re turned to sleep, and died !!
| Phillip Rrurnc MarstCn in Chicago Times.
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