Wichita eagle., 1888-03-02
THE OMELET.


mist that one sometimes sees at evening over
the prairie We had just finished dining.
Baby, who had grown sleepy at dessert, had
been put in his cradle, and we two, Louise
and |, were standing before the open window
and singing softly as we watched the clouds.
'sShall we 60 out of the ark, Father NoahF
said my wife.
81 don't see the bow of promise my dear"
ssThe best of reasons; let us go and find II"
She went out and soon returned wrapped
in her hood. booted and gloved. She took my
arm, clinging to it and leaning against me as
she did in the happy days when we met after
long absence.
ssAhl how happy am to go out! Do you
scent the fresh air! want to walk and walk
Can we take long walkl The day is still
bright"
And saving this she leaned against me
laughing, taking long strides to regulate her
steps with mine. We walked along by the
hedge, and turning to the left entered the
forest. We loved it so much, our dear forest.
At that hour il was quiet, wet, and dripping.
The moss swollen with moisture, yielded to
the foot like sponge, and from each Leaf Oh
the heavy boughs hung transparent drop
just ready to fall.
"You will get wet, my dear" SAID 70
Louise, stopping moment.
s'Bahl / have on my thick boots. Let us
go on"
So we walked on through the thick woods,
which softly dripped like the beard OF some
marine god.
was pleased that my wife was in SO
courageous q mood on that evening, LOT
nothing in the world is more beautiful than
the forest after a rain; at that hour ID the
day above all, when everything is SO quiet
and peaceful. when the wind has ceased, and
+ba weary clouds have fed, when sleep is
stealing over the birds that are pluming their
wet wings. How charming then for the two
who are one, and would feel themselves alone,
TO walk together through the great green
aisles. to breathe the penetrating odor OF the
wet forest, 10 strike the great trunks of the
oak trees with ones cane till the hollow sound
comes echoing back from tree to tree, to
listen to the sound of breaking branch, or
to the murmur of the drops of water which
from time 70 time whisper as they fall from
leaf TO leaf, TO fill the lungs with air washed
pure by the rain, and to hear with the eyes,
if / NAV so phrase it, harmony delicate In
every fine and subtitle tone.
It is not for the pleasure of stringin2 out
words that | have used metaphor grown
commonplace by reason of its truth AT the
close of a charming day, when the sun sinks
toward the horizon, over everything there Is
a glow and a color like the flush on the face
of lovely girl who spins before the fire.
The tones are warm and animated; nature is
instinct with life. One who feels that through
the day she has loved much, played much,
worked much. The forest is warm, and its
foliage is sprinkled with emeralds, rubies
and diamonds, while the sunlight paints
golden plaques upon the messy trunks. 1t Is
an orchestra complete, rich harmony, and
it dazzles like a casket of rich jewels thrown
suddenly open, like cathedral where the
trumpets sound while all the people sing
Hallelujah. On gray and somber day 1t Is
quite another thing - without animation,
with no hum Of life without drum or trum-
pet, but with humid eyes, nature seems to
rest, and even TO yawn little. On such
time the violins, charged with the duty OF
luIling a restless world, play slowly and
with mutes upon ther strings; the bows,
with gentle touch, scarce Craze the strings;
one has to listen with attentive ear for music
that resembles dream But the sound is SO
sweet, the harmony so delicate, that the sym
nathetic stroller who loves the music of the
ewes would find it hard to choose between
the trumpets and the violins, between the
forest yelled in gray or dazzling in golden
shadows
We were passing under some beeches when
a light wind caressed the tree tops far above
our beads till they whispered together, and
lightly shaking themselves like wet bird
they threw down upon us a deluge of dia
monds
sGood beavens" cried Louise, stopping
suddenly. "The wicked winds ! an
soaked"'
Her skirts were lifted by the wind, and
saw her two little wet boots pressed one
erainst the other, and half hidden in ths
grass.
Soaked. soaked; my hood was loose, ant
q delupe went down my neck--a riverw
I wiped the water from her neck, ano
when she was dry again she said TO me, smil
ing:
''You are darling"
think that kissed her. This put her II
fine humor. so that we danced on over TIL
ferns. she leaning on my arm; then suddenly
as we re-eptered the soaorous silence OF tt
old forest, she began to sing, 10 the air Q
the "Marseillaise":
March on, wicked little man
Who does not love his little wife
Not at all, at all, at all,
She said this with such little swagger
marching with long steps, showing he
pretty white teeth, and pressing my arm $
tenderly that began TO sing with her
We were children, conscious that we were
playing together, and knowing that we oh
well
Suddenly we stopped before bog,
drained pond, a tangled swamp. l don
Al. ~. ,,..x
shine, the trees looked stunted, and ugl
roots twisted themselves among the thorn
and brambleS. ~
lyon don't think that we are iostm sal
Louise, hooking at me-
why, no, my dear"
And if We were lost, what would hs Sc
tomorrow. poor baby sleeping in his cradle
Shall we 60 back, say? Shall we GO backEn
1--WE are only twenty minutes away fror
home not more"
Yes, yes, every one who gets lost in Ii
woods fn,aeines that he is only twenty mil
utes away from home l don't like thes
twisted trees. What horrid creatures ma
be among the roots? -..
She shivared, and, bending forward
listen. said: "Stop, do ron hears Don't yo
hear that hollow soundl Hush-listen, liste
it is hollow, hollow. At this hour, in Il
forest. what can it bel The sun is settini
let US go back
IlStered aud heard q hollow sound, u
cause Of which I knew at once shou
have told her that cause at once; but IL VI
so pleasant to see her there near me, seriou
eagerly listening. with hall parted lips, d
ever questioning mine; / was so happy
feel her tremble on my breast, seeking d