St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-24
AFTER-GLOW;
Or, Love Meier Grows Old.

was SptuulnS the summer at nv
Aunt Prue's country house when I made
the acquaintance of Miss Arthur. She
was a stately, beautiful woman, and I
unconsciOusly associated her with ele-
CANT surroundings, but when I visited
her l found she lived in poor little cot
tage, and that she took in sewing to
support herself and her invalid mother.
Il Miss Arthur, learned from my aunt,
had been the daughter of a wealthy
man, but his death had left her penni-
less. Mary had been betrothed to- a
young man of good family, but she
would not consent to marry him be-
cause of her invalid mother, who now
needed her care more than ever.
During the summer I saw good deal
OF Miss Arthur, for felt drawn toward
her and in sympathy with her sorrows
in having given up her lover for a
mothers sake.
Time passed, and then there came a
time when the one she had given up her
youth for faded away and died.
1t seemed for time that the moving
spring of the younger life had lost its
elasticity with the same blow that had
snapped the Trailer one, for Miss Mary
fell into state of apathy which was so
unnatural and lasted so long her friends
grew alarmed.
Auntie said unless she could be reused
she would die, just from lack of desire
to live. So wrote home and received
mammals permission to bring her home
with me. Under the influence of our
love and sympathy our guest revived
and grew to be more like herself. Weeks
heightened into months, until spring
was near; but we would not let Miss
Mary go home, for had the promise of
making one of party who were to
go abroad under the charge of learned
professor, whose knowledge OF the diff
ferent localities we were to visit would
make our trip more like education than
simple pleasure. So mamma had
made up her mind to spare me on ac-
count of the benefit to my mind; but
good qualities had completely won the
love of the whole family.
The professor had been a classmate of
papa'S at college; but had not heard
his name mentioned, as he was always
alluded to by his scholarly sobriquet.
Prone as l am to build castles in the
air. about strangers, had not wasted
one golden fancy upon him. Of course
such prodigy of antiquarian learning
was dried-up anatomy of man like
old Prof. Worth, of my school-days'
miSerIeS.
The first of April came, and one morn
ing papa said:
"Put on your most scholarly looks
this evening, Queen Bess, for the pro-
fessor is in town and shall bring him
home with me.'
l did not trouble myself about my
own onnaaranna. hnt 7 xunua Mice
Mary'S hair into one wide manipulated
braid, and wound it around her head,
fastening some sprays of starry clematis
amid its dark, shadowy masses, and
pinned some white rOSebudS at her
throat.
81 want to think of you looking like
this when l am far away" l said; and
she wore them to please me. 1t was the
first bit of white that had relieved her
sOmber drapery since her mothers
death.
AS we went together into the drawing
room papa said, pleasantly:
Here come the laggards. Prof.
Chiltem and Miss Arthur. Come here,
Bessie" for was holding back in mute
surprise at sight of this handsome, COM
handing looking man. Where was my
withered old professor?
My bewilderment was completed
when, with pleasant smile, the gen.
tleman bowed to me, but extended his
hand to Miss Mary, with look in his
eyes as of one who sees vision.
"Miss Arthur" he says. Can it be
possible?"
She stood pale and agitated, but an
exceeding Joy irradiated her face, and
as l looked upon them | knew the truth.
The lOng-parted lovers had met at last.
That evening l had stolen into the
conservatory and was standing by some
large-leaved tropical plants when the
professor came in with Miss Mary lean
ing upon his arm. He was talking earn
estly, and | could not we'll make my
presence known without occasiOning
mutual embarrassment, so l remained
in hiding.
HAS Miss Arthur retentive mem
Ory?' The words are commonplace, but
the resonant thrill in the deep, low
tones mate them impressive. "If so,
she will know why to-day is one marked
out from all others. Mary, let us join
hands across the bridge of lonely years
and live again for each other"
sit is too late," was the agitated
reply. at would not be right to link
your life with one so barren of results
as mine has been. L am prematurely
old and saddened. You are in your
prime"
mo, Mary, never to me were you
lOvelier or more attractive than you are
at this moment. YOn solitary rose upon
its stalk is not fairer or sweeter than you
my own lOve-lOSt for so long, but
found at last. Let me place it in your
hair; and, dearest, let the flower be an
emblem of our future-solitary no
longer"
Then they went slowly out, oblivious
to all but their own happiness; SO that
was released from the durance which
was growing painful in its enforced,
breathlesS quiet.
N. B.-Mamma is making arrange
ments for the wedding. l am to be first
bridesmaid, and Robbie Earle is to be
my vis-a-vis. wonder if the old saying
is true that
''Never yet was any marriage
Entered in the book of fate,
But the names were also written