Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-22

went down to the boat house and was
busily engaged getting her row boat I'M
derway. 1t was full moon, and the beauty
of the night had tempted her out; the
calmness of the water allured her TO row.
Chauncy had made up his mind during
those winter months that Elise and she
alone would make life worth the living.
His love and admiration increased by
those months of near companionship, but
Elise never noticed with smile or glance
or word his efforts to be more than friend
ly. However, love can live on very frugal
fare, and Chauncy said George Eliots
hero:
30, mel O. mel what frugal cheer
My love doth feed uponi
touch, a ray that is not here,
shadow that is gone.
The iremor of a banished fear,
An i'll that was not done.
o, me! o, mel what frugal cheer
My love doth feed upon"
AS Chauncy came down to the wharf he
saw her 1.-THE, graceful figure in the moon
light bending over the fastenings. He
gave no token of his presence till she was
stepping in, then he called out: Miss
Elise, may not go with your
"Yes, if you will exert yourself trihe
and help row this boat" replied Elise;
''but | warn you, | want no loafers, for |
intend going round to the harbor and hear
the band on the warship Bellerophon."
"Ah, is not that a CHASTITY long row this
warm night" said Chauncy, with his usual
detestation of little exertion.
Don't go if you don't want to-" said
Elise, and she quickly pushed off with her
single oar. But Chauncy had had so little
chance ever of a private tete-a-tete, he
could not resist the temptation that this
moonlight night row afforded. He sprang
quickly over the gunwale, and picking
up an oar kept the boats head to the cur-
rent Once there, the little boat needed
but little exertion. But Elise seemed
busily feathering her oar, too much so 10
talk, and the silence was unbroken. How
pretty she looked as she bent to the oars,
and how steady her strokes. Chauncy
gazed in admiration of her muscular, yet
graceful movements, and he thought, with
quickly beating heart, how he should pro-
pose that evening. He had quite an opin-
ion Of his looks, money and position-his
only through his fathers untiring energy.
But it brought no blush to his cheek. He
had accustomed himself to it, his by right
of sonship. He had 10 idea Elise would
answer in the negative. And then the
silence was broken by Elise, saying briskly
in her musical voice: 'Mr. Chauncy, have
you any object in life-any aim, any pur-
pose, any ambition ~
This query broke in on his revery.
eyes, oh, yes" stammered Chauncy, 81
was Just thinking of making confdante
Of you about my one hope in life"
Yes" said Elise eagerly, her whole
pretty face lighting up; Il am SO glad.
What are your plans ?'
"Don't you really know them?' asked
Chauncy.
Cannot even guess" replied Elise. 81
am not mind-reader, and you have never
limited the subject to me, so please don't
call me stupid"
Chauncy lifted his oars slowly and de-
liberately, as if weighing his words with
them, then said, "My one hope, one desire
in life, is to call you my wife. love you
better than any woman | have ever met.
| would be better and nobIer man
with your love to help me. May hope
My whole soul is yours to do with as you
WILL" he continued passionately. But
something in Elises strange silence smote
the warm words he was about to utter
with a chill, and he stopped short, the
eager light in his eyes giving place to
doubt and despair. As Elise turned her
head away from his eager gazo her words
seemed to penetrate the moonlighted 81
lence, the tones vibrating and clear, TIE
words cutting and sarcastic, words that
killed and wounded to the death all hopes
that so short time since were warm with
life.
Love you? Be your wife? ?" she said,
slowly and clearly. "Have | ever given
you any reason to think | would marry
man who has literally no vocation in life,
no interest in anything, save indolent
pleasure, aud that pleasure only for him
self?7
Here the clear voice quayered percepti-
bly,, and she paused in her breathless re-
ply.
"Ah, thank you," said Chauncy, bitterly,
"for your private opinion so openly ex-
pressed. ! was fool to ask such heart
less, unfeeling woman for love, that of
course she must be stranger to, as she
can weigh so correctly in the balance oc-
cupation with love. see Twas mistaken
allow me TO apologize.
The retort came quickly to Elise's lips
then, on reflection, she was silent, and bent
to her oars. Her pride, her womanliness,
was in arms; she had spoken her first
speech in kindness and she felt his injustice.
The moonlight glimmered on the dark,
calm waters, and the little boat followed a
path of silver and light Many boats were
out, some ladened with pleasure-seekers,
Others the ship and steamer boats return
ing to their floating homes.
As they approached the flagship the
band music was floating over the waters
the sweet strains of waltz. Every note |
seemed a hint OF love and devotion. Both |
Chauney and Elise were fond CT music, |
and it ought to have had softening effect. |
But with Elise the iron had entered her |
soul. Ard Chauncy, who did love her |
truly and we'll, kept silent, for he had oeen |
wounded to the quick Both young, proud |
and high-spirited-on with truth on her |
side, the other had allowed his temper
and pride to get control. So the sweet |
music was lost to them and foated in |
waves of sound up to the starshine aad
over the high fir-topped hills.
Happy voices and laughter reached |
them, but they sat like craven images till |
the music ceased and then Iowed home, the |
glories of the night UNDECIDED, the ripping |
waters beauties uncared fos. They
reached home at last, aud as they were
fastening the boat some good angel !
prompted Elise to say: Forgive me,
won't your
Chauucy lifted his hat, as he replied,
''Yes. but II can't forget. Your hastily
spoken words must have voiced your true
opinion of me. !
Change my opinion, and some day l
NAV change my IDEAS" she said smilingly,
glad that the disagreeable silence was
broken.
She turned to the house, but Chauncy
paced the terraced walk, and fought single
handed, IN silence, mighty battle against