The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-11-12
MEATH CUPID'S CHARM.

| L had quite successfully borne with
the demands of a long and active day,
had only few moments before reached
my comfortable office after hearty
evening meal, and was seated cozily
therein, having thrown myself into a
! position of ease l felt myself fully iusti-
fed in taking.
There is a sort of abandon or feeling
| of license which comes with the even
ing over one who has battled strongly
with the requirements of professional
life, and this is heightened, if anything,
| by the peculiar satisfaction which fol-
lows well-filled stomach and the hal
| lowing incense of fine cigar.
The mellow rays from my study-lamp
intertwining piercing, and blending
with the soft, ascending columns Of
| bluish-gray smoke, which first reaches
upward, then expands, and gently
| descends as delicate cloud of security
i say all this wins contentment and
with it disregard for the sterner con-
ventionalism with which we otherwise,
and so almost constantly, clothe our
selves.
felt such peace of mind come over
me as l half reclined in my easy-chair
and blew toward the ceiling long,
conical columns of fragrant smoke.
My fountain of thought was all but
stilled-the springs of ideation, for the
nonce, confined their >wonted flow.
Yet not completely so, for my eyes
wandered somewhat with the lighter
vein of lucubration, first to one thing,
then to another.
Finally my vision rested for brief
period upon aphotograph-the likeness
of sweet one whom l erstwhile count
ed dear and more.
For an instant my inner spirit was
given gladstone range.
Quickly did my mind revert to
former time and revel in what had
been.
turned away, however, and with
the same physical languidness still
about me stretched forth my hand and
grasped a book whose "dog-ears'' in
dicated an uncompleted perusal =
though I had often read it before.
Twas the oft-gleaned ''Reveries of
Bachelor" and admit that the beau
tiful lines always came as balm to the
decorations of my heart which had
formerly refused to kindly heal.
Well into bachelordom was 1 now
plodding my way, though many times
with no light or joyous heart. But
these words of brother-bachelor gave
me vast degree of comfort.
1t was this feeling-this sense of
serenity-which came and added meas
ure to my peace as again took up the
volume and began to devour its truths.
Yet that picture looked so
sweetly down upon me-had brought
up memories-as, indeed, it had done
many times beforehand these memo
ries would not obey stern ''begone,"
but fingered upon the border lines of
less-holy thoughts.
l read on, hoping to drown the re-
collection by sheer force of determina-
ton. Line after line eagerly drank
in seeking to obtain the deeper verities
which felt were buried there.
The light cleaned softly, my cigar
gave off thinner upward strand of
fragrance, although the cloud above ap-
peared denser, and holy stiffness as
of the deeper hours enwrapt all.
My eyes still followed the dimming
lines, but the words now came slowly
and yet more slowly.
Il WONDER" thought I, as l dropped
asleep, "if married man with his
sentiment made actual is, after all, as
happy, as happy, as we poor poor fel-
lows in our our dreams"
Hark! what gentle voice was that?
A call came toward me, borne upon
the stiffness of the night.
I listened, for again the now clearer
notes sweetIy touched upon my ear.
'Hervey! Hervey!" now clear, dis
tinct, and thrilling.
Yes, it was she. Yes. Yes. It was
Madeline-my own dear Madeline.
CARRIED in delicate, flowing white, a
new-blown rose of exquisite tint at her
bosom, and those large. liquid eyes
thrown fully upon me- what could be
my feelings but those of infinite joy?
We had wandered along the banks
of laughing stream; we had plucked
the half-hidden wild flower from its
messy bed; we had watched the CLEANS
and little dots of dancing sunlight
coming through the brighter inter
stices in the canopy above; we had
| loved with them and sought their
places to occupy, only to have the gilt
| tering beams pass across our chests
and make the palmer the ecstatic
| throbbings of our frames; we had
caught the spirit which prompted the
free-bird to its offering of song; we
had thrown kisses at the reflection
upon the surface of the placid pool; we
had grasped each others hearts, as well
as hands, and thridded on where all
was peace and love, and beauty.
That was but yesterday
To-day! but time is nothing to us.
| 1t is not measured. To US it is not a
| quantity.
Twas but moment ago 1 saw her,
and yet you call it yesterday.
Is her spirit not my spiritP Is she
not with me constantly? Though space
forbid the eye its feast, yet is the mind
not filled?
All! Yesterday for worldlings: to-day
-now-and tomorrow - the coming
now-for me.
Sit here, Madeline. 1 heard your
loving call and my heart had played a
rapid response.
How beautiful you are tonight!
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
All! tomorrow makes us one. Yet,
methinks, no word of mouth, no holy
liturgy, no purer essence of sainted
sanctuary, can render closer our bound
ing hearts.
Oh! the rapture and boundlessness
of Godgiven love!
Come nearer, dear. Your hand feels
cold; or is it that my own is overheated
from the glowing-from the fever-oi
! affection within me?
Let us talk about our life not lives.
Have 1 attended to all the details!
Have prepared the little home?
Why ask meP Why think of suct
things They are earthly. Yet yes
they are belongings. They are par
of the whole, although so material.
But you were not with me when the
final touches were givenP Did we no
drape a little here? Did we not change
chair upon one side, and transpose {
picture or two upon the other? Die
we not take one long, glad survey o