Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-21

10 LQOuXQL, JOE WAS thll, auU 6LTOUk,
and OF graceful symmetry, with dark
features, straight and fine; and she,
though slender, was rounded in every
part, supple and active, yet withal state
ly as the Greek Artemie, whose ideal
lineaments hers resembled. In her blue
eyes there were both soitness and fire,
and her clear voice vibrated IN the lis
tener's soul. We formed the perfect
whole of male and female-the intaglio
and the seal. In her l recognized the
softer ranges of my own nature, and to
her | might stand as the impregnable
mountain wall, within whose embrace
the fertile and enchanted valley of her
womanhood could expand itself, secure
and fortunate.
To induce her to identify herself
wholly with me was my first care. [
pointed out to her the heights to which
/ meant to soar-depths which | pur-
posed to search out-the obstacles which
was preparing to overthrow. But she
would rest her eyes on mine in long
look, until / felt the great things |
grasped at were but the shadows of
greatness-having which [ should yet
have nothing, but ever be led on to 9TH
er shadows, which, in turn dissolving,
would reveal still others endlessly. And
then my selfhood would seem to dwin-
die and wax unsubstantial, and In my
heart quiet but mighty impulse, like
the flowing Of the tide, urged me to cact
all at her gracious feet, and find in hera
greater reeompense than the conquest
of the world itself and it's secret. 1t
was an impulse that babe me declare
myself nothing, and to forsake ali ambi-
ton cave to win her acceptance of my
homage. This [ read in her eyes, or
seemed to read; to forsake my own ex-
altatlon and find exaltation in her; to
make it my honor to honor her; SO to
live as to make her life lovely. This
only would be real and immortal; all
else was buiIded of death, and death
would be the end of it.
Disturbed by these misgivings [ would
60 forth from the spell of her presence
and walk in the garden until the moon
climbed above the dark masses of the
wolf rode on the air like the cry of de-
mon. Then would / draw near to him
and cast myself on the stony ground,
where he crouched and snarled, and,
resting my chin upon my hands, would
peer into the glare of his yellow eyes
and mark the hungry grin Of his teeth
and the thick hair brlstling round his
neck. Wild and hideous in truth he
was, but at length, as / watched him,
the delight of the beast would begin to
course through my pulses and my
breath became short and thick, and un-
dulations, red like blood, quivered be-
fore my sight.
The spirit of the wolf spoke in my
mind, saying that life was battle and
murder, and that he who was fercest
and sternest was the survivor and the
master. The only enduring monume nts
of human greatness were those whose
stones were cemented with human
blood-the blood of weak and credulous
hearts. Dead in the souls Of those
whose memory posterity has wor-
shipped, and you shall find in their
deaths the record of merciless and saw
age deeds that the world calls crimes.
but which the wise know to be the in
evitable steps whereby the mount of
vision may be assembled. The indolent
selves with pietv and patience-empty
words 10 disguise their cowardice and
impotence. The few who have the
courage to look existence in the face
and measure it, and the fortitude to
trample under foot all the tender delu
sions of romance, charity, and mercy
to them, and to them alone, is the tri-
umph and the fame. So the spirit of
the wolf entered into me and spoke
until gnasbed my teeth as he CRASHED
his, and felt the Unsuitable thirst for
blood burning at my entrails.
One day Irene and sat on the terrace
overlooking the garden, and as we sat
she put out her hand and laid it in
wont even of her beauty, and there was
a kind of sacredness in her neighbor-
hood like music on a mountain, or the
purity Of flowers at dawn. Yet at that
time I was in the mood of the gray wolf,
and while | softly pressed her hand |
felt longing to leap upon her and tear
her white flesh with my teeth, and de-
spoil and trample her.
"W hat are your thoughts, Lucan ?" she
asked.
so. Irene, always of you," I answered
Then the wolf howled below in the
garden and struggled with his chain.
''Why do you keep that wild beast,
nv love ?" she said. "Loose him, and
let him stink back to his own desert.
He seems to come between us; and last
night dreamed that he crept in beside
me as slept, and felt his fangs at nv
throat. How can you love him and
me?"
1.-The world is wide," I said, "and the
tree whose branches reach toward
heaven has its roots in hell. But come
with me into the garden and it shall be
as you wish"
So we went down together, still hand
in hand. The red sun sank behind the
yew trees, and breeze arose. swaying
their dark tops to and fro, as if they
nodded to one another, and murmured
of some fearful deed. But drew Irene
on, and she walked beside me- fear
lessly, holding her sweet head like
flower. We came to dividing of the
path; one way led to the plot where the
roses grew, and the other to the wolf.
The perfume OF the roses came to us on
the air. Irene said:
"Let us gather the roses"
'But l heard the hungry breathing Of
the wolf and said:
Come this way" and led her down
that path.
The wolf covered back in the shadow
as we approached. Then ! stepped to
the tree and loogened his chain And
with snarl of rage he leaped on Irene
and tore her throat with his teeth, and,
bearing her to the earth, drank her
blood. At that sight the fury of the