Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-20
MY LOVER HORACE.


Sidney Lanier in Columbia State.
MY LOVER HORACE.
Horace Travers and had been engaged
a year During that time had seen him
but oncel But when spring came round
Horace wrote me that the whole month Of
May should be mine and his.
My father went into the town on some
errand later in the day, my mother with
him, and our servant girl went out to
evening church, leaving me alone in the
house. 1t grew dusky by and by, so l could
not read, and ! drew my chair up to the
window, where could look through the
door at the stars coming out one by one in
the sky, and wondered if Horace could see
them too.
1t grew quite dark at last, and lit the
lamp on the table and returned to my book.
For time read on; then the air grew
chilly, and intending to close the door /
rose from my chair and looked out.
There, in the hall door, as had seen him
a few hours before, on his departure, stood
Horace Travers.
Invent back into the parlor and sat down.
reasoned, scolded and argued, but could
not rid myself of the icy shivers which ran
through my frame, or the leaden weight
which fell upon my spirit.
My mother came in at last and sat down,
with some trihing remark on the beauty OF
the evening When she looked up she
crossed over to me in alarm, and taking
my hand cried out: my child, what is the
matter' You look as if you had seen a
| ghostS"
| 81 think | have, mother,"I said, trying
to smile, but bursting into tears, and then
told her all.
-"Now, my darling Laura" said she, "go
to bed and take good nights rest, and
my word for it you will be troubled with
no more alarming glimpses Of Horace ex-
cept in dreams, when his presence is agree
able rather than otherwise"
| took my mothers advice.
The next day was ready to look at the
whole occurrence in the same light.
But when il came near the time when
expected a letter from him | began to be
very impatient about him. The letter, of
course would settle my mind effectually.
But il did not come. In fact it never came
and that was the last, last sight ever saw
of Horace Travers
All, those years-those weary, weary
yearsl How each day dragged its slow
length alongl How the weeks and months
crept away-how the years tortured mel
Each day said, Surely, shall hea
from him at last"
, Each night went to bed saying, 81 an
, one day nearer to the tidings which mus
come at lastv'
But never heard from him and waite,
for the tidings vainly.
But though | thought time moved 81
slowly, still it moved on and brought m,
to my twenty fifth year Then began t.
go back to the friends | had so long neg
lected. Society received me with oper
arms. | had outgrown old or faded mem
cries; my thoughts Of Horace Travers were
growing bitter, and | longed for some di
version to take me from them.
Ny engagement had never been made
public; it was my wish that our marriag,
should be the first announcement OF it, 81
| was spared the questioning of friends.
The life took up now was busy one
Our family was so small, there was so lit
tie home work to do, and had grown 81
tired Of solitary reading and music that
took to the change kindly.
At all festivities | noticed the presenc
Of tall, distinguished looking gentleman
who had settled in our town nearly yea
before. His name, | knew, was Edward
Hatch, and his business was that whicl
Horace Travers had followed. This is W ha
had interested me at first; and afterward
, when | came to understand that he noticed
me closely, yet persistently avoided an in
, PRODUCTION, my curiosity was piqued, and
watched him still more closely He wa
past his first youth, was unusually re
, served, almost gloomy; but when he threw
of the depression of spirits which troubled
. him he could make himself the life anC
soul of our company.
The only thing did not like was the at
, mosphere Of reserve which seemed to clos
i around him now and then. l had out
, grown that romantic age when a myster.
is charming. | had suffered bitterly enough
from one mystery.
1t came to pass in the course of yea
, that married Edward Hatch
The gloom and reserve of Edward Hatch
. character took tangible shape at last
Night after night he paced the floor stead
!, lily, untiringly, Day after day he went 3
q his business, his food untasted and tn
q darkness Of night on his face.
Edward" said |, one night, care 20
angry with mel | cannot bear this cold
ness and separation. ! am your wife fC
better or worse, and ! would try to max
/, you happy II only knew how"
. He came and sat down by me. He too
= my hand and said: Laura, dearest, hay
y no fault to find with you. But wronge
y you terribly by marrying you, as you wi
: know some day Oh, heavenW he erie
, wildly IL wish it were all overt VIII
= pangs have not suffered"
Then he flung my hand away, and bega
/, the old monotonous pacing
made no further attempt to break dow
=" the barrier between us after that, b,
= drfted slowly into separate life, with 1
- own pursuits and pleasures.
. One day my husband came in with
4, hurried, determined air. He threw hin
self into "A chair and said: Business cal
- me to c. Immediately. | may make
~ lengthy stay, and as | have house ther
you may IA well come with me, Laura"
"a house in c. You never told n
you had lived there"
>. He looked at me with strange, burnir
y, look In his eye; then bit his lips and sa
" carelessly:
y what do you know of CT | mig
~ have mentioned it had known the nan
y had any special interest Cor you"
W ut has," | said. II had a friend the
- years ago His business was the same
yours. IL was more than eight years as
that he took leave Of us, and we never sa
'e or heard from him since. IL you cou
throw light on his fate it would be som
thing of relief after all these years"
n.