Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01
CHAPTER VI,

81 could make love-yes, and since YOU
ell me to try, will. -
He came and stood before her, straighten-
ing his diminutive figure in a comical FASH
ion, as though he were initiating soldier
on parade.
"1n the first place." he said, sin order to
appreciate nv skill you should realize the
immense disadvantages under which 1
labor. 1 am dwarf. my dear Unorna. In
the presence of that kinglv wreck of a
Homeric man'-he pointed to the sleeper
beside them-"I am a Thersites, if not a
pigmy. To have much chance of success 1
should ask you to close your eyes and to
imagine that my stature matches nv voice.
That gift at least, 1 fatter myself, would
nave been appreciated on the plains of
Troy. But in other respects 1 resemble
neither the long-haired Greeks nor the
trousered Troj jams. 1 am old and hideous,
and In outward appearance I am as like
Socrates as in inward disposition ! am to-
! tally different from him. Admit, since 1
admit it. that am the ugliest and smallest
man of your acquaintance.
1T is not to be denied" said Unorna,
| with SMILE,
''The admission will make the perform
| ance so much the more interesting. And
now, as the coniurer says when he begins,
observe that there is no deception. That is
the figure of speech called living, because
there is to be nothing but deception from
beginning to end. Did you ever consider
the nature OF lie, Unorna? 1t is very
! interesting subject.
81 thought you were going to make love
| to me-"
True; how easily one forgets those little
| things! And vet no woman ever forgave a
man who forgot to make love when she ex-
pected him TO do so. For a woman, who is
| a woman, never forgets to be exigent And
| now there is no reprieve, for 1 have CON-
mitted myself, am sentenced and condemned
| to be made ridiculous in your eyes. Can
| there be anything more contemplate, more
| laughable, more utterly and hopelessly alb
surb, than an old and ngly man declaring
his unrequited passion for woman who
might be his granddaughter? Is he not like
| hoary old owl, who leaves mis- mousing to
perch upon one leg and boot love duties at
the evening star, or screech out amorous
sonnets to the maiden moon.' -
every like" said Unorna with laugh.
"And yet-my evening star-dear star oil
my fast sinking evening-golden Unorna-
/ shall I be cut off from love because nv
years are many? Or rather shall not love
| you the more, because the wears that are left
are few and scantily blessed? May not your
dawn blend with nv sunset and make to.
| gether one short day?"
"That is very pretty" said Unorna,
thoughtfully. He had the power of making
his speech sound like deep, soft music.
| "For what is love?" he asked. us it q
| garment, jewels a fanciful ornament which
only boys and girls may wear upon a sum.
mer's holiday? May we take it or leave it.
as we please? Wear it, if it shows well
upon our beauty. or cast it off for others tc
put on when we limp aside out of the race ol
| fashion to halt and breathe before we die? Il
love beauty? is love youth? Is love yellow
hair or black? Is love the rose upon the lir
or the peach blossom in the cheek, that only
the young may call it theirs? Is it an out.
ward grace, which can live but so long al
the outward graces are its companions, tc
perish when the first gray hair streaks the
dark locks? Is it glass, shivered by the
| first shock of care as a mirror by sword
stroke? Is it painted mask. washed color
less bv the first rain of autumn tears? Is il @
| flower, SO tender that,it must perish miser