The morning call., 1891-11-08

Els.
ness left out; for l am finding out more
and more that all the real happiness in the
world is that which comes through unself-
ish efforts for Others
at will be easily surmised that was not
with that noble nature. being guided and
helped by her, without growing to appre-
ciate her. To appreciate her was. to love
her And how l loved herl Oh, God"
He stopped for a moment.
Forty years ago." he continued, speaking
slowly and with an effort, my beautiful
darling-how wildly does the memory of
you come before me. even now, after
ALL THESE LONG YEARS
Don't tell me, them" he added, 6ercely
there is no such thing as love; tell that to
one who has not power to love aught but
himself. for to those who deserve it there is
plenty of good, true, beautiful, unseltsh
love, which lives forever-forever"
Calming, himself he continued. lone
evening We had been reading work on po-
litical economy. l remember it WELL Put
ting the book aside we discussed the SUBJ
ject for some time, being one In which, at
that particular time, we were both deeply
Interested, owing to question which
was to be decidedly a committee, of which
L was n mem beT,' at meeting soon to be
held. 1t WAS certainly not a question, ap-
parentlv, calculated to lead to love, but as
| looked on her fair sweet face, and realized
what she had been to me-and that | grew
more sensible of as knew the temptations
of city life betier-I could not hold back
longer the love which must find expression.
1 must tell her how noble she was in my
eyes and how dear to me. She had allowed
me to touch her hand, and would sit with
her arm resting on my shoulders many
times, or smooth my hair in a tender moth
erly way when talking to me. So, as |
crossed the space dividing us, and drawing
n low stool to her side, seated myself
thereon, she showed no establishment or dis
pleasure; on the contrary, she put her hand,
that dear hand which had ever guided me
truly, on my shoulder. Sitting so, / told
her now | loved her. how l reverenced her.
how she was the one woman IN all the
world to me. how life would be nothing
TO me without her-told her all in fact that
was filling my heart, which was simply
that l loved her only now and would for
ever, and that my life would be given to
make her happy would she but let me.
MY ears yet hear the sweet music OF her
voice as the words came which seemed so
hard 10 bear: l love you too well and have
your future before me too plainly TO listen
to your words, sweet as they are. gu are
full of gratitude to ma now. You are
young and impulsive. You will see Gfe diff
ferently five years hence-you will love
some one else younger than 1. Just now
the difference in our ages is not perceptble.
Ten or fifteen years from now I'll be an old
woman and you in your prime
'In vain l begged-implored. In vain [
told her all the ages, all the great forever
held nothing for me but her dear love. Al
ways it was, For your dear sake, my
darling, calmly and evenly said. With
my arms about her, my head on her Shout
der, she gently caressed me until l would
listen 10 her. | felt the mobility of soul
even while it crushed me.
-" Be still, my darling, and listen to me-.
Whatever | have done was done for love of
you and to feel that l had done some good
in the world where | had been so unhappy.
You are 4 noble man, but you need me Tor
while yet, and she mentioned some little
political matters we were both Interested in,
and continuing said, we will go on in the
old way-always frisnds-as-iOng-a
is. She leaned back guiet-ah, so quiet
and still; and it was some moments before
she went on in that sweet voice and-you
will in time-go -your-way-l, mine
-you-will-marry.
"'And you?
"'I? viii he happy, too
" The minutes passed all too swiftly as l
held her in my arms. Surely some of her
nobility came to me through that heart to
heart-yea, Suul to soul-embrac for as |
rose from her side l felt ready to do battle
with any temptation, no matter what
THE MANNER OF IT."
"Of course you married." L said.
YES twice"
"Have you seen her since?"
"Once."
Had you ceased to care for her?"
" Never-neVer did ana never shall. You
cannot understand what a powerful influ-
ence she exercised over my life. So mucn
beauty and goodness could but leave an i'm
press strong aud undying."
Next morning he looked into my studio.
His first words were:
I've not slept all night. My CONVERSE
ton with you brought up the past so wildly
1t was though it were but last week it all
happened"
He sat beside me watching me at my
work The birds in the trees, the sunlight
ginting through the leaves, and the chill
dren's voices coming up from beyond the
hedge, the sweet summer air over all, the
noble face of the man at my side, breathing
in every line the noble something which
lifts lie out OF mere animal existence,
made scene l will never forget. l would I
could transfer it to canvas, but canvas could
not hold to express again the beauty of il all.
us she still living?"
YES" he replied in an absent way
Just then picked up paper beside me.
and seeing name well known to all for
courage and kindness, read aloud:
Passed away, quietly ana sweetly. as she had
lived, beloved by all, Mrs. Stowcll, at her home
In Boston.
Expressing my regret put the paper aside,
going on with my work. When | looked
at my friend again. receiving no answer
ing comment from him, his eyes were closed
and all was very still. The children's voices
came up from beyond the hedge, the birds
sang in The trees, the sunlight glinJed
through the leaves, aud the painter sat at
his work.
But what was gone?
Was it Love? LAMAR