Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-03-05

Armida's influence had awakened bright
aspirations in his heart; new feelings
had found birth in that susceptible
organ and he lived but to leave the
store each evening and bask in the
bright sunshine Of his idols presence.
He did not love Armida-he worshiped
her with the same adulation which
slave might render princess. They
were familiar to degree with each
other, and yet were very far apart
Nevertheless they neither OF them ever
once recognized the dangerous char
acter of the ground on which they stood
An interested observer would have
prophesied that something must soon
happen which would expose to their
view the dangerous shoals upon which
they were fast drifting. And SO it was.
This very night Armida was to change
the whole current of Eugene's thoughts,
and she did 1t in a song-one (as she
admitted to Eugene) that she had writ
ten herself and had asked an old Ger
man professor to set the music for her.
Had she merely sung it and never
drawn his attention to it in so marked
a manner he might have listened to the
sweet tones without ever noticing the
words, but as he sat and listened to her
which she wrought out the full mean
ing of each line, his heart beat rapidly
and loud. The words were simple but
they were set to most effective music,
both words and music being interpreted
to their fullest extent by Armida's ex-
pressive singing:
When my ship comes in-when my ship comes
Shall hear sweet strains OF music thro the
busy city's din,
Heralding my hero lover, whom I've pictured in
Till his face, so fair and handsome, reality
now seems?
When my ship comes in-w1ll ne stoop on oend-
ed knee
And tell Of weary days and hours in which he
longed for me?
And as he slowly rises will he fill my heart with
bliss
While he folds me closely to him and our lips
meet with kiss?
When my ship comes in-will it bring me jew
els rare
To clasp around my neck and arms, to Irvine
within my hair?
Will it bring mo silks and satins and costly
laces old,
Will 1t bring me richest perfumes and Golfers
filled with goldf
When my ship comes init will empty be for
Though all the gems Of Orient, all the jewels Of
the sea,
All the treasures OF the indies, its rich cargo
should comprise,
| II my ideal lover comes not then, to cheer my
waiting eyes.
When my ship comes in-I care not II It be
| The tiniest Of craft that over sailed upon the
sea,
If it brings my knightly hero, though no wealth
| OF gold has he;
I will welcome him SO gladly, and my true heart
he may win,
| Forever and forever-when my ship comes in.
She sang the song right through and
as the last vibrating sounds of the ac-
compartment died away she turned
around on her stool as though to mark
the effect on her listener. There he
sat entranced and spoke not word.
Have you nothing to say about my
song. Mr.. BregyT' she asked.
ut is very beautiful" was all he said.
| '.Now, do not suppose that I am fish
ing for compliments, for nothing was
farther from my thoughts. But 1 do
like people to say something, even If it
is disagreeable, when 1 sing song. and
especially one of my own composing
she said in a half joking manner. But
the young man before her was in no
| joking mood. Gould it be, "he thought,
in a moment of almost ecstacy, s'that
| she meant those words for me?'' And
as he pondered he said to himself:
''Some day will ask her."
Just at this moment Mr.. Wilcox
looked over to Mrs. Delaro and said:
us that Harlem gentleman going to
stay here all night?"
They certainly must be too busily
engaged to notice the time,'' was the
reply, ''but will remind Armida, by
walking into tho parlor, that am pre-
pairing to retire." and with these words
she rose to put her words into effect.
When Mrs. Delaro walked into the
parlor she spoke very kindly to Eugene
and no one could have told that she
cherished any feelings of suspicion
towards him. They conversed together
for some moments, during which Mrs.
Delaro made kindly inquiries regarding
Mrs. Breezy. This seemed to remind
Eugene of duty he had to perform
and he commenced it by asking Mrs.
Delaro if she could give him Mr..
Blodger's address, as he and his
mother wished to see him on some
business matters. AS they had never
seen Mr.. Blodger except at their store
they had never known his address.
Mrs. Delaro told Eugene whore he
could find Mr.. Blodger most of the
time. and Eugene in confidence said
that Mr.. Blodger had offered to rent
him larger and more convenient store
little farther downtown, and it was
on that account he wished to see him.
AS Eugene finally rose to go Mr..
Wilcox joined the party and Mrs.
Delaro observed that he would proba bly
willingly carry message to Mr..
Blodger from Eugene as he saw that
gentleman down town nearly every
morning. But Eugene was not dis
posed to intrust Mr.. Wilcox with his
business, as he said: ''Oh, it does no,
matter" and then bid them all good
night.
Before retiring Armida and he1
mother sat for long time talking in
the freight ''Why, mamma. how
serious you are becoming said Armida.
This is serious matter" said he,
mother. You know not what hopes
and aspirations you may have already