Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-02-26

sand can only say" he replied, "that
1t seems TO me great thing to have
been intrusted with the key that threw
open the gates" He found himself look
ing with sort Of pathetic interest at
the old mans sad eyes, to whom had
been conjured up vision Of his buried
past, at the girls glad eyes that had
had glimpse into what was yelled
from her eager view in the coming time,
and then the momentars emotion that
had touched all three subsidized, and he
became aware that he was still holding
Sydney's fan. which he had picked mp
when it fell from her careless hold. He
gave it back to her with light warm
ing, You are brave; do you know that
peacock feathers are proyerbially un-
fortunateY"
She took it in her hand, touching the
feathers caressingly.
"Ah, but l am not afraid Of the
especial misfortune that they are said
TO bringl'
"And what is that?" asked Mr.. Lo-
raine.
She turned with a little courtesy to
her father. "The daughters, sir, of the
house do not marry"
And you mean to accomplish your
destiny in spite Of the peacock"
"On the contrary, l mean TO accept
with equanimity my destiny, and cling
to my peacOck's feathers, and my prime
minister"
You are a wise woman" replied her
father, land, for the third and last time,
i ask for my song"
Without another word she sat down
at the piano in the darker corner OF the
room.
NO, thank you, do not require a
light in answer TO Count Lindenheim'
offer Of candle; Il am going to sing
little song that | know by heart. 1t is
fathers present favorite. and l hope, as
i sing 1t TO him nearly every night, that
it gives him pleasant dreams.
To-day-ah! well,-To-day is fair;
But need tell-What softer air.
Fresh as the morning breath Of May,
Blew from tie hills OF yesterday!
Sweet yestcrday!-with reaching hands,
| gaze away-Across the sands,
To see if somewhere may find
A careless trific lett behind.
A leaf, windblown,-T nuttored by,
when all alOne.-The woods and ];
A soft rose that used To wear
In the bright beauty of my hair.
The tender eyes-That smiled In mine;
1fthose dear cycS-A gain might shine,
Aud might find along the way
The heart that loved me yesterday.
Oh. love! oh. loss NO use tired hands
To reach acrCss--1he fading sanGs;
They are not there the gifts that lay
In the white arms of yesterday.
When she had finished there was 81
few seconds silence, then Count Lin
denheim walked over TO the darkened
corner by the piano, and
Have you the wordS!" he asked: Il
should like 10 read them, for my En-
glish is not strong enough for me 20 UNI
derstand English songs"
They are here" she replied, IF you
can read my writing"
He took the little manuscript book to
the light.
"They are pretty" old Mr.. Lorraine
remarked, though perhaps you are not
old enough to think so. Young people
like TO imagine that sorrow, pretty senti-
mental sorrow, of course, is being borne
in the present. or coming III the future.
When YOU are as old as | am, you will
like to know that it is past. Eli, Lin
denheim"
But Count Lindenheim was looking
thoughtfully before him, and did not at
once answer. Then. Il don't think, sir"
he said, that those who have reached
to the point Of looking back to yester-
day have much sympathy as rule with
those who are struggling through to-
day. To-day Will some day be yeSter-
day 20 us
"You are right, perhaps. Somehow,
as we grow older, things 60 seem TO be
trifleS, which of course they ale not;
but it is written, YOU know. that the
great things of to-day are the triles OF
tomorrow"
do you think, father interposed
Sydney That the point of view ever
alters TO ourselves? | should beinclined
To translate that sentence into, Our
great things always seem trifles seen
through other peoples spectacles."
We'll, my dear. in that case 1t IS a
pity we cannot borrow their spectacles:
we might get fairer and pleasanter
view OF life then. And perhaps 1t Is not
necessary to go further, but just to bor-
row yours"
We'll, you might do worse. Ny
glimpses of the world are generally of
"A very bright and sunny place, with just
enough shadow TO make the sunshine
welcome
Keep your spectacles," said the old
man. kissing her for good-night Il am
too old to use them. They are only
suited for the eyesight OF those who be-
lieve in them"
CHAPTER II.