The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-05-04
AN ODD LIFE ROMANCE.

H'as Aiec Laneiie. ori. Tze.ea Sass or ReE-
i<aiosf
We had brought our chairs out on the
lawn, for the night was hot and sultry.
a low hanging harvest moon spread its
full radiance over field and meadow, and
the heavy feeling Of oppression rested on
Us all. Wewere buta small party, but
entirely congenial. From boyhood up
We had ever been close companions, and
the only break had come when Alec had
been sent on business for his house to a
far away Southern town, there to nego-
tiate the transfer Of a coffee plantation.
At the time Of his departure he was en-
gagged TO be married and expected soon
to return to claim his bride, bur on ar
irving at his destination be found tha,
certain business and legal formalities
would detain him much longer than he
anticipated. Writing home 10 his fianee
Of his disappointment, she determined
10 60 out 10 him, and by the the next
steamer she was on her way. That was
years ago, and tonight was the first time
We four ohums had been together in all
that time. We had heard, bat in meagre
details, the death Of Mis- Marvin soon
after her arrival.
Alec had come back, only 10 hasten off
10 some other place With an equally IN
pronounceable name, and we had sup
posed that by this time his sorrow had
beccme thing of the past, and that he
had somewhere in his travel. found
wife 10 take Miss Maryin's place. On
meeting him at the door it was evident
to me that time in this case had proved
bot s sorry healer. The hght-hearted,
Jolly boy was gone, and in his place stood
q man stern and aged before his time
with questioning wonder in the gloomy
eyes that seemed forever seeking some
thing or some enc as they glanced eau
tiously about. He was sitting now puff
ing away at his cigar in moody silence.
Tom, Dick and were trying our voices
on some old melody that seemed appro-
pirate to the night, yet We did not let our
selves out, but sang rather in subdued
and sort Of hushed way, as though We
were afraid Of waking some one. Just
when we were about TO start in on the
third verse, Alec started up, and, in sc
cents sharp with pain, said
For Gods sake fellows, shut up. Can't
you see that music is driving me crazy =?
l hate minor music and hate the noon"
Noting our surprise, he continued "Yez,
know act ike lunatic, but when
tell you something 1 have been trying for
years TO solve you viii know why it IS
cannot bear that song or appreciate this
moonlight
He sat up straight and something in
his manner led US to believe that what
he had TO say WAS connected with that
period Of his existence ofwhich We knew
50 little. Turning from one to the other,
with a CLEAN of the old time companion
in his manner ne said.
Boys, what l tell you tonight have
never breAthed 70 living soul outside
the tropics Help me, if you can to solve
a mystery that is driving me mad"
In hushe e1peclanoy We wait for him
TO begin. 1t was not long, though at
hrst It seemed as though he had forgot
ten our very presence.
~When was sent out to Mendoza FIVE
yesrs ago, as you know, was to return
soon. The trip vas delightful, my pros
poets bright and the expectation that on
my return I was 70 be nsrried TO Miss
Marvin whom you may remember, gave
to my thoughts siDgularly happy turn
and ever, thing was couleur de rose.
The first night at dinner l noticed 3
girl sitting near me, who, from the very
peeuliarity OF her appearance, attracted
my attention from the first. She was
unusally slender, with long, slim, beauti-
fully manicured hands. Her eyes were
black, small and restless. Her hair OF
the most extraordinary tint of red that
have ever seen. You smile; she wss not
beautiful, bat if you could have seen as l
have done, the SLOW, sweet cruel smile;
the rosy lips and small sharp teeth, and
the lighting movements ofthe slim hands
AMI graceful head, You would not wonder
was charmed, aye charmed that was
the word. Away from her l loathed the
very thought of her, but once let her
come toward me, with that graceful, IN
dulating walk that was all Ter own, with
the slim white hand extended her eyes
fixed on mine, while that perfect smile
hoyered over the little, cruel mouth, /
was her slave.
81 hated myself for it; read long les
sons to my wavering affections on their
dislcyalty to Bessie, and in the midnight
hours swore that would not meet her
again while We remained on board. Bot
all in vain. The charm Of her presence
was too much for me, and the morrow
found me by her side. Things of that
kind progress so much faster on ship
board than in society There is nothing
else TO do. and before / knew what was
about had drifted further than / dared
think Of She, on her part, seemed not
so much to love me as to enjoy the tort
IRE she inflicted. Vanity was her ruling
passion though Why waschosen the VIC
tim 10 be sacrificed on its altar God only