The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-10-11


progress 10 all mankind. The deform-
ity, the disease, the wickedness, which
were the result of abnormal and un-
healthy influences, containing in them
selves-as they must-the limitation of
their strength and the necessity of their
speedy decay, were forces to be re-
jected and combatted, forces which
never had conquered and never could
conquer. Na,ure insists on health,
light and life, and Furnishes deviations
from her requirements relentlessly.
And the most precious of the spoils of
time is the chance gained for Us to live
with daily beauty, with order, sacred
ness and purity in our lives. These are
our realities and necessities.
Everybody observed that, as the girl
speaker was rounding off her discourse,
suddenly she flushed and for moment
seemen to lose the thread, then regain
it and went on with fresh animation,
and ctisper and more incisive touch.
The truth was that Mildred lad caught
a glimpse of Basil French standing in
a corner of the room, and for a moment
every thing had whirled round before
her eyes.
He approached her as she stood sur
rounded by group who congratulated
and applauded her. Her eyes met his
with startled and conscious meaning.
You did not take my advice" he
remarked.
81 had promised to speak; still l did
not like to take your advice"
He was smiling; he bent forward and
said:
Your way of doing as you like
charmed me. Perhaps you remember
that you always had way of charming
me?"
81 had forgotten" said Mildred,
saucily. "It is so long since | have
had the pleasure of seeing you"
Later, when she was following Mrs.
Faoian TO her carriage, he came up.
"Why not walk homer" he said.
"The moon is full; the night is like
summer.
81 I'm going to walk Mildred said
to Mrs. Fabian. 1t was a pleasure
snatched out of the very teeth of loss
and loneliness to see him.
Please take my arm," he said, 81
want t. monopolize you for moment. l
sail for Europe tomorrow at three
O'clock"
81 heard that you had already
sail, d."
Without bidding you goodbye?
what you had to say about the real
lists"
"Ah!" murmured Mildred.
decided to go back to Berlin
within three days after l saw you in
the park. AT first l tried to set to
work. There are experiences which
make fellow cynical. said to my
self: Let man know his own line and
keep it, But it was no use, so told
my father l must return to Europe.
He said he needed holiday and would
go with me. We have only each other,
you know, and he is very good to me.
We shall go first to Norway, then in
the fall to the East probably. You
told me 10 60 to Jericho; this is my OPP
portunity and yours. Have you been
very glad to be rid of me?"
Let her struggle as she might to vie
with him in high spirits, Mildred
was conscious of lack of rebound.
He evidently considered everything
rounded off, complete, finished, dead.
sion when she did not speak.
Well?" he said presently.
I" You see," she observed with an eff
fort at liyhtness, that supposed you
were halfway across the Atlantic-that
you had gone without word"
did you care particularly? But
mol will not press questions. You
have something better to do III life thar
to love roe, and we shall go our two
ways. You demand freedom, serenity
IDEAL aims; if you have any feeling, yor
intend that it shall justify the expense
of the candle. What | want, on the
other hand, is just my own selfish hap
piness-the blessedness of help, of con
ISOLATION, of comradeship. 1t would BIZ
nothing to you to realize that, if yor
put out your hand, somebody seeks it
clasps it, holds it. But it would b'
everything to me. l stumble withou
it, like child on a rough road. Yol
have the keys to everything in life
hold precious; so without you to turf
the locks, shall have nothing precious
Still, wanted TO snatch just one me
ment. We are at least friends. Yo1
yourself said that we had been, wer
still, and could 90 on being friends.
He bent his head and swiftly kissed tn
hand which lay on his arm. She wou
have withdrawn it, but his own close'
over it. "This is mere friendiness,
he said. Tomorrow night l shall b
out of sight of land and you will be fire.
to go your own way
Mildred felt like crying out. She ha,
quivered at his words; they were Xix
the shrewdest irony. All of human
blessedness seemed to be offered il
this companionship. Alone agains
the world? Why should she stan
alone? Why should she fight the world
Conquered and despoiled, what coul'
the world give her in return for reject
ing this joy Unreasonable? VIVA
childish folly to reject that which wa
the only thing she realized clear nee
OF? Still, what she said was: 81 hop
your journey will be pleasant"
Delightful" he returned, CURLY
"Much you know of my state o
mind. But you have refused me once
twice, thrice. Wretch in letters as