Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-02-13

rock behind her, her feet on margin
Of solid sunlight, her forehead barred.
Her hair sprinkled round her as she
gently threw back her head. Her
face was full on Talton. She was
telling him something. Her gestures
were rhythmical and adorably bal
anced. Because they were continuous
or only regularly broken, it was clear
che was telling him story.
Talton, gravely, delightedly, nod
lied response now and then, or raised
his eyebrows in fascinated surprise.
Pierre, watching, was only aware Of
vague impressions-not any distinct
outline of the tale. At last he guessed
it as perfect pastoral-birds, hunt
ing, deer, winds, sundials, cattle,
shepherds, reaping. To Talton it
was new revelation. She was tell
ing him things she had thought. She
was recalling her life.
Toward the last she said or ges-
tured: you can forget the winter,
but not the spring. You like to re-
member the spring. 1t is the begin
ming. When the daisy first peeps,
when the tall young deer first stands
upon its feet. when the first egg is
seen in the orioles nest. when the
sap first sweats from the tree, when
you first look into the eye Of your
friend, these you want to remember. "
She paused upon this gesture-a
light touch upon the forehead, then
the hands stretched out, palms up
ward. with coaxing fingers. She
seemed lost in it. Her eyes rippled,
her lips pressed slightly, delicate
wine crept through her cheek, and
tenderness wimpled all. She glided
slowly from that almost statuelike
repose into another gesture. Her
eyes drew up from his and looked
away to plumbless distance, all glow
ing and childlike, and the new
ciphers slowly said:
But the spring dries away. We
can only see thing born once. And
it may be ours, yet not ours. I have
sighted the perfect Sharon flower far
upon Guidon, yet it was not mine; it
was too distant; l could not reach it.
I have seen the silver bullfnch float
ing along the canyon. l called to it
and it came singing, and it was mine;
yet l could not hear it's song, and I
let it go. 1t could not be happy so
with me.
II stand at the gate of a great city
and see all and feel the great shuttles
of sound the roar and clack of
wheels, the horses hoofs striking the
ground, the hammer of bells; all
and yet it is not mine-it is far away
from me. 1t is one world, mine is
another; and sometimes it is lonely,
and the best things are not for me.
But l have seen them, and it is pleas
ant to remember, and nothing can
take from us the hour when things
we're born, when we saw the spring
-nothing-never"
Her manner of speech as this went
on became exquisite in fineness, slow
er and more dreamlike, until with
downward protesting motions of the
hand she said that nothing neverw
Then a great sigh surged up her
throat; her lips parted slightly,
showing the warm, moist whiteness
of her teeth; her hands, falling light
ly, drew together and folded in front
of her. She stood still.
Pierre had watched this scene in
Ioo@1x, hi, ,hiY, hio ho,Io h,, al
bows on his knees. Presently he
drew himself up, ran finger medi-
tatively along his lip, and said to
himself: 1T is perfect. She is carved
from the core of nature. But this
thing has danger for her. Well,
ah!"
A change in the scene before him
caused this last expression of sur
prise.
Talton, rousing from the enchant-
ing pantomime, took a step toward
her, but she waved her hand plead
ingly, restrainingly, and he paused.
With his eyes he asked her minutely,
Why2 She did not answer, but, all
at once transformed into, a thing of
abundant sprightliness, ran down the
hillside tossing up her arms gayly.
Yet her face was not all brilliance.
Tears hung at her eyes. But Talton
did not see these. He did not run,
but walked quickly, following her,
and his face had determined look.
Immediately man rose up from
behind rock on the same side of the
ravine and shook clinched fists after
the departing figures Then he stood
gesticulating angrily to himself until
CHANGING to look up hesighted Pierre,
and straightway dived into the un-
derbrush. Pierre rose to his feet,
and said slowly; "Talton, there may
be trouble for you also. 1t is tan
gled world"
Toward evening Pierre sauntered
to the house of Ida's father. Light
of footstep, he came upon the girl
suddenly. They had always been
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