The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-13

30 much the mora Iun- Inc man WHO
can derive enjoyment from Shelley and
Bill Nye Is not likely to be bored In this
world"
Perhaps not. But as he goes through
life he may cause a vast amount Of sorrow
to those who love him"
why? / don't quite understand you'll
"Yes you do, Harry. You know well
what / mean, Your heart is as tickle a5
your mind Two months ago you we're
mentally in love with chemistry. Last
week there was nothing worthy your at
tention save the old English dramatists.
Next week / expect to find you infatuated
with astronomy BY the end Of your
Senior year you will be mentally blase,
worn out with the short-liyed enthusia5inS
OF your four years sojourn here"
Good heavens, what lecturer cried
Harlan, lighting a cigarette and playfully
blowing the smoke upward into the hand
some face above him. And you say my
heart Is as unstable as my mind"
g fear it is, she answered sadly. You
will always receive more love than you
can give"
The young man gazed thoughtfully across
the RANT meadows and the undulating
hills, while an amused smile played around
his mouth. Presently he seized her thin,
white, shapey hand and kissed it passion
ately
Il love you, Rhoda. Are you not con-
TENT?
An expression Of WEAKNESS, almost OF
pain crossed her face as she stroked tho
white smooth forehead that CLEANED like
marble in her lap.
"CCntent2 Yes-for the moment. But
O vaar from roNvt What fbprY"
Harlan laughed mockingly.
Or hundred years, for that matter.
We may be dead year from now. Or
you may love some other man. Who
| lnows2 Come, Rhoda, why will you bor-
row trouble2 Nothing exists but to-day.
GUAM minimum credltLd postero'-to tie
devil with tomorrow, as Horace says.
Don't be blue, darling" He had risen and
was seated by her side. Throwing his arms
around her he drew her lips to his.
love you | love you, | love you" he muir
INJURED passonately. Their eyes met, the
hot blood burned their cheeks, her arms
encirced him and, while the brooklet
scoded and the OAK tree whispered to the
passing breeze, they gave themselves up
\ to the INVESTIGATION that youth begets from
/ love.
The sun had begun to sink toward the
| NeSb anu Inc trees cilSD long SuduOWS
athwart the sward as Harlan and his COM
panion re-entered the dog-cart and made
their way northward toward tho city
They were very quiet as they drove on
ward, and the young man answered alb
sently the few remarks addressed to him.
Rhoda noticed this and the same express
sion of pain and apprehension that had
thrown its shadow across her face earlier
in the day appeared again and rested there
for time.
An hour later they were seated at the
dining-table in Rhoda's quaint, old-fas-
hioned house. Her mother, a confirmed
invalid who seldom left her room, had sent
down word that she was not feeling as well
as usual and could not dine with them
for which relief Harlan Otis gave silent
thanks TO fate.
AS he glanced across the well-appointed
table at the graceful fair-faced woman
| who had given him her heart, the young
collegian wondered how it all would emo.
Mentally and physically he was infatuated
With Rhoda Barr, but there had often come
to him Of late feeling of repulsion in her
presence "a longing to be free of the ties
that bound him to her that was well-nigh
irresistible. At such times the face OF
Alice Inman came before him and the
blush of shame would sufuse his cheek as
he realized how unworthy he was of a pure
girls love.
Rhoda Barr understood thoroughly the
young mans nature. At first his atten-
tions had amused her without awakening
| within her any strong emotion. Being,
| for some mysterious reason known only to
q few, stunned by" society" she had taken
a somewhat malicious pleasure in monopo-
lizing the leisure time OF youth who was
considered "a great card p" by the match
making matrons OF the town. As time went
on, however, Rhoda had fallen passonately
in love with the handsome, tickle, brilliant
collegian. For nearly a year now she had
devoted her whole life to his service and
had tired to wean him wholly from the
functions OF the gay world. She had been
only PARTIALLY successful and already she
began to realize that the restless, unstable
nature of the poet would not long endure
the restraints imposed by her.
Nevertheless she was woman of endless
resources, well-read, an accomplished lin
guist and highly cultivated musician. In
fact she held strong hand in the game
about to be played and that her cards
would be skilIfuAy manipulated no one
who knew her could for a moment doubt.
She was very quiet that night at dinner
and let Harlan indulge his thoughts as he
pleased. Then, after they had finished
their tj4uers, she led the way to the draw
ing-room and raising the lid of the piano
motioned Harlan toward an easy chair
near the open window. Striking match
she held it against the end Of his cigar
As the smoke arose and slowly disappeared
on the evening breeze that murmured
through the trees, a sense of calm stole
over the collegian's soul. while through
the night echoed the soft and soothing
strains of Chopin nocturne.
After time the motif changed No lon
ger was the nigat calm and restful. There
was passON, seduction in the breeze that
kissed his checks, The fever of love unsat-
isiied vibrated through the strange, weird
harmony. Life was love, and love was
life, There was nothing in the universe
save the union of two souls. Come tc
me, come to me- voice cried in the dark
ness the music ceased and on the night
went up the murmur of long, an ardent
kiss.
1t was midnight and Harlan Otis trudged