The morning call., 1893-02-23

speaking as If an answer 10 a question !:
Its just this-by trade you know me for a
matchmaker, and for Plymouth Brother by
conviction. All the week I'm bending over
a counter, and every Sabbath day | speak
in prayer-meeting what | hold, that lies a
dull pilgrimage TO better world. II you ask
me, sir, tonight. | ought to say the same.
But q man may break out Tor once, and
when so well as on his honeymoon? For a
week I've been a free heather; for week
I've been hiding here, living with the
woman l love in the open air. and night
after night for a week Annie here has
clothed herself like a woman OF fashion.
Oh, my God it has been beautiful time
a happy beautiful time that ends tonight
lie set down the fiddle, crooked I'D knee
and clasped MS hands round it looking at
Annie.
Annie, girl, what Is it that we believe
till tomorrow morning? You believe-eh?
that It's a rare world, full Of delights. and
with no ugliness in it?"
Annie nodded.
And you love every soul-the painted
woman in the streets no less than your own
mOther?"
Annie nodded again. I'D nurse 'em
both If they were SICK" she said.
zone like the Other?"
mo difference"
"And there's nothing shames you?"
Here he rose and took her hand. You
wouldn't blush 10 kiss me- before master
here?"
"Why should 70" She gave him sober
kiss, and let her hand rest in his.
looked at her. She was just as quiet as
in the Old days when she used to lay my
table. 1t was Ike gazing at play.
l should be ashamed 10 repeat the nom
sense that Tubal Cain thereupon began to
talk; for IL was mere midsummer madness.
But 1 smoked four pipes cOntentedly while
the sound of his voice continued, aud am
! l., e. wr.fn
at prayer-meeting. Down at the town l
heard the church-clock striking midnight.
and then l o'clock. and was only aroused
when the youth started ny and grasped
his fiddle.
And now. sir. if you would consent to
one thing, 'tw0uid make US very happy.
You can't play the violin, worse luck; but
you might take a step or two round the
deck with Annie, If L strike Up waltz
tune for you to move to-"
1t was ridiculous, but as he began to play
l moved up to Annie, put my arm around
her and we began to glide round and round
on the deck. Her face was turned away
| from mine and looked over my shoulder.
| If our eyes had met | am convinced l must
| have laughed or Wept. II was halt farce,
| half deadly earnest, and, for me, as near to
| Mysteries as q sane man can go. Tubal
| Cain, that inspired young Plymouth
| Brother. was solemn as a Judge. As for
u
] at this moment TO know what she thought
! of 1t. But she stepped very lightly and
! easily, and / am not sure l ever enjoyed a
waltz so much. The blue light-that be-
! witehing intoxicating blue light-paled on
US as we danced. The gray conquered ii,
and | felt that when we looked a each
other the whole absuTdty would strike us
| and / should never be able to face these
| lovers again without a furious blush. As
! the day crept on | stole a glance at TuOal
Cain. He was scraping away desperately
| with his eyes shut. For US the dance had
become WEAKNESS. but we went on and on.
| We were afraid to halt.
Suddenly string Of the violin snapped.
| We stopped, and | saw Tubal Gains hand
pointing eastward. A golden ripple came
dancing down the creek, and. at the head OF
the combe beyond, the suns edge was
| mounting.
"Morning" laid the bridegroom.
"Its ali done," said Annie, holding out a
hand to me, without looking up. And
thank you. sir"
"We danced through the gray" l an
swered; and that was all | could find to
say, as | stepped toward the ladder.
Half an hour later as l looked out of the
| window before getting into bed ! saw in the
sunlight a boat moving down the creek
toward the town. Tubal Cam was rowing,
and Annie sat in the stern. She had changed
| her gown.
They have been just an ordinary couple
ever since. and attend their chapel regularly.
| Sometimes Annie comes over TO make me
| an omelet; and, as a matter Of fact she is
now in the kitchen. But not q word has
| ever been spoken between US about her
! honeymoon.-Arthur CUTLER Crouch.