Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-10-12
THE V0ICEOF AN ECHO

out OF the window Of the old wooden
bridge, whose hooded tunnel threw a dark
oar across the moonlit mountain stream n
man ana woman stood looking into the
pine clad amphitheater of the cliffs, which
lay in stiffness beneath the spell of n SEN
tember night. The black hollow of the
bridge, with its one moonbeam sharn
across the floor, contrasted with the awful
splendor Of the granite gorge. buttresse,l
and pinnacled in every rising tier. under
the Hood Of ghostly light, and if the only
OBJECT OF the couple in coming here was to
see the view, they were amply r,naid
rom their conversation since they left the
hotel, which now lay behind them hidden
Oy fringe OF the forest, it would have
been difficult to say that this was not their
only object. The small talk of acouaint-
anceshlp, friendship and even love is with
IN certain limits, and among people habitu
ateu TO each others conventions, practi-
caily lndistinguishable. Frequently it is
difficult to decide why the degrees should
be OF so much consequence to the parties,
1t was in this case knowledge of the
world and the good temper of experience
that kept Mrs. Hugonin and Arthur Kin
naird on perfectly unruffied terms with
each other The conviction that he had
long ago forgiven her, gratifying as il once
had been, was now of such long standing
that it had become confused with her
earlier and less justiiable conviction that
he ultimately would forgive her. Thus
secure in vindcation, the lust for which
the dying Eve bequeathed to all her sex,
Mrs. Hugonin could without the slightest
reflection upon her widowhood accept once
more the eompauiOnship Of man who
tolerated life as comfortably rs Arthur
kinnaird. The imminence of the climac
teric WHICH she knew to be threatening
him was not to be read from his figure
His step was alert, his cheeks were bronzed
his tastes were rational, and what more
could he desire?
She pushed back her dark hair under its
somewhat youthful cap, and, leaning her
elbows on the ledge, gazed without speak
ing at the haunted detile. Kinnaird gayo
little laugh behind her. Margaret" :" he
said, upon my word, it seems as il we
were boy and girl again"
why, particularly" she asked, without
turning her head.
"Oh, all this summer" no replied She
did not ask him to be more explicit. at
is certainly an ideal place" she said, with
half sigh "Yet it is foolish to say that
the beauties Of nature restore ones youth
One may feel young again, but one is not
really any the less dispassionatc."
Il am not so sure of that" said Kin
naird. 81 should like to argue the point
with you-if it could be argued"
"Gou men are all alike" said Mrs
Hugonin, with an inconsistent shrug Of her
shoulder. "You give up to logic what was
meant for conversation"
Kinnaird stroked his mustache thought.
fully for n moment. And so you think
me dispassionatey" he observed.
You" said Mrs. Hugonin, turning with
a delightful laugh, why, Arthur, there
isn't sentiment or conviction to whose
support society could order you to con-
tributer'
"lf you mean that" he said, slowly. sit
is quite as feared"
"As you feared"
You still believe me Capable Of as much
mistaken self control as once was. And"
he added calmly, 81 don't wonder"
Though there was no bitterness appar-
ent in his tone, Mrs. Hugonin was startled
Really, this is unlike you, Arthur" she
said gravely, but yet with sense of
amusement. You petulant with your
pastl You provoked with your recollec
tionsI Indeed, have mistaken you"
He laughed, but gently. Come" he
said, you have no right to be ironcal.
Though | once let you go, it was because
thought you wished to be released"
Upon my word, Arthur" said Mrs. HUI
gonin, Il did not know you were serious
or should not have taken this as n Joke"
81 am entirely serious"
Really" said Mrs. Hugonin, and she
spoke with some irritation. II thought
all had been forgotten and forgiven years
ago." Then she drew herself up proudly.
"Can it be that after all this time you have
conceived the childish whim Of forcing me
to a-to an apology"
"No-haplly that"
81 am ready to make it," she went on.
But II do"--
Kinnaird moved to the window beside
her and laid hand on her arm. "You are
much mistaken" he said, In the undis-
turbed voice which so provoked her. "You
must indeed think that am taking leave
Of my years never had much vanity,
think, but what had when was younger
| never made a pet Of. Look over there at
the rocks, and what do you seei"
"Rocks-and moonlight. But, Ar
thur
"The rocks make me recollect," he went
on, unheeding, that one day when you
were about seventeen you and ! climbed
Lone mountain together. And when we
reached the ravine you insisted on going
first, and let you. Now did that be
cause reflected that If you fell | could
catch you"
"Welli"
"You see, that was my first mistake.
should have gone first and made you cling
10 my-parlon ne-coat tails"
Every likely" said Mrs. Hugonin, hall
laughing. "But can't think II does Us
any good TO talk II over now"
AFTER that" said Kinnaird, pursuing
his subject, IL acted consistently on the
same mistaken theory. And when IL came
to the question Of giving you up thought
always Of you first. That was why gave
you up-which you naturally considered n
weakness"
1t did not escape Mrs. Hugonin that a
dormant weakness Of her own was reyiying
under the continued stress Of this nbsu rd
conversational weakness for sentiment.
But II was checked by her yexaton with
her friend for breaking their tacit under.
standing-and by the feeling Of half con.
temptuous pity that stole over her a. he
spoke.
Were she man, she thought, she would
never confess at forty 10 the incompetencs
Of twenty-five. That Kinnaird did 20, but
absolyed her again. Also. she reflected.
she had had n headache yesterday, and
ion had not been started yesterday or she
would have been much more provoked
than she WIS now.
II shall not stop you" she said in half
mischievous tone. Go on-I won't be