Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-23
sliIlInnlHalniianM-s N~~InI nlanuIninlnI
, AN EPISODE OF
TWO EVENINGS.

Frendsl Lovers that might have been,
Robert browning.
], was the close Of a perfect summer day.
and the crimson rays Of sunsc, were re
nected with sof,encd splendcr In the cool
shimmering depths OF tho river wheN Il
winds softly past Mcdmenham Abbey. and 50
down 20 NARROW and clleyeden. Two people.
IN punt. drifting quietly with tho stream,
ielt the beauty and stiffness Of the hour and
watched the ripplcs silently, until he, seeing
tho sadness Of her downcast face, said.
u can't believe that this Is our last even
Ing together. These three weeks have been
IKE droami very happy dream to me
! shall miss YOU 80 much WIN you--wiil
you try to miss me lttle7''
The girl flushed family but did no.
answer and there was silence again be.
tween them.
All the past week Captain Dennietnn had
been sleeling his hear, aeainat her telling
himself that though barbara Leigh waa
pretty and swect and lovahle and ali ina,
mans hear, could desire, she was not tho
wife for him. Indeed, he felt It would be
the height o, madness to engage himself to
any one. unless perhaps the maldon OF his
choice had the accident OF wealth added 70
her other charms. He could not i've on his
pay as Il was. how then should II suffce for
twof And his temperament at tho time was
not tina, Of those who think "the world we'll
lost for love"
Yet there hnd been moments when no
felt that II would not be easy TO part from
hcr and ray nothing. No word OF love had
passed between them. hut woro thcy only
friendsG And as each day Of companlonship
hYF tNaHtN aN..N
therc wcr subtle attractions about barbara
that he bad not taken Into account, and that
would be harder to resist than he had bar
gained for. a keen sense Of humor. pow
er OF saying witty thlnsa quite unexpco,-
eddy, wore not among the least OF these.
aud In addition she had surprised him more
than once with glimpse OF something
that was beyond the ordinary cleveruoaa o.
well-edueatod and Intelligent girl. she had
ncaources OF conversation that ono did not
look for. as a rule. IN a quite young and
pretty woman. and showed signs of lnlelee'
tual knowledge and Of habit Of criticism
aud judgment even In matters beyond her
own sphere. that yet revealed themselves
with too complete an absence Of sef-eon-
sclousness to be In any way aggressive. A
beautiful woman he could understand and
admire. accepting little stupidity as In
oyitablei a learned one be could not tolerate,
possessing In common With most men an
instructive demand that his manhood should
tsto the lead OF all womanhood In matters
tia, concerned the brain. while yielding
mAgnanlmously in those relating to the
heart But this Girl. who was absolutely
devoid OF eoncelt or pedantry. who could
dance and sing diyinely. and who was like
a flower to look at had proved TO BE- such a
good comrade, that though II gradually
dawned on him that her mind was beyond
his average limits. he had felt only more
and more attracted. Yet he must say good
by, and n possible without telling her he
loved her.
But for any one who had formed such
re-outlons that might barbara looked far,
far, too pretty. The brown hair should not
have shone like gold IN the sunset light
nor fallen In such winning cnrle beneath
tho little sailor hat. tho delicate color
should not have come and gone In her fine
! faca as he looked al her, nor should tbs
| sweet lips have tremhiod when they tried
to answer him. And The eyes, the lusirous
dark gray eyes. that changed with every
thought and feeling surely they should not
have hold such tender a0ftnoaa In thelr
depths for any one whose heart was guarded
and secured against them. Those eyes bad
often puzzled HIM they were 40 innocently
daring; they could meet and ncst on his
30 steadily. 80 earnestly, as though they
would read the secrets Of his heart, yet
while they looked at him. 1t would have
taken all his courage. and more. TO trouble
their serenity.
AND on this night. Of ell others. there
was a new expression IN them, a suggestion
OF unshed tears,
still. he hardened his heart, and held his
peace. and tho river carried them nearer
a 10. d h. ola ar.N
ing.
barbara" he said at last az they nohred
tho bank where she must land II want you
TO promise me ono thing ! want you to
think kindly u me after ! am gone 70 think
a. we'll Of me as you can. 10 forgive me for
-ho hcsitatcd-''for anything that seems tn
need forgiveness. You have been 30 good
to me. and III shall never FORGET you
Thoy had reached the bank and she had
risen. and turned her face. 80 that he could
not soc u; he put out HIS hand to help her
from the boat. and hers rested on II Tor one
moment as he stepped on shore, And al the
touch OF her little cold fingers he forgot bis
wisdom and his wofldncss. and tho reaolu.
tons vanished away Ho wag beside hnr on
the bank With his arms round her, and he
was kissing her soft hair just whore Il rip
pied AMY from her neck. Darling" DO
whispered ~ love you. J have no right to
tell you so / never meant to- but can't
little" And she told him that sho cared for
him more than for all the world and that his
poverty mattercd nothing 10 her, long "a
he loved her. and that she would never for
ret him all her life. And when he left her
she believed that whatever the future held
for than, after that night OF absences or
Of waiting they should share u Together.
even though apart. since now they knew how
dear they held each other. Her last words
Nefs. "GoodbY, Ralph. Write 10 me when
you roaf!h Ireland, and don't tell me you are
sorry. because you have made me 70 happy
surely you would not have been 40 er,iel a.
10 20 away and not tell me. Oh. Ralph
how could your Never aay again you are
100 po1r. Don't you know I would rather
be- p5n- with you than rich with any one
eIreg Gooiby. beloved"
brilliantly lighted room. and an Assem-.
blaee Of brilliant people. No one bmldst
the throng but had some claim, sithor small
or great 10 distinction. ysi the man eh1
wa leaning rather YEARLY ngAinst the open
window and who had only Just CONS. val
evidently bored or abstraeted. or both, fpr
Ia had allowed his eyes and his thoughts
10 wander out beyond tbs veranda, 10
whsfe al tho end Of the garden. = silver
stream flashed softly In the moonlight ils
claim 10 be Included among tho guests lay
hi ne fact Of bis being hefo-~i9r tte NO.
rnent. a man who had succeeded IN saging
M oxn lie and that o. another man, ~ 4
terrible wreck. Of which they wers The onlr
1,rviyors II Nas on lia way home fron
Indla. where he had spent the last Eve