The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-05
IMAGINATION.

/ met her on the shores of the lake.
There were real tears in her eyes,
"Oh, Mr.. Vansittart," she cried, ''what
shall do? My husbands out in boat,
ever SO far away. and the winds rising,
and the boatlnan says that it's awfulIy
dangerous when there's storm, and
I tilted my hat forward and scratched
my head.
Il don't see what you can do" said I,
compassionately. l had sat next her
three nights at table d'hote, and liked
her extremely.
Look at those trees! Oh, how it
blows! And see! Great waves!"
"The wind is certainly getting up" 1
admitted, sitting on garden seat.
"Oh, Mr.. Vansittart, suppose he should
be drowned!"
Suppose he-?" I paused. The
idea was new one to me. turned it
over in my mind. well, suppose he
should?" l said at last in an inquiring
tone.
"And we've only been married a
year!"
"Yes, yes, said I thoughtfully. Your
love is still fresh?"
"As fresh as the day when"
"Your romance has not worn off the
day of disillusion has not come. Your
husbands memory would be the sweet
est of consultations to you"
"But, Mr.. Vansit-"
"There would be no alloy in your
recollecctions. You are young, your
| life would not be spoiled, but it would
be, as it were, hallowed by sweet and
not too poignant regrets. In the course
of time the violence of grief would wear
off"
She sat down. on the bench beside me,
and dug the end of her parasol into the
path.
you would feel" 1 pursued, that
sacred as these memories were-precious
as they were-you would not be Justified
in giving your whole life to them. And
al last, it may be that another would
come who"
"Oh, 1 can hardly imagine that Mr..
Vansitta1t.
TRY" said I, encouragingly. "One
who, though not perhaps the equal in all
respects of him you had lost, could yet
shelter you from the world"
81 should want some one, shouldn't
Ip"
"And give you an honest, enduring,
unwavering affection"
at wouldn't be the same thing" said
she.
depend upon it," returned earnest
ly, sit would be in some ways better
For he-your second husband-might
well be one who could appreciate the
serious when YOU we're"
"Instead of always making jokes?
| Ye-es, Mr.. Vansittart
Serious, and yet able to enter into
your lighter moods = always good
tempered"
HE would be wonderful husband
then!"
Generous, nay, lavish, in giving you
whatever"
"Fancyp
"You wished for; unspairing in his eff
forts to please you"
"What, after marriage?"
Devoted absolutely to you. Why it's
lovely picture"
"Yes, it does sound nice," she con-
ceded. digging with the parasol.
"Could not such one," I continued,
leaning toward her, "by his affectionate
and constant efforts, in the course of
|
crnel calamityP"
well, perhaps in time, Mr.. Vansittart,
he might"
"He would. said I, positively. 81 can
imagine myself"
Il beg your pardon. Mr.. Vansittart?"
Il say, can imagine myself making
it the work-the whole preoccupation-
| fIaV N1sfh oil 81 20 kAY,, TO
store happiness TO one from whom it
seemed to have departed forever"
at would be splendid thing for a
man to do, wouldn't itp"
There was pause. Then she said:
"But, Mr.. Vansittart, would you-who
are so young and so-and so-and So
I mean, who are so young-be content
with heart that had spent its first love
on another, in which the freshness OF
youthful"
Il sometimes think" interrupted in
low but urgent tones, shat affection oi
that kind is nobler, higher, better than
the rash impulsiveness of an ignorant
girl. 1t would be sympathetic COM
munion of minds, of souls, Mrs. Law
renee"
"Yes, 1 see. Yes, it would, Mr. Van.
sittart"
"My sympathy for you," I pursued,
"would soften and inspire my nature
should be elevated to your level. And
perhaps, at last, when long years hat
obliterated-"
"Well. had blurred, Mr.. Vansittart.
"Yes, had blurred the pain of memory
we might come to see-to understand
how what once seemed so distressing
was really, in spite of its sadness, the
necessary condition for the perfect