The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-08-01

their grasp on me- Feeling soft splash of
something warm, ] looked up startled.
only to see another drop coming.
That settled on his knee and was in
stantly brushed away.
The misery ON his face was terrible. I
had to assert all my self control or should
have broken into tremendous wall.
No one saw his emotion; every one was
listening intently to the music.
The last notes were still trembling on
the air when a burst of applause shook the
church. She stood there, smiling and
bowling gracefully right and left.
Again l am unable to describe her
Words cannot paint the rich coloring, the
glowing, speaking eyes, the masses of soft
dark hair framing the fair sweet face, the
swaying graceful figure clad in clinging
white, the simmer of satin cleaning
through; there were diamonds on her
rounded neck and In her hair
After moment of breathless silence she
burst into song; ahappy, rollicking thing
for she was happy to be In the old place
once more and to see all the familiar home
faces around her.
AT the close she was recalled, responding
graciously.
This. time q sweet old love song rang
through the church.
She had nearly finished when saw her
look In our direction. There was n quick
little catch In her voice; she looked again,
as II unable to remove her eyes. thought
she was about to break down, but she fin
tshed, though could see the effort it cost
her
She did not look again in our direction
do not think any one but myself detected
the little quiver of her sweet lips as she
bowed herself out
Adelaid said not word; sitting bolt
upright, her lips brought together in lit
tie red line
He sat with downcast face, dreaming
unwillingly of days gone by. Their mem
ory was kecnest pain, and he would fain
have forgotten, but her sweet presence
aroused all the fierce fire he had believed
was so skillfully buried, and he felt like
man starving for food, with abundance
In sight.
Such fierce hatred sprang up in his
heart for the girl at his side; at the time
was afraid he might strike her dead.
His eyes looked 1t, so touched his hand
softly to remind him where he was
Drawing himself up with shudder he
folded his arms tightly across his breast
How my heart ached for them bothf II
1 could only have spoken, how would
have Strengthened things out for them
The rest of the musical numbers glided on
smoothly.
he longed, yet dreaded her temperance
At last she came, more charming and spar
king than before.
Her eyes swept the great audience smil-
ingly, then rested calmly on Adelaid, caus-
ing her to color uncomfortably, then on
the man at her side.
Their eyes met. No one knows the story
each read there, or whether either under
stood. Still smiling down at him, she be-
gan to sing in voice clear and sweet as a
bell, with an unearthly sadness running
all through. She had chosen her song well
and sang with her whole soul, "Have You
Forgot2'
The words cut into his heart.
When the audience arose to go, he arous-
ed himself, with a sigh, to assist Adelaid
into her wraps, and together they passed
out.
No word was spoken until her home was
reached.
81 have something to ask you, she says
hurriedly as they ascend the steps. "Did
she mean that song for your"
"How should knowS' he answers wea-
rily. 1T is not likely she troubled herself
W SclCCO sung lOf me.
She looks at him quizzically. Her eyes
had little yellow gleam 1 had learned to
dread.
"No; it's not likely" she assents, "but
you-have you forgot?"
II have not forgotten you are my prom
ised wife. VIII not that satisfy youY'
She Is silent for moment.
"Where is the pictureY" she asks after
time "Let me see it."
Reluctantly he takes me from his pocket
"Will you prove your love for me by Civ
ing me this" she asks looking him full
in the face, ito do with as / wish?'
He hesitates for moment.
Why not, it is all over with him nowp
He is bound to this girl at his side.
Why not make her at least happy His
memory can still be his own.
He places me In her hand.
With q swift movement, she filings me
far out into the dark night.
Signing with relief she goes close to him,
as II expecting caress, but he stands as If
carved from stone.
After he left her that night he crossed
the street where he saw me fall, and
groped patiently about, picking at every
small object he saw.
He could not bear to think of me lying
out in the cold, and storm and dark; it
seemed like hurting her.
was caught snugly in the branches of
a hedge; knew he would never find me.
twisted and wriggled, but still stuck fast.
After long search, he at last abandoned
1t and walked home feeling, somehow,
lonelier than ever before.
had seemed SO part Of her.
From my prison l saw him enter and
leave Adelaids home frequently.
Such hunted looked as his eyes wore.
M E. b. in Hartford Times.