Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18
A WOMAN OF 1.-THE FUTURE
W. ]. LamntOn in Life.

upon the world that hight in June. How
sweetly thu fragrance, -uf the roses came
and went upon the breathing air; and the
great eerth throbbed to othe gentle pulses
of two tende. hearts that beat as one.
I had known Herbert Martin but two
weeks. yet in that brief space my whole
future was bound up in his life, and wait
ed only for that sweet smile of encourage
ment which should be the signal for me to
lay all the burden of my wishes, my hopes
and my fears at his feet.
And en- this night in June I had asked
him to walk with me to the old tree in the
lawn. where We had spent so many happy
hours since first had met him and known
the sunshine of his presence.
Dear Herbert" I said, after We had
communed for few moments beneath the
giant arms of the great oak, Il have some
thing to say to you"
Il am sure, Miss Linger," he said, with
the coy grace of an old-fashioned girl,
that whatever you may have to say it will
be pleasure for me to hear
But l am not so sure, Herbert re-
sponded with that deep doubt which must
ment this.
How could you say anything to me, Miss
Linger, that would not please me?' he ask
ed, shyly.
leaves above us, and as a silver line of
light fell across his fair young face l saw
the silver turn to pink upon his white fore
head.
You KNOW" said, with my heart beat
ing faster each moment, that woman
may say some things to man that have
the .ex power to change his whole life
9eS, he almost whispered, Il think
have read of such things in novels"
I'm love stories?' 1 asked, laughing softly
II am sure they were,'' he smiled.
And II l should say them to you. Her
bert stopped and tried to catch the light
in his great brown eyes.
don't Know, Miss Linger," he whisper
ed, what it would be like"
Don't call me Miss Linger'" 1 ex-
claimed. impetuously. Call me Eliza"
he blushed.
.,, Angry with you, Herbert?" 1 said
who were created for the birds to sing to-
the flowers to blossom for; the sunshine to
be envious of; the stars to pale their in
ear1inra H ares before? Angry with you
"Oh, Eliza" he said, you mustn't say
those things to me. 1 am too young to
listen TO such words from you or from any
woman. Papa has always told me that
women were ever waiting and willing to
natter me- and that must not listen"
But DO you not love to hear such
NINE
They are the sweetest ever heard" he
And If told you that loved you, Her
nert; mat on your love my whole life de-
desert to me; that if your dear hand
were not In mine to be my gentle stay and
guide, would wander away and be lost
before me-if 1 should say chat to YOU
herbert, what would you Think"
waited anxlously for his answer be-
cause ..TSe, on that depended so much.
mi
with coy little smile. why don't Won
say 1t direct to me:''| e! W.
Just 70 think of Herbert saying that!
MY Herbert whom had clothed in the fuli
SHIPPED as the one altogether artless.
You enchanter," I exclaimed, catching
potn his hands in mine, and kissing him
on one blazing cheek in spite of his strug-
s!es ON, you more than wise oharmer
OF womankind. Do you thus doubt me?"
He laughed with cute chrp, as of
bird, and smoothed out his rumpled neck
tie. N
And why shouldn'tsI, when YOU preface
declaration with that hateful .if'?'' he
asked as he moved over to the farther end
of the rustic seat. t.
But you know thatI love you, Herbert"
insisted. How could help owing your
1t Is easy to love when Ole is in the
moonlight OF night in June" he said
tenderly as he gazed upward at the stars.
1t Is easy TO love you, Herbert, under
any circumstances. To love is nothing; not
to love you is the task
How nicely you talk. Papa was right
when he told me how the women could
1atter when they tried
Don't speak so, dear one," urged, draw
ing him to me once more.
women are deceivers ever" he laughed,
quoting the revised version of the old poet
and he looked up into my eyes with that
look in his. which 1 knew could come only
from heart that beat true to mine what
ever he might say to put me off.
ms in he foa
dear. bewitching little wizard" 1 said, TAX
Ing his face in my two hands and holding
him there, and listen to what I tell you:
L love you; love you; l love you.'
"And?' he added with great overgrown
Interrogation point after 1t.
And | shall love you forever"
"And"" he questioned again.
And I want you to love me the same"
"And?" again the Interrogation, no less
smaller grown by SO much use.
And l love you more every minute I
"And?" ever the land" with that aues-
tioning infection which coaxes an answer
And want you to be my own dear lit
tie husband, forever and ever, Herbert"
Dear Eliza" he said in tone of relief
so sweetly. 1 thought it was the stars
singing together as in the old time and he
laid his head upon my shoulder and I felt
the clinging grasp of hand that would
be in my hand until death should come
and take 1t away.
Darling" 1 murmured and our lips met
Even so. and as the nights of later Junes
come to us again, and the moon let's down
its silver chords to bind us together to
that one night in June when first we
started upon the path our feet have trod
so happily since. I can only be thankful
that 1 have won Herbert's love, and that
as he chung to me then, he clings to me
still, and my loving care and protection
have been to him all that his dear heart
could have wished.
As for myself, there are no heights to
which I may attain that with me Herbert
shall not go as husband whose great
love makes him the equal of his wife in all
the honors the world may confer upon her.
perfect husband, nobly planned,
To love to comfort and command.