The Portland daily press., 1895-03-16


Were one to love like this, u said Mi
randa, would the heart be then at rest?
Would it throb less loudly in ones sidef
Would such love fulfill the most exigent
desires of human nature? What part
would so smooth q sentiment fill in ones
life?''
Passion, he answered, SIS the bubble
that we blow in youth 1t is the creature
of our own Imagination, fails with our
pulse and expires upon the indrawing of a
breath How many have I seen wrecked
upon passion, incredulous that it would be
gone with the fall of the sun or the wax
ing of the birds! Love, child, is no pas
sion, but the sweetest of contentments
Served in daily fare it will preserve peace
and health and wisdom What would
you have beyond these? For, behold, the
greatest Of all is peace!'
Peace' sighed Miranda
He went toward her.. .'All, sweet" he
murmured, "peace should be our fortune
should we so through life together
Come, place your hand in mine, and we
will dispel these rebel wildings from your
heart. Look round and see the spring
All things keep serene and quiet holiday.
Pluck out distrust. Forget these treacher-
Gus longiEgs, A happy childhood shall
surely preface comfortable career of
ease
Miranda hesitated Her pretty brows
were puokered with doubt At his bid
ding she locked around Nature smiled
at her. The face of the world shone with
gaycty. Somewhere in the elms a throstle
sang of lovo and mystery. She turned and
gazed into the strangers face, and his
kindly eyes seemed dull and old Spring
and the sunshine and the song of birds
lay not therein She shook her head
II want not comfortable case, she an
swered. . | would not take it at SO great
a sacrifice. See, there are other things in
nature save peace What of this dead bird,
callow from the nest? Is it naught but
peace hear in yonder singing in the trees.
Hark, what secrets is the young corn
breathing to itself? Nay what is even
this poor Ignorant heart of mine falterirg
within mef All around | see witnesses to
some greater glory than this ease of which
you speak. The strokes of my pulse beat
folly, you will say Well, I will pursue
their folly until wisdom comes. Do not
let mo from my own. I can but follow
where myself am leader"
May" he said, follow rather where I
lead-I who have years of wisdom. You
are very sweet to me. Your eyes are soft
and beautiful"
Eyes flicker and fade, said Miranda,
with smile.
your form is young and lissom. y
Tho body dwindles, quoth she, pout-
ing.
Your lips he began.
" Are for food and laughter" laughed
Miranda. II pray you will not hold by
these, else will you put your trust in the
flying hour -
You mock me, said he sadly.
Nay" sho replied, Il give you back
the echo of your own philosophy. Is it
not true? Yourself have seen it, They
shrink, they wither, they fall, they decay
oh, it were wanton vanity to admire
them! Sir, you have very wise head and
will do we'll not to go back upon it's coun-
sells. Nay, you shall have your comfort,
and you shall take it at the lips of any of
a hundred maids There is no choice for
you. Why, nc mysteries may trouble you.
You have bat straight course to sannter
by, without SO much as blinking at the
sun. Marry your maid, then, and take
your comfort in GOD S name And in my
iiiAAii " = = HliulA cCC y Ou lOIlIllS III yOuf
purple chair and sucking in the comfort
of your admirable roon smoking your
comfortable pipe and directing comfort
able glances at the flight of rocks outside
your window, and beside you one, I shall
see, to tender anticipations to your wants,
plump and brown and gentle, the mother
of your sturdy children and the custodian
of your ease Oh, you shall have coin
Portable life, assure you.''
''That, he said tenderly, lis how l
would paint the picture for myself and
you. Come, think upon it. What better
prospect than this home you have upheld
to mockery? Indeed, what you have
framed in derision shall surely come to be
your hearts desire. Forego your yearn
ings. They are idle dreams. Why, then,
dream them at night If you WILL SO be you
are complacently mine by day. 1 exact
not much but a warm affection and a ten
der friendship
''Oh, we may be friends!' cried Mi
randa. 8 will be a dozen friends to you
day. love tho friendliness of friends as
love the light and warmth of the sun. l
will dance with you, if you be not too
staid. will sing with you, if you have
but the voice. will read my books in
tears with you, ii you can weep. But then
you shall march home to your comfortable
wife, embrace her serenely, and, free from
the distractions of your friends emotions
serenely take comfort in her serene com
fortabieness. =
'Ah'' he cried.
But as for me-" she went on, with an
imperious gesture of her hand, II like not
comfort. | can buy rushlight for far
thing, bread for penny and the whole
world for sixpence. Iwould think shame
to sell the mysteries of life for the petty
possession of bland prosperity"
Without word he turned on his heel
and went his way, and Miranda, follow
ing him with her eyes, smiled to herself
and her heart. She was flushed and beau
tiful, her bosom quickened with excite
ment, and to the door of her heart the
hand came clntching, clutching at the
.atch.-H. B. Marriott Watson in Sketch