Marshall County independent., 1895-03-29

love. but | dare swear there be things
that matter. Take these from life and
what will rest over? Is there not SOr-
ron. and Is there not pain? | know
nothing of these-I am too young to
the world. But there they stand, sir,
importuning at our doors with out
stretched arms. and one has only to lift
the latch to let them in. You would
deny the very pulse of human nature
when YOU ignore these evils. You would
forswear the very weakness which Las
composed for you your sentiments
In the excitement of her retort Mi
randa's face flushed and grew bright.
Wide-eyed, the young man stared at
her ana forgot to laugh. and when she
had done his head dropped and he
sighed.
self have felt and suffered. You have
belied yourself. You sigh. There are
facts in life even for sighs.'
"'TiS true" he answered, softly, "yet
l sighed for pleasure"
What pleasure?' she asked, curl
ouSlv.
''Or it may be hope" he added.
He looked at her. and his saZe was
mild and wistful. She regarded him in
perpleXity. and then wild Hush took
her in the cheek and throat.
Pooh. pooh" she cried. and turned
off. plucking at the hawthorn bush The
white may smell rank. but strange and
soothing; the petals shivered and fell
Miranda's heart beat on. wondering
Something clapped at its doors again
and again. Would she open? What
was this impatient visitor that plead
ed SO for entrance? She had so little
knOwledge; she was but newly arrived
upon the world. Her emotions were
still strangers TO her; she was pilgrim
still among her new senSat tions. Ought
she to open? Nay, TO stay so and Won
der was purely pleasantest. One day
she would throw wide the door and
look. But now it was sweet to feel
that hand upon the knOcker, that clutch
ing at the latch and lie trembling with
i'll in fcigned insecurity. She turned
and faced him. Straightway the clamor
ceased. and in her heart was silence
She looked him coldly in the face.
You smile for love?" she asked.
YES, dear" said he, land for the
thought Of you"
"Oh. you take me too lightly" she
broke out. You do not guess what n
solemn thing this love may be- You
fiutter into q thousand fOllies on the
scantest reflection. You will dance,
and you will play, and you will jingle
Jangle through your holiday world
without thought for anything but
prOuetteS and jigs and whirligigs OF
laughter. L he most sOnorOus of sacred
sorrows may sound In your ears and
wake no echo but n cape within your
heart. And you would put me upon
that dead plane of ribald merriment
with yourself? l will laugh with you.
Yes; | Will 60 beg of you for iests in
my jOcund seasons. | am willing to
shrek over your whimsicalities at my
own pleasure. In my serene unthink-
ing moments l will be content to ex-
change humOrs with you, and to vow
life were void and dull were not such
as you at my back. But when I've
opened my chamber and fastened the
door upon myself my soul and l shall
be alone together, and | will weep. and
pity, and repent. and ache out my heart
with SORROWS in which you can have no
lot. am young, but have an inkling
of what the world may mean"
THE world said he, means happi-
ness"
The world she retorted. means
tears, and bitter wringing of the hands
Have I not heard of death, and have
not seen pain? You think me gay, yet
how long shall keep this gayety in my
heart? l go round upon the wheel. 1t
turns and changes. What shall befall
tomorrow that shall not weep to-day?
You would pluck me with no greater
consideration than you would pick
flower from its stalk wherewith to deck
your coat Should it wlthcr or fail
adjust. another will serve until the
coming Of the wine. Look you, YOU
will sigh and weep for love. and your
sighs will be smiles, and your tears will
be laughter. Fortnight your heart
Is singing like lark. Yours. youxs
is the shallOwest Of paltry passions"
Il would Go much for yOu," said he
'Give me your dimples," cried Mi
randa, land so TO the churchyard with
Il wry facef"
Even that" he answered, nOdding.
BAH said she, you will not con-
tain your face lugubriously for five
minutes by the clock. Though you
shall remember to be sober for two
sentences, at the third you will be
whistllng. and the fourth will find you
holding your sides"
He moved step toward her.
"And II / should die for you:" he
asked. pleadingly.
Miranda gasped. She contemplated
his face with uncertainty. His eyes
shone with the dew of tears; his hands
trembled, IL was the corner of his
mouth betrayed him. Miranda burst
into laughter.
-l,o til