Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-04-06


Wide-eyed, the young man stared Mt
her and forgot to laugh, and when she
had done his head dropped and he
sighed.
"Ah," she said, "you sigh. You your.
self have felt and suffered. You have
belied yourself! You sigh. There are
facts In life even for signs"
"'Tis true" he answered, softly, "yet
I sighed for pleasure"
"What pleasureT she asked, curl.
ously.
"Or 1t may be hope" he added.
He looked Mt her, and his gaze was
mild and wlstful. She regarded him in
perplexity, and then a wild flush took
her In the cheek and throat.
"Pooh! pooh!" she cried, and turned
OF. plucking Mt 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 ut its doors again
and again. Would she open? What
was this impatient visitor that plead.
cd SO for entrance? She had 80 little
knowledge; she was but newly arrived
upon the world. Her emotions were
still strangers to her; she was pilgrim
still among her new sensations. Ought
she to open? Nay, to stay 80 and won
der was purely pleasantest. One day
she would throw wide the door and
look. But now Il was sweet to feel
that hand upon the knocker, that clutch.
Ing at the latch, and lie trembling with.
In In feigned insecurity. She turned
and faced him. Straightway the clamor
ceased, and In her heart was silence.
She looked him coldly In tho face.
You smile for lover she asked.
YES, dear" said he, "and for the
thought Of yOu."
"Oh, you take me too lightly" she
broke out. "You do not guess what q
solemn thing this love may be. You
hutter Into thousand follles on the
scantest reflection. You will dance,
and you will play, and you will Jingle.
jangle through your holiday world
without a thought for anything but
pirouettcs and jIgs and whirligigs OF
laughter. Ale most sonOrous Of sacred
sorrows may sound In your ears and
wake no echo but cape within your
heart. And you would put me upon
that dead plane Of ribald mcrriment
with yourself? will laugh with you.
Yes; I will 70 beg Of you for jests in
my 1Ocund seasons. I am willing to
shrek over your wlimslcalitics ut my
own pleasure. In my serene unthinli.
Ing moments will be content to ex.
change humors with you, and to vow
life were void and dull were not such
rs you at my back. But when I've
opened my chamber and fastened the
door upon myself. my soul and I shall
be alone together. and will weep. ami
pity, and repent, and ache out my heart
with sorrows In which you can have no
lot. I am young. but have IN inklins
Of what the world may mean."
"Thc world" sud he. "means happi.
ness"
"Thc world" she ret0rted. "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 gaycty In my
heart? 20 round upon the wheel. II
turns ana changer. What shall befnil
tomorrow that shall not weep to-day ?
You would pluck me with no greater
consideration than you would pick q
flower from Its stalk wherewith to deck
your coat. Should II wither or fall
adjust, another will serve until the
coming Of tho wine. Look you, you
will sigh and weep for love. and your
signs will bc smiles, and yOur tears will
be laughter. Fortnight your heart
II singing like lark. Yours! yours
IL the shallowest Of paltry passions"
II would do much for you," said be-
"Give me your dimples." cried MI
randa, "and 10 to the churchyard with
q wry facet"
"Even that" he answered. Dodding.
"Bah!" said she. lyon will not con
tain your face lugubri0usly for Ave
minutes by the clock. Though you
shall remember to be sober for two
sentences, ut the third you win bs
whIstling, and the fourth will find yOs
holding yOur Sides"
He moved . step toward her.
"And n should die for your hs
asked. pleadingly.
Miranda gasped. SHE contemplated
his face with uncertainty. His eysi
shOne with the dew Of tears: his hands
trembled. II was the corner Of his
mouth betrayed him. Miranda burs,
into laughter.
"YOuw she cried. "You! Why. YOU
would forget my coffin AZ 1t passed, and
the color Of my face ere my back was
upon you. See here" she said. II will
give you to the hedge for misery; but
swear you will take the lane as jaWn
tily as IN hour since. Get you gone
my merry man, and come again to dir
pute with me In IN Idle humOr. File
ie! to think on you and death In thu
same company"
He sighed and turned away.
"You have the smallest heart Of any
maid know" he said. shaking BIZ
head.
1.-THE better for my laughter" laus!,
ed Miranda.
He moved across the meadow, hi
head hanging. his eyes downcast, hi
stick dragging among the daisies. MI
randa stared after him, her lips parte,
In amusement. He climbed the stllC
,, and. stopping ON the topmOst stei
turned TO her again.
II have ut least one solace," he Gale,
across the meadow III sball forge