The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-06
A LOVE STORY.

She sat at the piano in the soft twilight.
Her fingers touched the keys vaguely and
wanderingly, but always with a sort OF
caressing that made the soft snatches she
played seem mellower and richer than the
finished performances of less tender pian-
lists. Through the long French windows
she could look out over the piazza, divest-
ed of its summer furnishings, down the
lawn to the dusky beach and the winter
sea growing black with the coming OF
night.
On the lounge near the fireplace another
girl lay huddled up among the silk cash
ions. Her eyes were fixed steadily on the
dreary winter scene, and she only half
heard the music the other woman was
playing. By a1d by she aroused herself
suddenly.
"Mel,' she exclaimed, ST cannot stand
this any longer. Do you know anything
else on earth SO dreary as spending the
winter in your summer cottageS Look at
that dreary, chilly, wretched sea-
"Why don't you look at the fire?'' in
quired Mel, beginning the solemn music
of Handel's Largo
Because I've nearly burned my face al
ready. Play something that like. Sing
to me. Sing The Garden of Sleep.'''
The gi-l's voice was like her touch
mellow, rich, caressing. She began:
"On the grass of the cliff,
By the edge of the steep,
God planted a garden,
A garden of sleep"
The rich, full, caressing voice rang on
and on. When it came to "Oh, heart of
my heart, 1 am waiting for theel" there
was sort of break in it. The girl on
the lounge sprang up.
mel, darling" she cried, ''don't sing
it. 1t breaks my heart. I'm not in love
and never was, but when you sing in that
voice l feel that am dear, broken heart
ed lovely thing in play. Sing something
else.''
But Mel shook her head and sang on.
Her sister stood behind her. resting her
hands upon her shoulders The full young
tones rang out still. ''Oh, life of my life,
I am waiting for thee!'' she sang passion
ately. Over the younger girls face there
came sudden look of comprehension.
MEL she said, Il think I know why
your singing makes me SO sad. I know
why feel like a stage heroine when you
sing. It's because you feel so. Isn't it,
dear?''
Mel's white hands fell away from the
keys. She zaised her face toward her sis
ter.
''Diviner"' she exclaimed. "Where did
you get your power of insight, and of
whom do you think I am thinking as
sing, oh, heart of my hearth and the
rest of it?''
Don't joka Tell me the truth
''Clarissa, my love, you're getting ro-
mantle If cur finances don't look up
enough for us to go to the city soon. you'll
be a regular sentimentalist. I fear it is
the effect of life by the far sounding sea.
Let's have lights
Clarissa abandoned her effort to pene-
trate Melita's thoughts, or at least she
seemed to do so. She dutifully rang for
lights and drew the curtains to shut out
the onber winter picture. Then both Of
the girls drew their chairs before the fire
and began to talk.
"Bob's due tonight" remarked Mel.
eyes, the dearl We haven't seen him
since Thanksgiving. Mel, you don't think
Bob's working too hard, do your"
mo. We can trust our distinguished
brother not to do that, l hope. But
thought, too, that there was something
the matter with him when he came down
BEFORE
81 think he's in love-" volunteered
Clarissa.
''Clare, you're an idiotI Get your mind
off the subject of love- won't your"
There was stamping of feet on the pi-
azza, series of frantic, ecstatic barks
from the dog, a shout of ''GirlsI' and Bob
precipitated himself into the room.
He was tall, good looking fellow, and
he greeted his sisters with brotherly en-
thusiasm. In few minutes he was tell
ing them all the news of the city, punetu-
ating his tale with side remarks to the
dog, who lay at his feet. In pause he
began to hum, "On the grass of the cliff,
! tum tie tum to tum to-" he hummed.
Clarissa looked up.
where did you pick that upi" she de-
manded sharply. Bob flushed.
AT the Lawsons, I guess. Lottie is al
ways humming it. She says she got the
habit from Dick, who sang it all the time
! when he first came back in the fall"
Clarissa looked sharply at Melita, seeing
| the whole thread of a romance. Mel and
| Dick had sung the thing through the sum-
mer together. Dick had sung it until his
sister had caught it, and here was Bob re-
vealing his liking for Lottie Lawson by his
! familiarity with the song. Besides, Melita
! looked pale when Bob had mentioned the
Lawsons.
by the way" Bob went on, with care
full carelessness, II guess Lottie and will
be married at Easter
The girls fell upon him with sisterly
warmth and congratulations. They both
saw, even as he spoke, that a year round
residence at Seavale was more than ever
likely to be their lot, but they crushed
down that thought
m gIao you re glao, SAID BOB mod
estly. "Of course 1 knew you would be.
Dicks going to be married at the same
time to Fredrica Hunt, the woman with q
lot of money. The engagement viii be out
these holidays. How does a big double
wedding strike your
Clarissa was watching Melita, but she
smiled sunnily.
lit will be great" she assured heI
brother.
''Of course you're to be bridesmaids, -
pursued Bob.
',Of course, y said Melita, while Clarisss
| still watched her.
Then their mother came in and monop-
| olized her boy and said what pity it was
that Lottie freckled so, but that she was
dear girl. Melita wandered to the Ions
window and drew the curtain to press hel