The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-02

have belied yourself. You sigh. There
are facts in life even for sighs."
IT'S true," he answered softly,
yet I sighed for pleasure
What p~leasure?"' she asked curl.
Ously.
"Or it may be hope" he added.
He looked at her, and his gaze was
mild and wistful. She regarded him in
perplexity, and then a wild flush took
her in the cheek and throat.
pooh, pooh!" she cried, and turned
If, plucking at the hawthorn bush. The
white may smclled rank, but strange
and soothing. The petals shivered and
fell. Miranda's heart beat OH, wonder
ing. Something clapped at its doors
again and again. Would she open?
What was this impatient visitor that
pleaded so for entrance? She had so lit
tie knowledge. She was but newly ar
rived upon the world. Her emotions
were still strangers to her. She was a
pilgrim still among her new sensations.
Ought she to open? Nay, to stay so and
wonder was surely pleasantest. One day
she would throw wide the doors and
look. But now it was sweet to feel that
hand upon the knocker, that c%lutching
at the latch, and lie trembling within
in fcigncd insecurity. She turned and
faced him. Straightway the clamor
ceased. and in her heart was kilenco.
She looked him coldly in the face.
"You smile for lovc?' 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 "a
solemn thing this love may be. You
futter into a thousand follies on the
scantcst reflection. You VIII dance, and
you will play, and you will jingle Jangle
through your holiday world without q
thought for anything but p%irOuettes and
jigs and whirligigs of laughter. The
most sonOrous Of sacred sorrows may
sound in your ears. and wake no echo
hat a jape within you heart. And you
would put me upon that dead plane Of
ribald merriment with yourself? | will
laugh with you. Yes. l will go beg of
you for jests in my jocund seasons. /
am willing to shrek over your whim-
sicalities at my own pleasure. In my
serene u%nthinking moments | will be
content to exchange humors with YOU,
and to VOW that life were more than
void and dull were not such as you at
my beck. But when | have opened my
chamber and fastened the door upon
myself my soul and | shall be alone to-
gether, and will weep and pity and
repent and ache out my heart with sor-
rows in which you can have nc lot. l
am young, but | have an inkling Of
what the world may mean
THE world," said he, "means hap
piness."
THE world" she retorted, "means
tears and bitter wringing of the hands.
Have | not heard of death? And have !
not seen pain? You think me gay, yet
how long shall keep this gayety in my
heart? | go round upon the wheel. 1t
turns and changes. What shall befafl
tomorrow that | should not weep today?
You would pluck me with no greater
consideration han you would pick Il
flower from its stalk wherewith to deck
your coat Should it wither or fall
adjust, another will serve until the COM
ing of the wine. Look you, you will
sigh and weep for love, and your signs
will be smiles, and your tears will "
laughter. Fortnight your heart is
singing like "a lark. Yours! Yours is the
shallowest of paltry passions"
II would do much for you, said he.
"Give up our dimples, " cried Mi
randa, "and so to the churchyard with
q wry face?'
Even that" he answered, nodding.
"Pah!' said she, you will not con-
tain your face l~ugubriously for five min
utes by the clock. Though you shall re-
member to be sober for two sentences,
at the third you will be whistling, and
the fourth will find you holding your
sides"
He moved a step tow ard her.
"And if | 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. 1t was the corner of hi
mouth betrayed him. Miranda burst III
70 laughter.
"You!'' she cried. You! Why,
You would forget my coffin as it passed,
and the color Of my face ere my back
was upon you. See here" she said, 81
will give you to the hedge for misery,
but l swear you will take the lane as
; jauntily as an hour since. Get you
gone, my merry man, and come again
to. dispute with me in an idle humor.
Fie, fie, to think On you and death il
the same conpany!'
He sighed and turned away.
y You lave the smallest heart of any
, maid | KNOW" he said, shaking hi!
: head.
THE better for my laughter: laugh
ed Miranda.
/, He moved across the meadow, hi!
| head hanging, his eyes downcast, hi
Z stick dragging among the daisies. Mi
= randa stared after him, her lips parted
! in amusement. He climbed the stile
Q and stopping on the topmost step turn
. ed TO her again.
81 have at least ppa Solacp - he call