The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-05-08

certainly did not resemble; as Iseult,
whom she might have been rs fair
Rosamond, with the fatal cup in her
hand as herself, in score Of attitudes.
He wrote verses to her i'm French
meters-roundeaux, triolets and bal
her only, that cry of his heart which
none other than herself must hear. Ii
was all 50 delightfully."- romantic that
Eleanor began to think she was quite
sufficiently in love with him, though
love was somehow less strenuous and
exciting emotion than she had hitherto
supposed. She was rather glad some
times TO be left alone at the close of an
afternoon of art and of romance OF
course this was because she was 80.
There could be no doubt that It was the
right thing-this high bred passion
that wooed her with all the resources
of art. Bland had not spoken Of the
future, but that must be because lie was
too delicately reserved TO approach her
rashly.
At last there came a July twilight.
Bland and Eleanor had been watching
the sunset together. He had been talk
ing about his theories Of sunset effects.
He was always talking about his theo-
ries. They were for him the one sig
niiicant and sufficient theme. Then,
when the sun had fairly gone out of
sight. Bland got mp 10 depart also and
stood for moment looking thought
fully at Eleanor.
al must see you tomorrow" he said
"Shall it he ! O'Clock? / have some
thing To say TO YOU"
''Yes al 4, if you will, she answer
ed, and then he WAS gone, and she sat
musing in the waning light. OF course
he was coming 10 ask her to be his
wife. His whole manner had express
ed his intention. She was as certain
of it as if he had already spoken. Why
was she not more exul;ant? Why lid
she always feel just little tired when
they had been for some hours together?
OF course il would he a glorious de-ti-
ny to be what he had called her-lhe
queen Of hi. art, 80 share his ambitions,
to be the confidant OF his dreams. She
ought surely to be grateful to fate, and
surely she was. At 80 no doubt the
time for ecstasy i past. She looked
out into the vague distance and saw
some one walking toward her under
trees that frineed the highway. There
seemed something familiar ip the COM
ing figure. Sle caught her breath
quickly. Were her eyes deceiving herr |
No, it vast absolutely was-Tom
Rhodes. As one ia a dream she got up |
and moved forward to meet him, for he
had turned ia at the gate now.
She seemed hardly to know what
strange thing stirred Ia her $J-year-old
heart when he took her in i strong close
clasp.
'.You, Tom ~ she cried. .'YoG ~
''Yes. Eleanor, the same old Tom.'
.'And your wife? Where Is she?''
'.Here, darling, if oniy l can win
her"
"What -
"Yes. / am not Thomas J. Rhodes. /
He Is my second cousin, from Connect
cut also, but from quite another part
of the state. | am Thomas Rhodes, at
Your service, the same Tom who loved
You years ago and has never thought
of marrying any other woman. Iou
made me feel in the old days that il
would be of no use 20 SPEAK 20 You and
80 | went away But when | got yolr
letter and knew that yoI were Eleanor
Cray still resolved that if | did not
win YOU it should not be because / /
was too cOwardly to ask. At least you
have right TO know how long and
well have loved YOU. have done no
great things. / am neither hero nor
poet nor statesman, but | nave lived
clean. honest life, and there i not one
page of it am ashamed that you
should read
''You loved me-me-all this time -
she cried. And there was a little
choking quiver in her voice.
YES" he answered soIemuly, Il
loved you, and you only, then and now
and always, bat you have not answer
ed me yet, darling"
"Oh. forgot that, but You know,
don't you?n
And indeed Tom knew, for the eyes
that looked into his, lit the growing
dusk with their great joy, and the lips
that had been strangers hitherto to n
lovers kiss yielded themselves 10 his
once and forever. Eleanor was won.
After all, - was not old age. These
two found that they were young enough
for ecstacy. The moon came up in the
east and looked al them cariousiy.
Yes. they were certainly lovers. The
moon has got used to lovers, for she i
nearly 5000 years old, and she j. not
| likely TO make a mistake. Eleahor
wondered that she could ever have fan
cied herselftoo old for joy. She won
dered vet more that she had not known
from the very first that it was Tom,
and Tom only, to whom she belonged.
At last she told him about Austin
Bland.
IL have been trying ali summer to
love him." she said frankly II thought
il was The thing To DO, but | got little
tired of trying. lie j. coming to see
me AZ o'clock tomorrow because ne
has something important to say to me. y
Tom laughed, as a successful man
may.
"Well, shall be away just then. |
ann going 10 Boston To get a ring where
with to fetter yoI to good faith. Deal
gently with the erring. | shall he
back by the : O'Clock train to console
for You for his loss"
The next afternoon Austin Bland
was punctual. He came a. one who
wears the willow. Sadness was in his
voice and on his brow. \ weed on
his hat would not more clearly have
emphasized him for sorrows own.
II 90" he said, IL go this night from
YOU who are the queen of my art,
and must never see your too fair face