The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-01-02


,ut bestowing it. In after years one
gives without receiving and is very well
off with that. So everything in the
Eorld is arranged in the best manner,
where there are people who find their
Joy in giving, and others who are hap
piest i'll receiving.
But how short and sweet is the one
time when one gives and receives, when
one loves and is beloved | have known
il. but she who then made me SO mex
possibly happy has now left me. How
beautiful was the world when L saw 1t
with her; how blue the heaven; how
soft the air We fastened, hand III hand
from place to place, and wherever we
went. laughingly joy stepped forth to
greet us, begging us to linger. We went
laughing, singing, rejoicing along, as
sured of our good fortune everywhere.
"Sometimes our riotous delight, over
stepping all bounds, startled sober peo-
ple. But the stern glance softened when
it rested upon us: They are young.
Let them enjoy themselves, said the
old, and went along sorrowfully smll-
ing. She chung so tightly to my arm,
she nestled so closely to my side, that
[ thought I could never lose her. The
idea of possible change never came to
me. never troubled me. Thus | lived
long time. Weeks, months, years flew
bv, and needed them not
Zone evening, after we had spent the
"
usual, she suddenly appeared to me dis
contented and cold A terrible fear
which I am not able to describe fell
upon me. An icy GOODNESS crept over me-
She will leave you, said to myself,
Certainly, surely, she will leave you.
1t occurred to me how little l had really
concerned myself about her, how | per-
haps had expected too much OF her truth
and constancy. For the first time L felt
my trust in myself and in her waver,
and anxiously / gazed into her eyes.
But her glance turned YEARLY from me
and gave me no answer.
my rest was gone, my life no more
the same. 1t is true she still pressed ne
impetuously to her bosom again and
again, but the sweetness Of her kiss had
vanished. Often she pushed me coldly
away, and I saw to my unntterable sor-
row that my love wearied her. And
when once at later hour returned
home, tired and detected, l found the
room dark, cold and empty. She, my
joy, my light, my all, had vanished.
"Now began miserable existence for
me. The loss that had suffered gnawed
at my heart, but my care was to conceal
this loss from the world. l endeavored
to show cheerful, happy countenance.
l sought the society of gay young peo-
pie l bestowed great and hitherto un-
known and ridiculed care upon my per-
son and toilet. Ny enemies said of me
that had for long time rouged in Or
der to hide the paleness of my cheeks.
That is not true, but l may as we'll con-
fess that [ bought little flask Of newly
invented tincture that was to restore the
color of youth to my whitening hair.
"This hypocritical farce did not long
continue. was soon tired Of the strife,
and today the opinion of the world trOu-
bles me no more. l know that my dar-
ling has left me; that nothing will
bring her back, and every one who knows
me may perceive and recognize in my ap-
pearance the loss which l suffered. But
I ever lament the Lost one. She is want
ing everywhere. Nothing, nothing can
take her place to me, and would will
ingly give everything l possess and ev-
cry joy and happiness that is prepared
for me to once again call her mine, to
once more live through that beautiful,
feeting time, during which alone l was
happy"
CASTOR ceased, and stared fixedly into
the dying fire, and fell to the characters
tic, slow rubbing of his emaciated hands
"What is the name of this wonderful
being?" asked the countess
my youth, answered CASTOR, with
ont turning his eyes from the fire. -
From the German For Short Stories