The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-05-21
A SUMMER NIGHT.

Inc not summer sun was beating down
on the long white streets and making tho
flowers on tho balconies droop, and even
the leaves Of the lime trees hung listless
and motlonless In the great heat. Not q
single soul was to be seen In tho usually
SO crowded Andrassy street in Budapest,
and the old porter of tho Hotel Esterhazy
sat half asleep, his chair we'll drawn back
into the shade. He knew very we'll that
no one could disturb him at that hour.
Esme st. Maur lay down on the sofa,
lamenting that her fate had made her
spend this grilling afternoon in Budapest
A few seconds later tall, sunburned
man came into the room.
80 sorrys Arthur" said the lady.
"I'm positively too tired to move. This
heat is killingl I'm so glad to see you'll"
she went on, looking at him. LET me
see, it is nearly three years since we saw
each other. What are you doing hereg"
The man hesitated moment and then
became pale, and his mouth twitohed.
~ was hurrying to England, Esme," he
said, "because heard report about you
that could not credit-that you were GO
ing to be married"
well, said the girl, nervously picking
off the leaves of her rose "it's quite true
No, no, Arthur, it's no use" she contin-
ued, sitting up and putting her hand on
his arm. "Sit where you are and listen.
You see, dear, II had to come to this some
day, and may as we'll tell you here as
anywhere else. We cannot fight against
fate, and the fates are against us. Look |
1t would bo ton years at least before you
could marry me, and then l should be n
middle aged woman. And, even II could
wait, what am to do during those ten
yearsp Grandmamma, you know" she
| went on, turning her face, now appalling
in its pallor, toward him, "only left me
ESQ a year, and since her death I have been
living, yes, living on my sister husband
| Think The proud Esmo st. Maur actu-
ally living on charityP
"But surely" Arthur broke in, "sure-
ly''--
"Of course thoy don't say so, but I
know, know. They have three children
to educate, and look at tho position they
have TO keep up. / know Franks income
is by no means large, and feel I've no
right to be burden to them when have
| good offer"
"Who Is the manS" he said dryly.
Lord Hillborough, II she answered, her
eyes down.
"a man almost old enough to be your
grandfather no said, getting up and
standing beside hor.
"Do you care for himY'
"No," she answered, lowering her eye
lids wearily "No, but respect him more
than-than any ono but you"
"Esme, " said Arthur hotly, chow differ.
ent you arel How calculating and world.
| ly you have become! l remember my lit.
tie Esme holding forth 1ercely that love
was the one thing in all the world; that to
marry q man without love was tho great.
est wrong woman could do him; that
Arthur" she said, what can l dol
| ! intend II l marry Lord Hillborough to
be good wife to him. / cannot bo that
with another mans image in my heart.
| / must live 1t down; l must force myself
to forget 1t.
Arthur walked away to the balcony.
"Do not mako it harder for me, - said
Esme, her voice full of sobs. What am
to dor cannot do anything to earn my
| living. Look at me, she said bitterly,
drawing herself up to her full height, "a
| perfect womaH strong and healthy, with
! a small fortune spent on my education.
and yet now that am thrown on my own
resources-why, shopgirl could make a
better living than could. Bear 1t, dear, u
she said, going over to him. "You know
this must DO the end"
Dearest" he said In broken voice
"it is only tho beginning You love me,
and yet you marry this man. 1t is the
beginning Of wretchedness for you and hjIl
and me for all our lYos."
Arthur" she said slowly, "you know
me. have made up my mind and will
carry 1t through. There is no other course
for me- l cannot do anything for myself,
and will not live on charity"
You never really loved II you can sac.
rifce your love to your pride II you can
let your head govern your heart"
II cannot help 1t, Arthur. 1 am on
gagged to Lord Hillborough and shall mar.
ry him in October. j cannot bear another
sceno like this. Bid me guodby and &c
now-foreyer, she added, shivering
slightly.
The man looked at her for "a second, and
then took both her hands in his "Yes,
sweetheart, l will bid you goodby and
leave you forever. But let mo come IN
and spend this last evening with you. 1t
Is not much to ask, and 1 promise not to
speak one word you would not like. We
will have our coffee on this balcony among
the flowers, with the lights opposite, as in
those dear old days, when we first met at
Ostend. Say RAY come, Esme, for auld
lang syne-the iast evening / shall ever
spend with YOU"
Three hours afterward tho witchery of
the summer night had fallen upon the
city. Esme, sitting on her balcony, moved
her fan slowly to and fro and let tho mys-
| tic beauty Of the night steep itsolf into her
feelings. ''On such night as this, 7" she
thought, as the old words of the immortal
dramatist came into her mind. II won
der II such a night as this has played as
weighty part In any ones love story as
In miner And this is to be the last.
| Ah," as the shiver of remembrance came
over her, show shall hate the summer
nights after this!"
GAN in the dark" said q voice at
EsOro's elbow, and Arthur sat down ct the
other side of the tiny table, where the
waiter was putting down tho coffee tray.
"Why not, Arthur she said "Who
would be barbarian enough to have lights
brought nowp Look at that queen up
therel" pointing to tho moon. The man
opened his lips as though to speak, but
shut them determinedly again. He looked
across at her steadily. Heavens What
magnificent woman she was, with her
tawny hair that cleaned like FURNISHED
gold In the moonlight, her great gray ewes
and the vivid scarlet lips and cheeks that
had before been SO pale
II do not give allegiance to two queens"
he said.
Don't your" she said laughingly as she