The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-04-23

upward RidnCe tnaJ sWaySu MS NdNeI- |
ing heart, but the golden token on his
finger pressed him under her clinging |
hand, and he shook his head
mo, doar, such vow is not TO be |
lightly broken. l must earnestly con.
slider your request. l wish you had
asked me anything but this he went
on, wistrully, seeking sympathy in her
soft, dark eyes.
But Cynthia S tenderness had vanished.
She drew back, piqued, i'll at ease, in
hor suppliant attitude; an ominous
frown darkening her fair forehead as
she turned away.
"As you will, she said coldly.
Memories that Cynthia's presence had
chased for many months crowded vivid
ly into the widower's mind as he strollcd
on, needless of din or traffic or the di-
roction TO be pursued. Her words of
anger and opposition had invested the
ring he had almost grown to regard
with the unthinking gaze of custom
with new aud startling significance. 1t
simply riveted him to the past. He
might discard it. still holding its pur-
pose in his heart; but the thought was
a base one ne knew that his dead wife
would have borne such a vow to the
gates of Heaven, and that no sacrifice
would have abated the strength and
endurance of the love which he dared
not weigh with Cynthia's impulsive
passion. He had hardly dwelt on it
since she had been taken from him--at
first because it meant hopeless heart
ache, latterly because it seemed disloyal
to his betrothed; but now, at this turn
ing point, he realized his loss atresh
and wondered that the remembrance
had faded ever so little in the radiance
of Cynthia's smiles.
Yet allegiance 10 the beloved dead
meant the facing of the old homeless
life. the return of that morbid depres-
sion which Cynthia.s infectious gayety
and pretty, petulant ways alone had
power TO dispel.
He had walked on, dreaming, far be-
pond his original destination-the cosey
set of rooms presided over by his faith
full valet. Suddenly he stopped, with
an involuntary exclamation, for he stood
at the very threshold of his old home.
What impulse had led his unconscious
footsteps along the often traversed road
he knew not, or how he came to look
upon the house he had summed since
the day of mourning. But having come,
he was glad, for the wrench of parting
was not the present pain; he was able
to recall the grim old mansions joyful,
as well as sorrowful, associations. For
the first time since his bereavement he
felt the desire and strength to seek the
room within that had been hers, unal-
tered, as she had left it, till Cynthia,
resolute in her Punishment of rivalling
recolloctions, should carelessly scatter
and rearrange.
The old housekeeper, started from her
lethargy of idle caretaking, answered
his summons with clumsy alacrity, and
soon he stood at the bedside where
some years ago he had flung himself in
an agony of grief and sobbed out a last
farewell.
A melancholy light struggled through
the curtained window, revealing the
dainty, familiar furniture; the knick
knacks they had purchased together in
odd corners of the world; the pictures
she had chosen; her favorite chair; the
couch on which she had lain to please
him, with a thought of recovery. He
saw through mist of tears, for gnaw-
ing hunger had crept into his heart in
the chill and utter loneliness of the room
once frightened by her dear presence.
How happy they had been! There was
no death for such love as theirs. 1t
walked and throbbed in him again in
this room. where she had breathed out
her blameless life, and all that had come
between them seemed to him like a
dream.
Cynthia was right; hemust always be
making useless comparisons, for some
thing must ever be wanting i'll his life
something that never could be re-
placed.
His brimming eyes sought the spot
where the coffin rested. He could see
her now, lying there, as he had looked
for the last time, white and serene, hel
folded hands full of flowers: the eyes
that had reflected his loving gaze pitt
lessly sealed strange smile on the lips
that often met his in yielding sweet
, ness. All! if he might hear that low
and gentle voice again if he might pill
low that weary, golden head on hi
breast, and, asking forgiveness for &
, fieeting fancy repeat his VOW with al
the fervor of the past!
+ He sat down, hiding his face in his
hands With the reopening of this un
! healed wound came revulsion of feel
ing, reproach for the self sought forget
fulness his want of fortitude had mad,
desirable, remorse for the shrinking
|, from pain that made him swerve from
! so dear memory, and for tine wrong h
!, did Cynthia in clinging to it.
p But he hesitated no longer. The silen
hour of retrospect had brought hin
very near to his first love, and with tn
" bitter ache of longing came strang
sense of security and rest.
=, Unchanged she awaited him, fair AM
= lovely as he had known her, this dea