The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03
AN ANONYMOUS ROMANCE.

]
! 1t is ten years ago now, and a great
! deal has happened since then; yet recall
1 every incident Of my first meeting with
/ her well as if it had been yesterday.
/ How could it be otherwise when every
thing else in life seems trihing and insig-
! nifcant beside that one great episode?
1t was a sunny afternoon I'm May, and 10
enjoy the weather to the full 1 had been
| tempted to the luxury Of a penny chair in
! st. James Park. l was laZily watching
/ the people that passed me, when my at
/ tention was arrested by the face of a girl
| standing at a corner of the walk, a few
! yards to my left. Every man has some
| where slowed away in his consciousness
an Ideally beautiful woman, against whom
| he inVoluntarily weighs in the balance all
| other women. to find them more or less
wanting. Here, before me, was my ideal
! in the flesh.
I sat gazing at the radiant apparition,
| and fearing every moment IL would pass.
! She stood there, turning to the right and
! leIt as though expecting some one VINO
| came not. How long / sat gazing at her l
! dare not say; but at last an irresistible de-
sire to see her face TO face, If but a mo-
| ment, seized me, and I left my seat That
my purpose might not be too evident l
| made wide detour and came round on
! the other side of the corner where she
| stood. AS / approached her 1 lowered my
eyes, so that 1 might have the better right
to look at her when 1 was quite near.
had hoped that by some chance our eyes
| would meet; but what was my astOnish-
ment to see hers lighted with a happy smile
of recognition as she advanced to me with
| outstretched hand
so you have come at last" she said,
with a delightful touch Of reproach in
| her voice.
l was bewildered I felt my face burn
| ing, and though l mechanically took the
! little hand she offered me. and raised my
hat, l could not have spoken word to
save my life.
Il see you are penitent." she contin-
ued; but don't let it trouble you"
Still 1 could find nothing to say; my
head was swimming my heart was
humping like piston rod and my mouth
was as dry as desert, when she turned
to a seat and motioned me to her side.
Il knew you would come to-day" she
said, looking as radiantly happy as the
sleeping princess newly awakened by the
II am afraid there is some mistake -
/ managed to stammer out.
She interrupted me with an imperious
mo, no. Why will you be so distrust-
| full? / understand everything now, and
nothing. can come between us again.
MY name is not Harry. and"
Once more she silenced me "Ah, why
will you not forget, as l ask you "a
do? You know that you win always be
Harry to me-" There was an infinite ten
derness in her voice, and 1 lost her eyes
as she said these words,
why did you come at all if you were
not ready 10 trust me?" she asked. Won't
you be the Harry Of old days again?"
BE 1t as you wish" 1 replied with
a sudden determination to see the thing
through, and taking my courage in both
hands. But it is all so strange and
Really" She interrupted. yet you
were not always 50 tongue-tied in my
company, We're you? Wen, never mind
day; and perhaps you will have collected
your shaken wits by that. time, sir"
My thoughts were tinged with bitterness
| a c I a6 E1r11fIx
She rose briskly and cheerfully con-
t!nued. You know must not stop now
But you won't mind that, will you, with
Friday to look forward to?"
Her cheerfulness was not infectious, as
she perceived.
II see," she continued, with a caress
in her voice. what has happened has
made you fearful of what may happen
But you need have no fear now. History
| Will not repeat itself"
She touched my hand again and had al
most turned to go, when once more her
eyes-this time filed with love-met mine
as she said "Goodby, Harry, and re-
member-I leave all my heart with you. -
Then she was gone, and I felt like one
for whom the sun has set while it is yet
day.
If, as she said, she left all her heart
with me, she assuredly took all mine
with her Wherever l went | was always
! consciously or unconsciously, on the quest
for the sound of that voice and the ifeht
of those eyes. And the real Harry? II
was maddening thought that some man.
! so ike TnESeII tfaI even the woman who
loved him could not distinguish between
us, should possess the heart of her who
eXtinguished, for me, all the rest of heI
sex.
Two months later 1 was in the galleries
of the Royal Academy. They were SC
densely thronged that movement in any
direction was difficult, and l sought re-
lief in the water-color room in the hope
that it might be empty. But no! AS
| crossed the Threshold my heart gave
a great leap. for the first thing that met
! my eyes was the realization of that Wis
ion which had been before me all those
weeks. I tried to be calm, but I felt
that l was trembling from head to foot
| Her back was toward me, but presently
she turned, and those Incompatible eyes
| rested on me again. She started slight
ly, and as 1 thought flushed a little.
welcoming smile and outstretched hand.
so you have come at last" she said.
But how is it that you are always later
| Il have been looking Tor you a long
time" l answered, speaking the truth
| faute de mieux, and for second time
| found myself sitting beside her.
And to think we have not met since that
| day in the park, "sshe began. l thanked
heaven silently; it made conversation less
| difficult for me. But l did not want to
| talk; il was so good just to look at her and
| know that she was near.
you say SO little, Harry" she said,
/ fidgeting nervously with a ribbon, that /
| suppose you must think a great deal"
II do" answered, finding my tongue at
last. II am thinking how beautiful you
arc, and how utterly love you.
was startled at my own daring; but its
! effect on my companion was even more
| startling She looked at me for a moment
! ss at a man who had offered her some
/ deadly insult, and then seemed inaccount-
| ably distressed, like one who has sudden
( " lost the control of the situation and Is
/ confronted with unexpected possibilities.
| But she quickly recovered her self posses
| sion, and, facing me with look Of COM
| mand which I dare not disobey, checked
| the tale Of passion which my first bold
| words Embossed.
Il must 90 now. Good-Sy," she said
| quietly.
sGood-by? Till when?' I asked, and my
| blank despair must have topched her. But
| she was determined not to be drawn again
| into emotion.