Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-08-11

THREW OpcH iOHS
perspective of broad suburban road
with trees and twinkling gas lamps,
and the red and green bull's-eycs OF
travelling .ramcars. Opposite little
station periodically belched forth
thin stream of railway passengers be-
tween he brown doors beplastered
with placarGs and news stands. Each
time the white cloud OF steam rose into
the air, and the doors became partially
obscured with hurrying forms, she
moved few steps forward, looked
across anxiously, and then. as the last
traveller passed under the big lamp and
was swallowed up in the car, bus, or
distant road, she turned to the shadow
of the trees and tapped little foot
impatiently upon the pavement. AT
length, when tears of rage and disap-
pointment filled her eyes and choked
In her throat, man stepped briskly
over to the deserted path by the church.
She turned and began to walk slowly
AWAY up the road, but the attentive
pose of her head betokened her knowl-
edge of his presence. He reached her
side and slid a hand down on her arm.
"Sarry to keep you waiting, DEAR" he
said quickly and pleasantly. IAN i'm
portant man came in and detained me.
She did not respond to the coaxing
hand, marching along stiffly and say
ing, 20, 1t doesn't matter" in a voice
which showed that it mattered tremen-
dously.
He cast look at the pale, pretty face
set so haughtily upon watching the re-
ceding car Immediately in front of
them, thrust both hands into his coat
pockets, and said, with a spice OF sharp
WEAKNESS in his tone, well, what's
wrong, them
She resented the sharpness, and did
not hear the tiredness; so she answered.:
20, well, I'm getting little tired OF
business! You are always busy now.
You have always man to see, a letter
to write. call to make, an important
negotiation to conduct, committee to
attend, document to consider. And"
she added, smiling slightly at her
hooking eloquence IF it is not one OF
these ordinary events, it is another still
more usual-you are tired"
He frowned: but he said cheerfully,
"Well, that isn't my fault, is it? /
work hard. and hard work means ia
tigue when evening comes"
She did not see the frown. and his
light dismissal of her arguments against
him vexed her. She would show him
she was not to be trifed with. She
looked up at the great round moon and
said airily: There is only one thing
left, then. 1t is very evident that you
have not a moment to spare in your
life. You have often told me you could
not spare the time you give me-a
little hour walk twice a week. Well.
lover who is always too busy and too
tired to give his sweetheart any of his
society isn't much of lover for gila
to have, is he?"
II suppose not" he replied gravely.
IL am always being disappointed and
put off, or kept waiting. Other girls go
out walking with their lovers very
often. When / go out with you it is
quite an event, and one which you APP
pear to think ought to be sufficient
pleasurable society for me for several
months. Many girls would not submit
to such treatment"
There are many girls l should not
ask to do so, said he quietly.
The long road had darkened. A
thick, gray cloud sailed up out of the
east and passed over the moon. Only
its edges were silvered by the radiance
1t obscured, and few stars peeped
through misty interstices.
80, as you are so busy, and your life
so filled with other things, ii is quite
certain you have no room for me in it.
l am tired of constantly waiting for
you, tired OF your continual business,
your eternal weariness-"
He raised his head with a sudden
movement. and said sternly and flu
riously:
"NO! You want lazy, lack brain
fool, without ambition and without
manliness; something that will flatter
and fawn, and be always at your beck
and call like servant or a dog. I'm
not that kind have work to do-hard
uphill work, that needs all my atten-
ton, energy and time, il am to bring
1t to successful issue. And you, to
whom l ought to look for cheer and
helpful affection, sheer at me because |
am not an idle, loafing idiotw
He Quickened his walk 10 a swinging
stride. She glanced at him sldewise
and began to wayer in her confidence
OF her wrongs. The lamps cleaned out
brightly against the dark sky. The
moon had totally disappeared behind
mass of besieging clouds.
Il do not" said she. II say you have
no room for me in your life, and so we
had better make an end before COM
mencing beginning that can have no
end"
Very well" said he, and walked fast
er. She kept pace with difficulty. She
saw the lamps, the houses, the trees,
the passing cars and people dimly. He
was angry and Disguised and disap-
pointed with her! She wished she had
met him nicely. Perhaps he could not
help being late. He was always very
good and kind. Now she had lost him.
She wished she could cry, but the tears
refused to he shed. The climax had not