Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-07-31


 It would seem as though she herself were almost as stupid, for not until her hands are covered with four does it oc- cur to her that she has not taken that preliminary step i'll all cooking opera t1ons of rolling up her sleeves.
 She holds out her arms to John. first one and then the other, asking him sWeetly If he minds doing it for her John IS very slow and clumsy, but Anne stands very patient. Inch by inch he peels the black sleeve from the white round arm. Hundreds of times must he have seen those fair arms, bare to the shoulder, sparkling with jewels, but never before has he seen their wondrous beauty. He longs to clasp them round his neck, yetis fearful lest his trembling fingers, touching them as he performs his tantalizing task, may offend her
 Anne thanks him and apologies for having given him so much trouble, and he murmurs some meaningless reply and stands foolishly silent watching her Anne seems to find one hand sufficient for her cake making, for the other rests idly on the tab1e-very near to one of Johns, as she would see were not her eyes so intent upon her work
 How the impulse came to him. where he-graye, sober, business man John learned such story book ways, can never be known, but in one instant he is down on both knees, s1nothering the fioury hand with kisses, and the next moment Anne's arms are round his neck and her lips against his, and the barrier be- tween them is swept away, and the deep waters of their love rush together.
 With that kiss they enter new life where into one may not fellow-then1. One thinks it must have been a life made strangely beautiful by self forget fitness, strangely sweet by mutual de- votion-a life too ideal perhaps to have remained for long undimmed by the mists of earth.
 They who remember them at that time speak of them in hushed tones, as one speaks of visions It would almost seem as though, from their faces i'll those days, there shone a radiance, as though i'll their voices dwelt 8 tenderness be- yond the tenderness of man.
 
 They seem never to rest, never to weary. Day and night, through that lit tie stricken world, they come and go, bearing healing and peace, till at last the plague, like some gorged beast of prey, shrinks slowly back toward it's lair and men raise their heads and breathe.
 One afternoon, returning from q some what longer round than usual, John feels a weariness creeping into his limbs, and quichens his step, eager to reach home and rest. Anne who has been up all the previous night, is asleep, and, not wishing to disturb her, he goes into the dining room and sits down in tho easy chair before the fire. The room seems cold lie stirs the logs, but they give out no greater heat. He draws his chain right ill front of them and sits leaning over them with his feet on the hearth and his hands eutstfetehed to- ward the blaze, yet he still shiyers.
 Twilight fills the room and deepens into dusk. He wonders listlessly how it it that time seems to be moving with such swift strides. After. awhile he hears voices close to him, speaking ill a slow, monotonous tone-a voice curiously fa- miliar to him, though he cannot tell to whom it belongs. He. does not turn his head, but sits listening to it drowsily. It is talking about tallow-194 casks of tallow, aud they must all stand one in- side the other. It cannot be done, the voice complains pathetically. They will not go inside each other. It is no good pushing them ~Seel They only roll out again. --=...---g..--..------
 The voice grows wearily fretful. Oh, why do they persist when they see it is impossible? What fools they all are.
 Suddenly he reeollects the voice and starts up and stares wildly about him, trying to remember where he is. With Q fierce straining of his will he grips the brain that is slipping away from him and holds it As soon as hefeels sure of himself he steals out of the room and down the stairs.
 In the hall he stands listening. The house is very silent. He goes to the head of the stairs leading to the kitchen and calls softly to the old housekeeper, and she comes up to him, painting and grunting as she climbs each step. Keep ing some distance from her, he asks in a whisper where Anne is. The woman answers that she is in the hospital,
 Hell her I have been called away suddenly on business, l" he says. speak ing in quick, low tones. I shall be away for some days. Tell her to leave here and return home immediately They can dowithout her here now. Tell her to go back home at once. will join her there. ,
 He moves toward the door. but stops and faces round again.
 Tell her beg and entreat her not to stop in this place an hour longer. There is nothing to keep her now. It is all over. There is nothing that cannot be done by any one. Tell her she must go home-this very night. Tell her if she loves me to leave this place at once. 7"