The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-12-16
Total given during I2mOs. 1897, $4O,8OO.OO


the waves and the brisk, salt seasoned
breeze, clasped her frightened form in
his arms and regarded her with tender
" solicitude, and as he did so light leaped
into his eyes which was reflected by q
wonderfully responsive light in her eyes.
And the ocean with its ever restless surg
ing, the sun, the moon, the stars, the
clouds, the universe, seemed to disap-
pear in a glorious harmony Of sounds,
vague, vibrating sounds.
Her arms crept around his neck, her
eyes flashed the lightnings of feminine
nature, and his answered with the thun-
derous force of manhood.
And then again he said with fretful
voice: FONDA, let us have the fourth
notch. weary Of all this active scenery.
1t is too nervous, too exciting. yearn
for the calm again. "
"No." And this time Zonda's answer
was firm with that strength which is
sometimes given to women when they
realize that they are being wronged.
"No, Waldorf. We have wandered
thus far, and now if you are not satisfied
even after having discovered the gran
deur of all nature, you never will be. II
you are not possessed of the love you
have sworn, and if you have simply
been amusing yourself by tasting the
different priceless wines of life, with no
idea of choice, except shiftless desire
to see everything and be nothing, the
fourth notch l will not burn with you,
nor shall you burn it either until you
learn contentment, consideration and
few other things" And then with
sweet but heartbroken smile she closed
the lid of the golden box and left him.
The days and weeks and months and
years rolled by. At first he could not
find himself at fault. 1t was all Fonda
who was erroneous. She was a foolish,
willful child woman She had chartered
too much She had displeased him IN
every way. He hated her, He could not
understand why he had ever cared for
her at all.
And Fonda, while realizing how rest
less he had been with her through all
the scenes of their young life, remem-
bered how his discomfort had made her
also discontinued, how his extreme
harshness or his extreme tenderness had
always been spasmodic and how cruel
his anxiety for new scenes, new things,
his eagerness for the world, his small
interest in her-all these she remem-
bered, and SO put aside with aching
thoughts her love for him. and tried to
welcome hate instead.
But after four years had passed away
Waldorf could stand the separation no
longer He returned to her Inundated,
softened, gentle and calm. He told her
that he could not live without her, that
she must forgive his past harshness and
burn the fourth notch with him; not
that he desired to burn it for fiippancy's
sake, but that he thought that this time
it might bind them more closely to-
gether.
waldorf, she said, the womanly
sweetness of her character banishing all
hatred and illumining her face with
soul light Glove, we have burned the
first notch. Did you realize what it
was?"
Eyes, Fonda, it was our friendship
he replied softly.
'And the second notch, Waldorf-do
you not remember how you said it would
be impossible to return to it, how you
hastened to leave it?'' And she paused
for his answer, with tears i'll her eyes.
Eyes, darling, our first love-" And
his hands clasped hers with firm,
strong pressure.
"And the third, Waldorf-the Won
derful, seething, restless third?'
Ia, tl,N, f,f A n
verse was in that third. "
And still, Waldorf, you were not
satisfied. You left me when l was
frightened ut the roar of the ocean, you
were not there long to support my fears,
and so how would you be if l trusted
you and burned tho fourth notch?"
To this he made no reply, but snatch
ing a match from the little, gold casket
that she had placed near by on table
he lit it.
Come" he said firmly aud gently.
"Lookf'
Before them splashed fountains of all
colors, above them the ecstatic harmo-
NOUS melody of a thousand flutelike bird
notes thrilled the air again. The trees
still murmured, the grasses still whis-
pered, the butterflies still fluttered, the
flowers still bloomed with gorgeous col
ors, the ground bugs still hummed, lit
tie lambs gamboled around their moth
ers, i'll the distance the roar of the ocean
Numbered against beach, and near by
silvered lake glittered its tapping wa
tiers with soothing sound. And above
and around and through all this there
came to the ears of these two the vital.
subtle, vast chords of natures rhythmic
life melody--the realization of happi-
ness complete, the memories of the past.
the content of the present.
Are you happya' asked Waldorf
with exquisite tenderness of voice.
"Ah, yes, so much sol'' she respond
ed "And you, Waldorf
'I?'' he said, fiinging his head back
and strengthening his strong, young
shoulders. az feel like god, and you
are to be my goddess always. Is it not
so, lover"
Yes" came her soft whisper And
thus they burned the fourth notch,
which proved to be the best notch of all.
| Mary Rachel Gaoa In Rosfop Couriar