Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-03-18

INV Christmas there, in
q 81 fact, Tomorrow I
am to take tea
with Mabel and her
mother. Mabel's mother is a widow, as
mine Is. Strange to say, | have never
seen her, and have never entered her
house.
The day has come and gone, and
am sitting by winters fire, talking
by fits and starts to my old mother
about one thing and another. 1t all
comes back to me as clear as the noon
day sun. The years that have passed
since then and now melt away, as
though they have never been.
Not an hour ago ! left Mabel's house.
antl am gazing now at her blue eyes
and fair face. which appears before
me In the fires glow. have been
talking great deal during the night
to Mabel and her mother. relating what
stories of the sea within my own ex-
perience l deemed would be most in
teresting to them. Mabels mother
and | have shaken hands for the first
time. She is fair. like her daughter,
and her eyes are blue; but not that
beautiful blue which makes Mabels so
charming. Her behavior to me has set
me thinking.
When l entered her house. her cold
hand greeted me In n fairly cordial
manner: but l noticed even then that
although her lips smiled, her eyes did
not. When Mabel smiles. her eyes
light up: there is no soul In q smile
when the eye plays no part In 1t. Up-
on my leaving Mabel's house her
mothers hand lay dead In my palm.
mine.
Her husband had been small
builder. and when he died. had left
barely enough for the support OF her.
self and Mabel. So much l learned be-
fore I went 10 her house.
Now. what has set M thoughts
wandering as look into the FIRE? Her
cold hand which lay dead In my palm ?
No. not that alone. What else. then.
in connection with that? A simple
thing-a passing expression on her
face, that was there but moment, and
then was gone.
In this way: We have had tea. and
the tea-things are cleared. am talk
ing and talking. and Mabel and her
mother are listening. l. full OF my
theme. am maundering away on some
startling expericnce-startlin to them.
| mean-and Nj els eyes are fixed on
my face, and my eyes are fixed on hers.
when an unusual stiffness arouses me
from my dream.
For l am dreaming. The magnetic
influence OF presence that love has
cast spell over me. and has made
me unconscious OF everything else
about me. For the matter OF that, Ma
bel and I might be alone In the world.
An unusual stiffness, | say. and 1t Is
what mean; for, although before /
receive this new impression the sound
Of my voice is the only sound to be
heard in the room. and although no
person but myself has spoken for
many minutes. the new silence Is dif-
ferent from the old. There are
thoughts that move like living things
within you. and here are some work.
Ing their spell upon me. And under
their influence my eyes wander from
Mabers face to meet her mothers.
Well. I see frown there. that Is all:
but a frown that tells n story cannot
read as yet. am striving to spell
out that story now.
II was not a shadow from the fire
falling on her face. and distorting the
lines there. or playing on II to its dis.
advantage: 1t was a frown like black
cloud. And when bid her good nigh,
her hand lies cold and dead In mine.
And Mabels good night? II is as
kind and warm as ever II was: and
she does not see that my mind is
troubled. being. mayhap, unconscious
of the cause.
| come home. where am surrounded
by the shells that dead man gath
cred when life was strong within
him. gaze into the fire, and see
Mabcl's face; I gaze upon the shells.
and I see the tokens Of dead mans
love. Ay. in these dull. inanimate
Ghapes see the star that illuminates
the world. and beauties 1.-THE star
of Love.
turn toward my mother. with n
shell at my ear. In reality she is a
lmall. shrivelcd woman. in whom one
would imagine but little sentiment
could abide. have noticed lately that ms
she grows older her form shrinks, and
becomes more spare. But as | gaze at
her now she becomes transformed. The
lines and wrinkles disappear. the flesh
becomes firmer: the eye .regains Its
luster, the cheek its color: the shrunk-
On form fills o;;t, and In my fancy / see
her as I saw her in my childhood. be-
fore my father went to his death-a
romcly, pretty woman.
Now. what causes me to throw my
voice In the direction of the door, and
to call out suddenly and Unexpectedly;
"Yo. heave, hot"
My mother starts mp with scream,
and runs to the door with frighten-
cd look. There she stands, trembling
and white. with eyes that see nothing