Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-22
SONG WITHOUT WORDS.
pY JOSEPH s. ROGERS.

upon the broad cNpanse OF pralre COW
cred vith deep snow.
She is dressed in Il tightly-fitting trav-
cling suit of gray broadcloth, with
hirh collar Of dark, rough cloth. Her
ha, is Il dainty little makeup OF black
velvet and graceful feathers. a small
cluster of white lace, peeping out from
beneath the crown, lends a soft light to
her calm counteplnce and deepens the
shade of her dark auburn hair. Her
wistful eyes are OF such deep, intense
blue that in certaiE lights they seem al
most black.
She has thrown her sealskin cloak on
the seat in front Of her, where also rests
her satchel. BY her SIDE lies a novel
crcn-wise; and on the window sill
bunch Of violets.
She is Thoughtful, and the dismal land
scape she gazes upon serves neither to
Gamren nor reanimate her spirits, for
She sees it not; and it is all one TO her
whether the train be snowbound or
srcedinr swiftly on toward its destina-
ton. Her mind is filed with other
images and impressions. The gay sea
son which Lent had just ended so cruel
ly-its balls and its theaters, its teas
and reccptions-these hold her
thoughts. Her conquests, her social
trium2hs-the homage she has Won
from men and the envy she has evoked
from the women-aTe the subject OF the
many pictures that fit before her mind.
And the deepest and kcenest Of all is the
thought that now she is leaving. all
these. homcward bound, where there
awaits her-sacicloth and ashes, and
fasting and prayer. What change.
She languidlN signs and turns from The
window. She picks up the novel, ne
chanically reads 4 page. and then be-
gins staring blanllly at the last line, for
the sound of the ''twostep'' rings IN her
cars and the whirl of the dance is before
her again.
lie boards the train at Helena. AS he
passes up the aisle he casts a careless
Glance nj the form of the young lady,
who, with dainty handkerchief across
her face, had long since fallen asleep.
lie shrugs his shoulders ard passes on
to the seat directly in front Of his fair
slumberer Here, after the porter hes
deposited his luggage, he begins to
make himself comfortable. He removes
his great coat, hangs his hat on the rack,
draws a pepper from his pocket, sits
down, and begins thinking.
''WcI. here am at last. twill be L
ueuced long time before III see any
of the girls of Helena again wonder
what this one behind me looks like?
Not much for beauty, III wager: other
wise she wouldn't have covered up her
face. Girls are queer creatures any
way. Now. Wen see what the news is
He stretches himself out in the seat,
opens his paper. and begins reading
lust as the young lady awakes with q
start. She snatches the handkerchief
from her eyes and looks about her in
half da2ed fashion. Seeing the top q
the newcomers head. she wonders
where he came from. Then, consulting
her watch:
"Tialf past two! All, I understand;
we must have passed through Helena
while l was asleep. How stupid OF me!
lie boarded the train there, l suppose
! wonder what lie looks like. uorrid
of him to show nothing but the top OF
his head above the top of that scat. l
do know something about palmistry,
Int chronology, pshaw! He's keeping
mighty still; wonder if he's gone to
sleep. No; there's the corner OF apaPer.
He's rcading-reading all about the
brutal prize fight, I'm sure; men are
such horrid creatures"
She picks up the novel and turns the
leaves larguidly.
lie rests the paper on his knee and
assumes Il listening attitude.
"Humph! awake at last, and reading
tnat yeliow-covered literature saw Oh
the seat by her side. The Duchess, or
Sarah Grand Sweet stories, so full OF
feeling and pathos,' they say"
lie clasps his hands behind his head.
She lowers the novel and
well, there's an addition. They are
right large-nails well l:ePt-gentle-
manly instinct. Finger-ends square
determination. Large knuckles-man-
nal labor. Pshaw, how in the world
am I to tell anything about him from
his nails and his linucl,les? How stupid
of me 10 sleep 50 long!"
She removes her hat and smoothes
back her hair.
u look a fright, I'm sure. There
hea stirring!"
She sci2es the novel and Immediately
becomes absorbed.
lie sits up. "Tartalizing! I've just
got 10 see what size looks like, that's
nll there is about it. I'll rise up and
tohc that newspaper from my overcoat
pocket"
Re rises and, as he reaches for the
Gamer. carelessly looks down the aisle.
She lowers the book and quite IN
ronccrnedly looks up.
Their eyes meet for asecond; then ne
sits down.
Cad. she's as fine as sikh"
My. isn't he loycly!"
What Il form!"
"IIo~ al. and dark, and manly!"
Fine color Wonder if it's natural?
Il would love to l:now what he is
Those chochered trousers are little
;oud."
Shes as cold as an iceberg, though
III bet"
Hell he speaking to me next. III
lave to be very circumspect."
- wonder If she's well supplied with
magazines and periodicals? l have sew
rial in ny satchel."
"uc- does seem to he 81 nice. h.lt We
Yellow eyes,
sallnw COMPLEXION. bad taste in the