The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
THE
by SIR wALThr BEsANT.
Copyright, 1897. bv Walter Be,an..

!.
Together they walked in the long Juno wi
light across the fields. They were not very nice
Helds. The path was composed OF cinders and
orickoats, the ragged hedge was broken down
IN parts, there were occasional patches on
which green things refused to grow. There
was, however, n shallow ditch-r,nning be-
side the dilapidated hedge when contained
nm unsavory mud, and there was a piggcry
at tho end of the ditch. These things, on n
warm evening in June, suggested the country.
They walked side by side, rs they always had
done. The young man held the girls hand.
Ito did not press it, nor lift IL to his lips, nor
go off into intetjcctions over 1t. He simply
held II. She was quite accustomed to this as
scrtion of authority, or submission, as you
Will. made no objection, and did not withdraw
her hand. He walked in silence. Why should
he desire to talk He just liked to be with her.
sometimes to look ut her; to let her talk as
much rs she liked; not even to follow her when
she went off into dreams. For he was "a and
n clerk in a big house OF business, and he lived
all the day in a world where nothing hap
pcns-not even tho uncxpected-except what
Is made to happen by the wisdom and the con-
trivance Of the partners. Tho world is so. to
the city man. lie understands that he has to
get what he can for himself. He has to be fore
SSS'hb ""A iotoNNIhb. EboNO of ~ aeS
never dream.
Therefore this young man looked forward to
a life of low standards, though this he would
not admit to himself, to a small income and
thrifty ways. He was a steady young man,
who ALWAYS had n solid book going, in which
he road slowly and without the slightest in
terest in the.contents. He thought that n course
OF reading in miscellaneous subjects, none Of
which attracted him, raised him to the level of
those who improve themselves. lie was a good
looking young man. with regular features
and the appearance of responsibility. In fact,
he had no vices, and felt no temptations, and
was therefore profoundly uninteresting.
The girl, however, was quite unlike him. She
moved as IL her feet were springs. She walked
as II she were dancing. She talked as if she
were singing. She laughed at her own thoughts
like a thrush. She was nearly rs tall rs her
companion, who was b feet 10 inches. She was
certainly not pretty, because she had not n
single good feature in her face, except, per
haps. ::her eyes, which were quick and bright;
but she was attractive when she was animated,
and she generally was animated. Her dress
was quiet and in better taste, perhaps. than
was found with most Of the young ladies who
went to the same suburban church on Sunday
and lived in the little villas. jerry built, pre-.
carious, which bravely faced the suburban gale
On tnclT cumming DTlths, Win shnu vi Ilo
tar and laths for party walls.
Her Names ridiculous name, but in the mat
ter Of names people are so-was Ariadne. The
girl thought 1t n pretty lame and much finer
than Muriel, Gladys. and Dorothy, names which
decorated most of the girls she knew. .Ari
adne-a poctical name; she knew nothing OF
the story belonging to the deserted nympl
Ariadne. She admired her name as most girl'
admire their faces; she wrote it down and looked
at 1t. as most girls look in the glass. And n
Ariadnc does not go well with Samuel, whicl
was her lovers name. there was a secret under
standing between them that when they wcr
alone he was to be Cyril instead Of Sam. Then
without a sense of tho incongruous she coul'
listen to the voice of love.
Cyril" she was saying. there are world
upon worlds all round us. and here we kno,
nothing about them. I'm not discontinued wit
my lot. but l wish l could see some of then
sometimes
You wouldn't like them, Ariadne.'
How do You knowl Besides, ! didn't say
should like them. I want to see them. l wan
to see the people that the papers talk about.
'.They are just like ourselves
INC they're not, dear boy; ! know better tina
that. They don't dress like us. nor talk like us
nor live like us. l want to see the great ladic
and the fine ladies', the artists. and the poet
uuu t"t tt'oIS.
Its no use without money"
81 want the money. too. l want to go an,
live among them and be one of them. Just TO
two or three years. Cyril. Just to undcrstan
what it is like. And then to come back agai
to this stupid old d., suburb bur- and the stupid old pee
sam, he whispered, audaciously pressin
her hand.
Cyril she corrected him.
'And then we would he married. wOuldn'
wei Perhaps l shall be drawing ESQ by tina
time il l am lucky"
MARRIED. o. well: we would see about tina,
You know, Cyril, l have always told you that
'ould never marry q man whom ! did not rcspcC
for his intellect. He must be my superior. otl
erwise / could not think of marrying him"
'Of course This young man knew not til
language OF compliment, not even the common
est word in 1t, nor the declensions nor the Conil
:. cations. OF course, / know that
ITO be sure YOU do improve yourself"
81 am now, Ariadne, he assured her proud,
''in the heart Of Humboldt's Cosmos"
, II has been pOintcd ont that the author is M