The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-07
MERELY MUCH.

"Well, we've had very good tina,
haven't we?" she said meditatively.
Eyes, we've had good time" he
echoed
And now we have to say goodby,"
she went on, with an elaborate air of
satisfaction.
And to-metaphorically speaking,
of course-drink to our next meeting"
he said
81 don't know" doubtfully. GA poor
imitation of past pleasure is bad ex-
change for the pleasant memory of it. -
"Ah, see!" His voice had little
bitterness III it's tone. "You and are to
DO only pleasant memories to each other
from this time forth?''
only! Isn't that great deal? Life
holds nothing sweeter than the rcmem-
brance of happiness"
Ho was silent for moment Tho
| drawing room windows, overlooking tho
promenade, with tho sea beyond, were
wide open. A troop of negro minstrcls
was performing just beneath, and the
we'll known chorus of n negro song, ac-
companied by the usual bones and tam
bourines, was waited into the room.
You forget" he said ut last "the
delights of anticipation. Suppose, for
instance, that you and I, instead of
| making up our minds that our friend
ship is at an end, wero to look forward
to another meeting"
She shook her head
mo, it is better not. The past we
know is pleasant; tho futuru-is uncer.
| tain
You arc full of wisdom, he re-
marked sarcastically. do YOU always
| reduce sentiment to tho level of an al
gebraical cquation?"
Don't, please. assure you 1 am
not enjoying myself at this moment.
But hate an anticlimaX.
"Anticlimax! Why, wo havo reached
no climax at all yet, he protested.
Haven't we?''
She was looking at him now through
half closed lids and smiling
He started at the new thoughts her
little question raised. Had they indeed
reached their climax and passed it? He
experienced twinge of regret as tho
idea forced itself upon him.
You are the most consummato flirt
know" ho said slowly
There seemed to be Il good deal of ir-
relevanco in tho remark, and her eve
brows raised themselves i'll protest.
"Oh, no. | am i'll earnest, and flirt
is n light airy creature, with no seri-
BUSINESS i'll her. "
That is only one kind and tho least
dangerous. You mako of Irritation IL
fine art. -
You do mo too much honor. But.
seriously, do not agree with yous You
see' am no idealist Iprcfer the truth,
even if it be unpleasant, to the pretty
thing which is all sham.'
But do not understand YOU, Bar
bara. Tho pretty thing is not nccessari-
| ~ sham.''
mo. | know. But very often it is, 1"
she answered bitterly Anyway 1
will not tempt the fatcs Tho remem-
brance of our friendship, though it has
been so short-or perhaps because it
has been so short-will always be
sweet. In Il little whilo tho passing of
the weeks and months will almost ethe.
realizo it, | should like to keep it So :"
Ho sighed impatiently and replied:
II that sort of thing gives you any
satisfaction, it is perhaps better to part,
Tor to mo 1T Is sheer nonsense +"
If we tried to bring the old time
back again, she went on without
needing his remark, ito pick up the
threads two or three months hence wcro
we put them down today, it would be u
failure. The pretty goss;mer thing
which we havo woven would break.
No. Dan, am going to say 'Goodby, ;
id .l.,,
Is there no other way:''
He lowered his voice and looked
down-tlOwn into her eyes. His own
were puzzled and unhappy. and ho held
has breath for her answer. Ho scarcely
knew what he hoped it would be-
Il den t think so. -
tic turned away with q Sigh i'll which
many conflicting emotions wero blended
and watched tho little waves ripping
over the beach. She crossed over TO tho
pier glass and Strengthened her hat and
veil
y fly drove up to the door and tho
driver got down and rang the bell.
"Goodby." she said. holding out her
| hand
He camo from tho window and held
her fingers in Il close grasp.
Are you quito sure, Barbara?"
Her hand was on the door now, but
sho turned round as he spoke.
Are you?" she asked
'1-don't know
Neither do [.
We have been very happy together. /"
'Yes-for four weeks. "
Then why not for always? Shall we
| risk Ii RnrInrn ~