The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-01
OUT OF THE DESERT.


Today gavo myself up To day dreams.
In my dream sat again beside the woman
wbs was my friend. And as we talked
agan Of friendly things she suddenly hid
her face, and knew that she was weep
ing. After period of silence knelt be-
side hsr and she looked up. Peering into
her eyes saw in their depths that loneli
ness and longing of the night before. And
grasping her hand tightly / arose and
said, "Comep'
With her hand trembling yet confding
in mine led her forth into desert place
Across the great waste of sand we walked
on and on through the gloom. And in all
that desert place were we alone After
journeying thus for months, which were
like years, the woman withdrew her hand
from mine, saying But what place is
this!'
And answered: This is the world in
which there is no mutual love. Here live
all those who do not love and all those
whose love is not returned"
"But these peoplc-where are theyY"
she asked.
"They swarm about you in thousands, F"
/ replie1. "Yet all who dwell here are
doomed 20 feel alone. This loneliness
causes that peculiar longing look in peo
pies eyes. Though many know it not,
they long TO find place which is in the
center of the world, place of wondrous
beauty called the City Of Love"
"Then let us find the beautiful city at
once" said she beside me. "Oh, my heart
and my life are like the desert itself! If
you know the way to the beautiful city,
let as go there while we still have youth
with which TO enjoy it,"
Looking now into her eyes, knowing
that loved her, said: "Ab, that might
lead you into the beautiful city But un-
Til you love me cannot, for the city is u
place of mutual love, and u man and IA
woman must enter together, each loving
and loved"
Then as told her how had come to
love her, she turned away weeping. And
when i saw her eyes again the Loneliness
and the longing were still there. But tax
ing her hand again / led her onward
Wearily onward we trudged, searching for
the beautiful city, as were those whom we
knew TO be about us, but whom we could
not see. And ever would say to her,
"You must yourself love one who loves
you before you can find the gates"
After more months that seemed like
years we came to a place where there was
water. And she by my side asked, How
came this water hereP''
"This is the Well of Tears, " answered,
"tears shed by those who live in this world
weeping because of the loneliness and the
longing"
"But all these people, she said, "all
those who are longing and weeping around
us, those whom we cannot see because we
are blinded, 1 suppose, by our own tears,
what are they doing?'
"Most of them," answered, "are max
ing money, believing that with wealth
they can buy their passage to the beauti-
ful city But the JOY of wealth vanishes
in a night and the longing for the JOY
eternal remains. Others are making
friends. But one friend proves false and
the Joy Of friendship has fled. Still others
are making name. But when the famous
are alone the Joy of great name has gone,
and the longing for the JOY eternal re-
mains. Thus many search, but only those
who love and are loved find the gates"
Then for yet more months that were like
years l led her on. And as long as she
was by my side never lost hope Of find
ing the gates. When she sank down dc.
spairing. overwhelmed by the mystery of
that perpetual gloom and of the awfulness
of that vast silence, l would tell her again
of my love and of the hope that impelled
me on.
"But the way Is SO long," she would
say. "And we have even now been years
and years making the journey. l can go
no farther. will remain here. accepting
this desert as the only world, and live on
in my loneliness and longing
Then sadly I would reply: "None who
begin the search is permitted TO abandon
a.
pause.
She shuddered, and again led her on,
till one day in my great love and sorrow
took her boldly in my arms and folding
her to me said: "Ah. II you could only
love me could then deliver you from
this barren waste, for 1 love you SC" "
She lifted her head from my shoulder and
looking into my eyes smiled and said,
"You are blind"
Then hastily brushing away the loneli-
mess and the longing from my own eyes, l
could zee that she, too. no longer felt
alone, and that the longing In her eyes
had turned to laughter.
And suddenly the gloom began to rise,
revealing a place afiood with glorious
light. And out of the vast silence heard
the murmur Of multitudinous voices, all
saying, 81 love you so." As the gloom
dispersed, two mighty gates opened and a
cherub boy came toward MS, saying: Il
an Cupid, placed here TO guard the gates
Of the City of Love and to admit none but
true lovers Like thousands of others. you
have been wandering the trackless desert,
passing and repassing these gates though
you knew it not"
And turning to me Cupid continued
"She who stands by your side has done
well. She has taken time TO make sure Of
her own love and Of yours, for men play
with love and women arc capricious."
Then, taking my love in my arms, L
kissed her, and we entered tho gatos to-
gether, each loving and loved. Hero was q
place Of eternal sunshine, land of beauty
and laughter and Kindness, q city where
all seemed busy on crrands Of love. And
~ In Joy and rapture gathered my love
In my arms forever Cupid closed the gates
with an echoing clatter.