The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-21

town. But to us no other word could
describe ner. Her skin was most beau
tifuliy white, ave for the two flushed
spots on her cheeks. Her rich brown
hair was coiled low on the back OF Ter
head. and her gray eyes seemed softer
an unmistakable look Of sadness about
the face when IN repose, and a. she
reached the door she put her hand
to her head and breathed a little sigh.
As he footsteps died away at our
dood. my heart began to beat 30 vio-
lently I wondered how I could ever
get any words on my lips. Fortunate
ly Dick made a forward.
and told her he would like TO introduce
his friend. I was a little in the
shadow. 50 had had no time to
notice my face at all until I came TO
her with both hands extended, and
when her eyes rested On me and she
realized who I was. neither OF US could
utter a word for a Few seconds She
put her hand to her heart and almost
dropped into the nearest chair, and I
realized at once that in my selfishness
/ had given her q shock almost too Sc
we're for her to bear. Very soon, how
ever. she recovered herself. and began
plying me with all sorts OF questions
about myself. always turning the sub
tect when I directed my attention to
her. h congratulated me about my
engagement and wanted to know
everything about Alice-but. strange
to say. now that I was once more near
her, talking together as We did in the
good old times. l could hardly realize
that any other oma had ever exist
ed for me. We seemed to have gone
back to a time before the creation OF
Alice, and I fear 1t vas almost with
Indifference trat I answered her Ques-
tons.
And we had 20 many other things
to talk about the time fairly flew. and
it was not until I noticed on her face
an expression Of intense exhaustion
that I had sense enough to prepare to
leave. Then I insisted on putting
aside my character of old friend, and
wrapped myself In h physicians
cloak and CAV her what I thought
good advice, handed her over to her
maid to have my orders executed, and
left, promising to return the next day.
AT 8 o'clock that night we were all
seated around the open fire at home,
talking pleasantly OF olden times and
future plans. when the bell rang and
a was handed to me. I tore
open h envelope rather hurriedly.
seeing that it came from the hospital,
~AAN ASNAA0 40 - - AASNN AoA AAo46 d Z = .
maid, summoning me at once to her
MISTRESS bedside-she had been seized
with a violent hemorrhage o after
my leaving her, was terribly exhaust
ed, and had asked for me.
I picked up my hat and rushed off
with the ~B.essenger as fast as my fee.
would take me, and in less tran ten
minutes was ono more at the side Of
my lifelong friend. IN glance only
was nee ded to see that death had
claimed another victim: the dreadful
deathlike cold had already taken her
in its grasp. AS I came close to the
side Of h bed her eyes opened as il
they were searching 1or something
they were longing to see At last they
rested or me, and a smile Of almost
perfect contentment rested for q sec
ond on her face. ~Instinctively / got
down on my knees, put my arms
aroud her, and for one brief seconi
our lips met-the first time for years.
That last look had revealed to both
Of us u true relation; we were not
merely friends, as We had always
supposed ourselves to be. but lovers.
For raj our owe had been growing.
becoming stronger and stronger with
the lapse of time, and now, when it
was too late, we had bcUn coTe to
realize the real depth Of our affection.
Why is it that man cannot appre-
ciate his blessings until they are
taken from him?
One more hour passed in watching
by her bedside. CONSEQUENCES never
returned, but that expression Of per-
feet peace and satisfaction remained
as long as human eye was allowed u
look upon her. With her land clasped
in mine, I sat and watched the spirit
cave the body; then I sat as one par
alyzed, until lei old Dick came and
led me away to get some little rest.
Ever and anon there came running
through my brain the beautiful, lines
o. Matthew Arnold:
"And sometimes by still harder fate
The lovers meet but meet too late
All, yes, friends we had always b zen,
but, alas, the lovers had, indeed, me
too late.-Florence Kirkus, in New
| York Evening Post.