Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-12-04
MERELY MUCH.

"Well, we've had very good time,
haven It we?' she said meditatively.
Eyes, we've had good time,." be
echoed.
"And now we have to say goodby,"
she went Oh, with an elaborate air Of
satisfaction.
"And to-metaphorically speaking,
of course-drink to our next meeting, -
he said.
az don t know" doubtfully. IA poor
imitation Of past pleasure is bad ex-
change for the pleasant memory of it. y
"Ah, seep' His voice had little
bitterness in its tone. "You and 1 are to
be only pleasant memories to each other
from this time forth?'
"Onlyl Isn't that great deal? Life
holds nothing sweeter than the relnem-
brance Of happiness. -
He was silent for moment. The
drawing room windows, overlooking the
promenade, with the sea beyond, were
wide open. A troop Of negro minstrels
was performing just beneath, and the
we'll known chorus of a negro song, &C
companied by the usual bones and tam
bourines, was waited into the room.
"You forget, he said at last, 1.-THE
delights Of anticipation. Suppose, for
instance, that you and l, instead of
making up our minds that our friend
chip is at an end, were to look forward
to another meeting.
She shook her head.
"No, it is better not The past we
know is pleasant; the future-is uncer-
tain.
"You are full of WISDOM" he re-
marked sarcastically. do you always
reduce sentiment to the level of an al
gebraical equations"
Don't, please. l assure you l am
not enjoying myself at this moment.
But hate all anticlimax.
"Anticlimax! Why, we have reached
no climax at all yet, :" he protested.
Haven't WEI"
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 a twinge of regret as the
idea forced itself upon him.
You are the most consummate tlrt
! know" he said slowly
There seemed to be good deal of IT.
relevance III the remark, and her eye
brows raised themselves in protest.
"Oh, no am in earnest, and f1irt
is a light, airy creature. with no seri-
BUSINESS i'll her.
THAT is only one kind and the least
dangerous. You make of Irritation g
fine art :"
"You do me too much honor. But,
seriously, do not agree with you You
see, am no idealist. Iprefer the truth,
even if it be unpleasant, to the pretty
thing which is all sham -
but l do not understand you, Bar
bara. The pretty thing is not necessari-
~ sham -
"No, know But very often it is, +"
she answered bitterly. Anyway I
will not tempt the fates. The remem-
brance of our friendship, though it has
been SO short-or perhaps because it
has been so short-will always be
sweet. In little while the passing Of
the weeks and months will almost ethe-
realize it. 1 should like to keep it SO. "
He sighed impatiently and replied:
eff that sort Of thing gives you any
satisfaction, it is perhaps better to part,
| for to me it 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 were
| we put them down today, it would be
failure The pretty gossamer thing
| which we have woven would break.
No, Dan, am going to say 'Goodby,
| and-hope we shall not meet again.
SIS there no other way?'
He lowered his voice and looked
downtown into her eyes. His own
were puzzled and unhappy, and he held
his breath for her answer. He scarcely
knew what he hoped it would be.
81 don't think SO. -
He turned away with sigh in which
many conflicting emotions were blended
and watched the little waves ripping
| over the beach She crossed over to the
pier glass and Strengthened her hat and
veil
A fly drove up to the door and the
| driver got down and rang the bell.
"Goodby, she said. holding out her
hand.
He came from the window and held
her fingers in close grasp.
Are you quite sure, Barbara
Her hand was Oh the door now, but
she turned round as he spoke.
"Are YOU she asked.
"I-don t know. F."
Neither do l. "
1--WE have been very happy together. "
"Yes-for four weeks.
''Then why not for always? Shall we
risk it. Barbara
"No; it is too great u
'sThen it must be Goodbye"
"Yes, goodby. F."
He opened the door for her and she
passed out, without looking back, down
the steps and into the waiting vehicle.
The driver mounted the box and drove
| off.
She turned and waved her farewell
| to che man, standing on the steps. There
was lump in her throat and just
suspicion Of tears in the corners OF her
bright eyes. Moreover, she settled her.
self very quietly in the corner of the
railway carriage and did not turn page
of the books and magazines with which
she had provided herself. At Euston she
betook herself hastily to the telegraph
office, wrote out telegram, read it over
several times and then tore it up. She
did not rewrite it.
i