The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-18
NIGHT HAVE BEEN.


ing. shall pin that to the catalogue Of
memory pictures painted here
She looked up at him and laughed. She
always laughed. Their eyes met, then
parted, and a vague sense of anticipated
loss came to him with the realization of
her near departure.
The mystic beauty of tie twinkle hush
ed them into unwonted silence, and the
tinkIe of the sheep and COW bells rhymed
into reminiscent memories, thoughts of
other days, when they had watched the
sun fade away in the west. The fields,
whose greenness was accumulated by lines
of red Virginia soil, guarded by deeper
green FIR trees silhouetted, tall and sem
tineIlike in the far background, seemed
to be softly waiting for the coming night.
''You will forget all this. AS for me,
will only be one more in your collection"
he smiled, evidently willing victim.
"Collection-of sticks9' she interroga5-
ed 1aughingly.
You are unkind,' he protested.
'fYou think then my remem brance of a
very charming winter, like pricked bub-
bles, will vanish into spaces"
Her face flushed, and a shadow deepened
her brown eyes. He was looking intently
at a number of holes punched in the sand
with her parasol. She caught her breath
as she crushed the laoes of her gown
against her side-a characteristic gesture
then she went on: "We've seen each
other every day, if only for a few moments.
during nearly two months, meeting with
perfect frankness and, thought, friend
Ship. If it has all been insinoere, I shall
FORGET =" 'Insincere?' He leaned nearer,
saying softly: "YOu have made me care
too much, but in the north there will be
other interests in your life, crowding me
out, until I shall fade into the dim corri-
doris of the past "
noted fb0 gOuaTa strong chin and
mouth and the little wrinkles that caught
around the smiling eyes. He could thus
lightly toss aside the recollection of drives,
of wheeling down shaded country roads,
which were, he had said, like benedic
ton, - and the evenings when he sang with
delicate tnsinuation and emphasis about
''you DEAR and Glove" All these
thoughts prfoked her mind. If she could
only forget hinl
She rose.
REALLY, you seem most insistent to be-
come merely polka dot in my memory.
Don't you think, even then, I could al
ways spot your"
Her companion groaned.
"Jest If you must, but stay, ah, stay,
fair lady, on this perfect dayl promise
to do anything, say anything, If you will
not CO."
! You waxed quite. poetical, - sweetly.
''There is the silver moon for the second
verse. -
"Thanks for the suggestion" rather
stif8y.
leone, Ny hostess will think I am
LOST
"When woman will, she will"
He reluctantly followed. They walked
home through the spicy, fragrant pines.
whose melancholy soughing filed them
both with an underlined sadness.
''This must be goodby. leave on the
early train tomorrow and never see people
at the station. It makes me blue "
She stood on the steps with one hand
extended. The stars flashed brightly, and
the faint moon cast a soft light over her.
Looking up at the little rebellious curls
blown about under the wide, black hat, he
felt an irresistible desire to touch them,
but only raised her hand to his lips.
"Aufwiedersehn. You have given me
many happy days, and I shall always think
of you in this lavender gown, the vioIets
and these saucy, nodding feathers-jus6 as
you stand. You will surely come back
to us2''
Perhaps"
Being a woman, she could not cry to
him, but must stife the pain and defy the
might have been as she saw this man drift
ing out of her life. Ones heart does not
break in these modern days.
Smiling bravely, she went YEARLY up
the steps, then paused. Taking few of
the violets, she kissed them and, turning,
called to him. He came back.
Somewhat confused, she pinned them
on his coat.
"They really belong to you," she ex-
planned.
The moon was hidden, and he could not
see how pale she had grown. Going to her
room, sshe took down a photograph, softly
whispering, "To have loved and lostP'
Both hands suddenly pressed against her
heart, and the tears blindly fell unheeded
as she sobbed on.
He, too, went to his room to ponder.
He knew he would miss her. She had
been so jolly, always ready for dance or
a ride, knowing his favorite music and
songs. Now that was all over. Rummag-
ing through his desk, he finally found a
little package of notes. Leaning back in
the deep chair, he carefully removed the
elastic around them and 1eisurely read
over the lines. Out from the sheets Of one
futtered a withered violet. 1t fell unno-
ticed to the floor. In another he found a
tiny spray of jasmine. She had worn a
great bunch of it one night. This spray he
had begged for and had been denied until
the next morning, when his request was
granted with few patient words. They
had been at the opera, and under the
magic of the music he looked into her
eyes, startled by their deep intensity. He
could see them now. How really dear she
Wasl All, web, she would come again.
He replaced the notes, struck a match,
carefully held it to cigar and unfolded
the evening paper.-St. Louis Star.