The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-13
A Student e Emotion.


downstairs. | know corner where
we can talk it over with the gravity
which the consideration OF so import
ant a subject requires"
He guided me along a corridor lead
ing from the hall out into the garden,
where, at the end of It was q capaclous
summer house, skilfully arranged
with floral decorations, d screen SO
placed in It as to form e. partition
down the center should the necessity
arise. Two of the seats were already
occupied; so we sat down on the va
cant chairs and glanced across at the
couple opposite, silently regarding
them as interlopers, which, under the
circumstances, was hardly fair.
The woman Immediately riveted my
attention. She was evidently entirely
oblivious of time, place, onlookers, or
anything. Her eyes gazed straight be-
fore her, and large tears fell from them.
dropping, unheeded by her, on the ex-
quisite fabric of her dress Her face
was lovely, but pale and sad the pic
| ture of despair; and the mans also
was white and drawn, with a set look
about his mouth which betrayed the
emotion he repressed
1T seems to me-" whispered Leonard
Curteis, that we have hit upon
tragedy. Suppose we draw the cur
tain"-and, rising, he pulled the screen
little forward, thus covering the dra
| matis personae on the other side. The
| next moment the man came from be-
! hind it and walked slowly away.
could have supplied the clew to the
situation. for l knew the womans his
tory. She had been unhappily married,
| lit 49,.
had been ordered to join his regiment
abroad. and the trooper was to sail the
| following day. All, well!
Mr.. Curteis, you've often told me
that it affords you amusement to study
emotion in others, though unable ever
to experience anything of the kind
yourself The scene we have just wit
messed must have interested and
amused you greatly. suppose?'
You are pleased to be sarcastic You
are rather hard on me in this case |
think. The pathos about this phase of
emotion was rather too exaggerated
amuse me; that's why l drew forwar,
the screen. But enough as to that. |
want at this moment to consider pa
thetic sentiment a little nearer home.
Our parting tomorrow-we came to
! talk about that, you know. Are you
really going away?"
Yes, really. And. as l said just now.
it is possible that you and I may not
meet again."
Certainly we shall. Our mutual
friend, Mrs. Westover, will take care
Of that, and l shall do so, too"
A pause. I was silent, unable for
once to think of the right think to say.
Suddenly felt his hand on mine as he
said quietly:
Miss Dunstaville, during the past
two months We have become more to
one another than mere acquaintance
May / say that we are friends?"
There was no warmth Of pressure in
his clasp as my fingers lay under his
own, and for a few seconds ] SAT
thoughtfully regarding the floor. To
him, no doubt, this conversation was
intended as a fresh study of emotion
I knew this man was playing with
me.
Yes, friends. Certainly we are
friends"
ION the strength of that assurance
/ will ask you something. Will you
give me a kiss before you go?" / felt
the blood rush to my face and thank.
ed the semi-darkness which hid the
tcll-tale color in my cheeks.
Give him a kiss, one kiss mot MY.
self-my life-my hearts devotion
only a kiss, nothing more! So this
was the end of my dream of hope
and happiness!
/ looked up and met his eyes fixed
on me inQuiringly There was no love
or passion in his glance.
suddenly I moved quickly. 7 tool
his face between my hands and kissed
him on his lips; such kiss as l hat
given to no other human being, and
never shall again.
"Good-by, Mr.. Curteis," I said, as
rose swiftly from beside him, and be
fore he had recovered from his sur,
prise | was gone.
For once, | believe, he had expert
euced the result of an unexpectedly
POW erful erotiOn and | imagine from
the glance l caught of his face as
left him that l was the first woman
who, so far, had broken through til,
outer crust of his callous nature. AM
had, very nearly, succeeded in touch
ing the depths of feeling beneath.
| left London the next day, and
have no doubt that Cis told him i'm
mediately afterward that | was en-
gagged to be married to Dickson Bailey
with many thousands a year.
Perhaps If ever Leonard Curtei
comes across the one woman, he ma,
then understand why l gave him tha
kiss.