Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-23
1T NIGHT HAVE BEEN

Dolce far niente-a sweet doing
nothing. / shall pin that to the cata-
iogue of memory's pictures painted
here"
She looked up at him and laughed
Iheir eyes met, then parted, and a
vague sense of anticipated loss came
TO him with the realization of her de-
parture.
You will forget all this. As for me,
l Will only be one more in your col
lection he smiled, evidently will
ing victim.
"Collection-of sticks?' she interro-
gated laughingly.
You are unkind," he protested.
you think. then, my remembrance
or charming Winter, like pricked
bubbles, will vanish into space?"
Her race flushed and II shadow deep
ened her brown eyes. She caught her
breath as she crushed the laces of her
gown against her side then she went
on:
we've seen each other every day
II only for few moments, during
nearly two months, meeting with per-
feet frankness and, | thought, friend
ship. If it has all been insincere,
shall forget"
'Insincere?" you have made me
care too much. But in the North there
will be other interests in your life.
crowding me out, until | shall fade
into the dim corridors of the past"
She noted the square, strong chin
and mouth and the little wrinkles that
caught around the smiling eyes. He
could thus lightly toss aside the recol-
lection of drives, of wheeling down
shaded country roads which We're. he
had said, like a benediction,' and the
evenings when he sang with delicate
insinuation and emphasis about you
dear" and love" All these thoughts
prcked her mind. If she could only
forget him.
Really, you seem most insistent to
become merely polkadot in my mem
DRY. Don't you think, even then, l
could always spot YOU?
Jest if you must; but stay, ah, stay.
fair lady, on this perfect day! l prom
Use to do anything-say anything, if
you will not 60"
You wax quite poctical," she said,
sweetly. there is the silver moon
for the second verse"
Thanks for the suggestion"-rather
stifly.
Come; my hostess will think | am
lost"
when a woman will, she will"
He reluctantly followed. They walk
ed home through the spicy, fragrant
pines whose melancholy soughing fill
ed them both with an underlined sad
ness.
This must be good-by. l leave on
the early train tomorrow, and never
see people at the station. 1t makes me
blue"
She stood on the steps with one hand
extended Looking up at the little re-
bellious curls blown about under the
wide, black hat. he felt an irresistible
desire to touch them, but only raised
her hand to his lips.
"Auf wiedersehn. You have given
me many happy days, and l shall al
ways think of you in this lavender
gown, me violets of these saucy, nod
ling feathers-just as you stand. You
will surely come back-to us"
Perhaps"
Smiling bravely she went wearily up
the steps, then paused. Taking few
)f the violets, she kissed them, and
turning, called to him. He came back.
Somewhat confused, she pinned them
)n his coat.
"They really belong to you," she ex-
Dlained.
The moon was hidden, and he could
not see how pale she had grown. Go
ng to her room she took down n photo
graph. softly whispering: "To have
owed and lost!' Both hands suddenly
pressed against her throat, and the
tears blindly unheeded as she sob
)ed on.
He knew he would miss her. She
lad been so jolly; always ready for "A
lance or a ride: knowing his favorite
music and songs. Now that was all
over. Rummaging through his desk he
inally found Il little package of notes.
Leaning back in his chair, he carefully
.emoved the elastic around them and
eisurely read over the lines. Out from
he sheets of one fluttered a withered
violet. 1t fell unnoticed to the floor.
In another he found tiny spray of
essamine. She had worn Il great
bunch of it one night. These few he
lad begged for and mad been denied
lntil the next morning, when his re
luest was granted with few penitent
words. They had been at the opera,
md under the magic of the music he
ooked into her eyes startled by their
deep intensity. He could see them
aow. How really dear she was. All,
we'll, she would come again.
He replaced the notes, struck n
match, carefully held it to cigar, and
lnfolded the evening paper.
Black Sea Poison.
The explorations of the Russian
scientist. AndrussOM. have established