The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-14
By LADY VIOLET GREvILLE.

him during the still hours OF the night.
tih ne rose. weary and heavy-eyed, u re-
sumo rs daily toll the sick, the suffer
Z INK. fading into dim distance in compar-
/ ison with PeTa's desire for a brave man.
Meanwhile Pera and the Hussar were
alone. They were somewhat silent. for
, the hussaT was embarrassed and Pera
was happy with a happiness that seeks
no words. The HUssar was embarrassed.
TOT ne was going away. and he must
freak the news TO Pers. Ii had all been
very pleasant. this summer dream, born
OF sweet scents and sounds In a rose gar
I deh. The presence Of the beautiful Wo-
man beside him il the purity Of her cool.
white gown and wlde-brlmmed hat. the
talk OF love and sentiment and 10Y Of
living. had filed a spare moment, t.nged
Few dul! weeks with a golden aureo.e
/ or sunshine. and caused him endless
agreeable emotions
But now u was over: he was going
away, and IL was imperative that Pera
I should be told He hated the thought.
Perhaps the girl loved him really. Per
maps the Irritation had gone deeper than
I ne meant Perhaps she would be IN
happy. Her gray eyes seemed latterly 10
hold new wealth Of tenderness within
their depths. But then. II could not be
helped-thst was the life of a soldier. 10
love and TO ride away. The hour had
come for him 10 ride away.
They wandered from the rose garden to
the lawn below fianked b. the old gray
wall over which climbed tangled mass
OF fragrant white roses In the distance
a nightingale began TO sing, and Pera
stood s;ill and listened. The girls face
pointed upwards. On Il was an express
.fn IN Of Il
1t and shivered. He would rather have
faced the fire Of the enemy than that ex-
preston OF divine content
"Pera" he said. taking her hand.
Pera did not withdraw IL: but she cast
on him = look trimming over with ten
derness.
The Hussar knew if well. He had seen
that look on other women's faces before.
What has happened?' she cried when
he stopped. abashed. Il am frightened;
something mas happened. / see it in your
face-you do not love mer'
Indeed / love YOU too well, my dear
little girl; too well for my peace Of mind
too well for our happiness. Be brave.
Pera."
BE brave" the poor child muttered, re-
Numbering her declaration that she could
only marry brave man. Must women
then, be brave? l can be brave with you
always"
He held her close TO him. her checks
touched his lips, their hands were inter-
laeed-it was easier TO speak so.
"Pera, be brave"' He repeated the
words
With you. my king, always, always"
she answered meekly.
Not with me. but without me- He
thrust out the words somehow haIf-inar-
uculately, TIL he saw her cheek blanch,
and felt her limbs tOtter; then, placing
her tenderly on the stone seat. he tock
her two hands in his. "Pera listen! You
would not love me if | We're a coward.
must DO my duty; | must leave you.
We are ordered abroad Immediately. The
news only came to-day"
Forever Pera questioned feabIv
who can tell? 4 soldier carries his
life in his hands. may not return"
But if YOU do"
All, Pera, it DOES not do 10 p!an cut
ones future. / wish TO leave you free"
But l may go on thinking of YOU. nv
king, my SOLDIER"
The Huesar bit his mustache.
Yes, think of me. as l shall Of YOU
win faithfuiness and truth"
With fdithfulness and truth. Must
be Free 1 would rather not"
And would rather. or course I love
you dearly, but
Pera, alas, knew the meaning of that
but, the little syllable that extincuisbel
Tor her all hope and JOY. and the haupv
dream that had made life beautiful
Poor child!" said the Hussar kindly.
you mustn't be miserable We snail AL
ways have the memory of our happiness"
An, yes-the memory
A cold comfort thought Pera. who fan
cled memory as something gray. 4 E9za
covering all bright things, a gray heaven
gray eAfth, gray roses. the voice of the
nightingale sounding dim and distant. =
mere SHADOW and veil of the pTesant-a
poor unsubstantial substitute for all The
fadlshce and JOY encompassing her hith-
erto.
The Hussar sighed His blue ewes Look
Ell SAD. These explanations were always
very awkward, and he hated giving main
Every brave man must. Pera was brave
TOO, IN her primitive feminine fashion
She did not cry or complain or reproach
MIN; she only sat quite still. with a white
face and Quivering lips. She was like some
dumb-strlcken creature, patient in its un-
ccmprehended misery. The Hussar would
almost rather she had cried out and
seeded him like i virago. He could have
borne II better. He was very sorry for
her, but he was very sorry for himself
| TOO. These things are hard on a man Il is
hard 10 leave a pretty little girl with fond
gray eyes and a trusting smile, when il
/ means Tor long years, IL not forever. OF
course II might not be forever But the
chances were against their meeting anV
more, and if they did, who knows whether
/ their feelings might not be changed? She
might no longer care, nor he. No il was
better 10 treat the parting as if 1t were
| forever
The Hussar was gone. Pera sat alone
! in her garden. The shadows deepened iii
they looked quite dark and mysterious
The roses eXhdled = sweeter odor. the
evening dew moistened her feet, but she
sat on, unheedng, 1 very cold, uncOn-
! scious statue. Could il be possible Was
! fate really 30 cruel? Was he gone-gone
! forever and aye? She must spend the lest
OF her existence. very long one, per
/ haps, stretching out over numbers OF
! years, alone. Pera despaired. Life seems
/ lnIerminable when one is young.
I Then her dos. with almost human SYM
/ pGthy, climbed into her lap. The silence
OF his young mistress, her quietude. so
az tItllA 4itl4i Atl uSNGi ilNtlls iduEA lllS
ways. CNasperated him. Even dogs want
gayety and cOmpanionsEip around them.
lie proceeded 10 LICK Fera'S fingers: he
even sprang up and ventUTed 10 lick her
cheek He nestled into her arms and
cursd himself against her bosom, u very
cushion OF soft fur. Pera bent down.
F The dogs sympathy nelted her hard, r.
. grelful MOOD; a tear dropped on his faith
} iu! muzzle.
/ We are alone now. you and J." she
whispered, fOndling him. He is gone
I away. and / cannot forget
The little dog wagged his tail and
seemed 20 understand.
Then the days dragged on slowly. long.
weary days Ct solitude. Nothing happen
ed. The cuTate still dropped IN 10 tea
pretty Professionally, and the law student
. paid occas Lonal visits. Yet Pera seemed
10 herself 70 1e always alone. The world
was such q vast, cold place for one poor
little girl. and there Is solitude Of the
heart that even society cannot I'LL The
curate yisibIy worsAiped her but none
of me glsmor Of the warrior wrapped lin