Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1899-04-09
IT NIGHT HAVE BEEN

''polce far niente-a sweet doing
nothing. I shall pin that to the cata-
logue of memorys pictures painted
here.
She looked up at him and laughed.
Their eyes met, then parted, and
vague sense Of anticipated loss ca-le.
to him with the realization of her de,
pafture.
You will forget al this. AS for me,
| will only be one more in your coll
lection" he smiled, evidently a will
ing victim.
"Collection-of sticks?" she interro-
gated laughingly.
You are unkind," he protested.
y Oh think, then, my remembrance
of a charming Winter, like pricked
bubbles, will vanish into space?"
Fer face flushed and q shadow deep
2ned her brown eyes She caught her
breath as she crushed the laees Of her
gown against her side then she went
on:
We've seen each other every day,
if only for few moments, during
nearly two months, meeting with per-
feet frankHess and, I thought, friend
ship. If it has all been insincefe, L
shall forget"
.Insincere?' "You have made me
care too much But in the North there
will be other interests in your life,
croWding ne 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, lie
had said, like henediction.' and the
evenings when he sang with delicate
insinuation and emphasis about you
dear" and love" All these thoughts
pricked her mind. If she could only
forget him!
Really, you seem most insistent to
become merely q polka-dot in my mem
Dry Dep't YOU think. even then,
could always spot your
Jest If you must; but stay. all, stay,
fair lady. on this perfect day! / prom
Use to do anything say anything, if
you viii rot. 60
You wax quite poetical,' she said,
sweetly. 'srhere is the silver moon
for the second verse.
Thanks for the suggestion rather
stifily.
Conc; my hostess viii think am
lost"
. "When,a woman will, she will"
He reluctantly followed. They Walk
ed home through tie. spicy, fragrant.
pines, whose melancholy soughing fill
ed them both with an underlined SAD.
ness.
"This must be goed-by. I leave on
the early train tomorrow, and never
see people at the station. It makes me
blue"
She stood on the steps with enc 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 shall al
WAYS think of you in this lavender
gown. me violets of these saucy, nod
ding feathers-just as you stand. You
will surely come back-to US"
Perhaps"
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 then
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. Co
ing to her room she took down photo
graph, softly whispering: ITO have
loved and lostr Both hands suddenly
pressed against her throat, and the
tears blipdly unheeded as she Sob
ped on.
He knew he would miss her. She
had been so jolly; always ready for
dance or ride; knowing his favorit6
music and songs. Now that was all
over. Rummaging through his desk be
finally found n little package of notes.
Leaning back in his chair, lie carefully
removed the elastic around them and
ieisurely read over the lines. Out from
the sheets of one fiuttered a withered
violet. 1t fell unnoticed to the floor.
In another he found q tiny spray of
iessamine. She had worn a great.
bunch of it one night. These few he
had begged for and mad been denied
until the next morning, when his re-
quest was granted with few penitent
words. They had been at the opera,
and under the magic of the music ne
looked into her eyes, startled by their
deem intensity He could see them
now. How really dear she was! All,
we'll. she would come again.
He replaced the notes, struck
match. carefully held it to q cigar, and
tho oVpniT1p n9npr.