The Delawarean., 1900-06-30
HER MEMORY:
IT WHISPERED :
FOR YEARS. :
..osso:o:s::sss..s.a..s.ossoss

could see DGdUIlIul, ever ulluuidJIllS
stretches of green meadows, dotted
with the darker green of the trees, and
in the far distance tine everlasting
hills majcstically grand in the soft
purple beauty Of their vast rolling out
line.
"Come back to Erin mavourncen,
mavourneenw Joyously. sweet and
clear, nearer and nearer, came the
voice. The professor sat motionless.
listening with hated breath, lest he lose
a syllable of that sweet old song, sung
in that sweet young voice. AS the
voice ceased he looked out. Coming
toward the house, balancing in either
hand . foaming pail of milk, was a
young girl. Even ere the song was
finished a harsh, tired voice called
sharply: Come Beth; don't yell so.
You'll wake baby, ana I've been an
hour getting her to sleep. Hurry and
set the table"
The professor grunted scornfully
Elm! Yelling, is it? The voice of an
angel! Music; | escape it not even
here. III wait and listen"
The world was TWO months older
Into the best parlor shonc the after
noon sunshine, playing gleefully on
walls that seemed to shrink from the
unaccustomed glare. In one of the
prlm straight backed chairs, at the
front windows. sat Professor IIelfen,
while opposite at the other window sat
weary, sad faced woman, tearing idly
at the red wooden curtain tassel that
had never before been treated so
roughly.
"AIy good woman, Think She has a
fortune in her voice. She has voice
in a thousand-a gem. But it is in the
rough. It needs polishing, years of it,
and it must be polished gently. Then
1t will shine-oh, dochr'
Over in the corner a slim, dark eyed
girl hung on these words. Oh, to see
this world, to have the dreams she had
dreamed come true! She found herself
listening again.
eyes, yes, she can go, but bring her
back, bring her back. I've seven, but
can't spare her forever" Then some
how Beth found herself in her moth
er's arms, who for once in her life of
habitual self control had given way.
And so the ultimatum went forth Beth
was to go.
Out in the garden twilight was fall
ing. The beautiful tender sky colors
were slowly fading into the dusk of
night. The very air, full of the scent
of the hay, was caress. The very
peace Of it seemed a mockery to Paul
as he stood before her. How could ev-
erything be so serenely beautiful while
he was tasting the bitterness of life?
He could not put it into any fine
phrases, this desolateness of his He
felt only that if this love should be
taken out of his life the whole worth of
his life was gone.
"You say you'll remember, Beth. but
you won't-you won't. l know it as If
years had already passed"
Only a boy in years, yet a mans
pain had aged the stern young face
The pain in his voice touched the girl
looking up at him.
'I'll work hard, Beth. BY fall I'm
heard the professor tell YOU you
couldn't love; art had no room for
love. Beth, don't let him teach you 10
forget me. When he gives you such
lessons as that, let what l say now so
fill your mind that there will be room
for nothing else. l love you, Beth,
and some day you will be my wife.
Perhaps if you hadn't been going
away should never have had the
courage to tell you, at least for years.
But I'm glad you know"
'Listen, Paul. | shall never forget
You know my nature too well to be-
lieve your own words. Forget you.
with whom have grown up, who
have been the best part of my life
ALI, Paul, you know better. This is
the hardest part of it Paul-to leave
you. 1t seems but a dream yet that
/ am really going-going to see the
world that has seemed to exist only in
books. But the years will soon pass,
Paul. We are both young, and no les
son he may try to teach me can blot
out the teaching of is years of life
and with such a teacher. You believe
me, Paul%
And Paul, looking in the soft depth
Of her souls eyes, was content.
The two weeks of the opera had be-
gun. A long line of carriages was
drawn up before c. hall, waiting to
deposit their burdens-stately brough-
ans smacking of solid responsibility.
smart landaus with gayly caparisoned
horses, while along the streets leading
to the hall groups of fortunes less ia
vored subjects moved quickly, meeting
at last in front OF the hall, where they
Joined the large, well groomed crowd
slowly up the steps to sit in
Judgment and perhaps ultimately to
pay tribute to the new prima donna,
Mile. Armstrong, a daughter of their
own land.
In the dressing room before a mirror
ntood girl, still in the flush of youth,
looking with unseeing eyes at the pale,
proud face framed in masses of heavy
black hair, in which diamonds cleaned
like tears of fire.
81 suppose they'll all be there in the
very front, row Of awestruck faces"
She smiled as she thought Of the six