The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-01-12
ASHES OF Love.

Early in the afternoon man stood in
the middle of the big yellow drawing
room, hat in hand waiting He had
sent q card by liveried lackey, and the
message hal been brought back to him
that he was to be received; he should
see her again after the years.
He stood there as a stranger might
among things that were unknown to
him; the great gorgeous room was full of
the fragrance of yellow roses eXhaling
from crowded bowls Memory was
tangled sltein which vas unknotting
she had always been fond of yell
low roses. He remembered her first
Bouquet and then suddenly,
with the scent of the roses, vstas of the
past swept wave-like up the beach of his
mind The boy and girl love later a
year or two perhaps a fuller Compre-
hension of passion that must be death
less q question and an answer And
the first kiss then q quarrel re-
examinations, departure for the man,
foreign lands and silence, afterward a
letter and the news of woman's mar
riage.
So, standing in the yellow drawing
room environed by pale scents and vague
memories, he turned as the rustic of
soft fabrics reached his ears and she
came in to him, smiling through sad
eyes but with an outstetched hand of
welcome and a low, glad cry
She seemed more beautiful to him
than everin her Grape. Perfection ends
itself to somber adornment The old
mad alteration of her thrObbed in his
heart
In her eyes, too, he was not changed
from the man whom she had loved with
the idolatry of youth.
There was no embarrassment in the
slow silence that spent itself between
them because there was no self-con
seriousness in it. Everything was great
and wide and free and they were alone
An exclusive peradventure ailured
Then suddenly the woman, Quicker in
sophlstries, brought herself back to the
prosaic energy Of the moment, and midi
Gated a chair for her visitor
The man sat down when abe herself
had chosen place among cushions on a
luxurious settee becoming conscious of
his hat
ale died, she said, at length 'You
heard9''
yes ! saw it in newspaper just
before I left Japan Was it sudden
1T seemed 50, 80 she told him with a
calm smile, although we had been
warned for months. That is the thing
which one can never quite learn to face
death And now. tell me, .
she added, IT suppose during these
last few years you have been every
where"
And done everything
How very interesting. Haye you
fallen in love?''
~ did that ages ago.
She looked very incredulous: then
very wise, and twisted her rings
well some day YOU must come and
tell me about it, said she in tone Of
light banter, 40 evident that it WAS obvi
ously feigned And after all
that sort Of thing s more amusing thar
stories Of tigers in Indian jungles or al.
ventures IN She stopped short
Their eyes met, mingled and knocked
at the door Of the future
1t opened Side by side, they stood
there on a Threshold behind them the
past which they had known; they swept
the occult with q mutual glance they
loved They met the knowledge face e
face as they sat in the glory Of the YET
low drawing room. They knew and IN
derstood 10 was pure aud sweet and
beautiful to them Memories faded
ike mist before the rising sun Re haC
come at last after the waiting the de
light and the rapture Of it,
He seemed to get nearer 70 her, with
outheld arms, and her whispered nam,
ike music on his lips Drawn e. him hy
invisible bonds she was fading into his
embrace; vordlessly their mutual adora
ton communicated itself each to each
She surrendered herself to the prison d
his enfoIdng arms
Then suddenly q wayne cry came from
The indefinite purleus behind a viole
velvet curtain. the We mar stood part
an iuViuiahIe distance separating them
The portiere was drawn aside and
nurse entered. holding q little child
PIE Is awake. madame
The mother rorder. danced AZ haf
guest. aud sfl&a3 something vhirf
seemed Struggling flr stfarsnc-.
She 6ooy fha etid Diminishing th.
rarss with yazfHrs
"I1u have roc sear nv haly'" Ell.
tssr aHC sa .rr