The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-03-06

beasts, and the farirg flowers of the
tropics the sullen desert and the
hearts of men. You, too, little
friend. would you like to be star
and havo all the beauty and misery of
the whole world spread before you?"
Was he i'll earnest? There was
something new in his manner. Oh.
was he IN earnest? She did not
speak, only dropped her eyes to his
face and her upper lip quive.ed
slightly. Did he mean 1t? Strange
desires pressed upon her, the world
beyond the garden seemed calling as
the norman called his wife in a poem
OF Arnold that was still ringing III her
ears, She was outside the behavior
OF custom now, troubled, yet glad.
1t is time he continued simply:
yes, 1T is time. 1 did not realize
that you had outgrown the lilies
She could not keep the delight from
Ler face, but she did not speak, and
the Admiral waited as if for signal,
then spoke on into the summer night
Your mother was Julia Ravignon:
l loved her, but she married a diplo-
mat, and L took up my career in the
navy. Everything came to me-
| everything except forgetfulnGss
When L met her again years after in
Paris she was a widow, thanks to q
rather irregular political intrigue in.
volving the lives of more than one Eu.
ropean envoy. She was the same
brilliant, compelling creature--only
eyes that had grown keen with love
long uufed could read deeply enough
to find the change in hcr-the loss OF
those gentler qualities that soften a
thrilling girl into radiant woman.
She had preserved few illusions; per-
haps [ was the only one. She was
quoted and eoUrted and copied, but
in the spring she would marry me-
for love.
THAT was winter TO warm dead
summers by its memory We never
spoke of the years intervening or their
experiences; our fidelity was at least
no indiscretionl There must be a
God, in whose mind such Joy was con-
ceived and fulfilled! Coming home
from the opera one night, when only
few weeks lay between US and our
marriage, n frantic runaway tore
through the crowded avenue, leaving
many wreck in its deadly wake.
Julia was carried into n mere boule.
ward cafe and died in my arms; my
face so close 10 hers she never saw
the squalid surroundings of that last
holy hour-though / shall wear the
terror-stricken faces of the onlookers
across my eyes forever, heightened by
90 Il l..
last. 'Sereta, she whispered, keep
her safe from the world-my world
has not been always yours-lovc is
more than She smiled with her
soul, her lips were cold. Every haunt
held stab for me there; from that
night the sight of her flowers on other
women turned me faint. / shivered
when [ met one of the gay circle of
her devoted inner coterie; every mood
of passion returned to mock me now
the sight Of other lovers made me fear
myself in my shattered condition OF
will aud nerves. ] came home with
you, dear; life had given me all my
boyish hopes in manhood's measure.
[ never reached the high altar OF my
holy Of HOLES, but I have heard the
music of the great organ rs L stood on
the threshold.
1T was not until lately that | real.
lied the time had come to do more
than listen and wait. The blood OF
your mother is in your veins, too-we
will go soon, little friend, and make
acquaintance with the best of her
world and mine"
To-
on her breast, and in a voice too sweet
for any mortal woman save her moth.
er's child, she said, 81 will not go"'
At the end of an hours struggle, she
still persisted: 81 will not go. l care
nothing for a world that betrayed You
aud broke your heart am not afraid
but / will not go"
Samuel found her singing EUR
rim" song over the honeysuckles next
morning, and waited to be drawn into
conversation.
Morning, Samuel" There was
his chance without compromise of
dignity. Good morning, Miss Swceta
hot day, / guess" Then, in queer
voice, quite unlike the usual gruG
Samuel: eth be lonesome enough not
to hear you singin', Miss Sweeta-
somo say you and the Admiral arc
tired OF roots aud goin' away.
Going away?' repeated Sereta
why, Samuel, you said yourself only
a little while aso that the Admiral
was py'rennial-and 1 am another.
We are going into partnership with
the yeliow-lilies forever and everr'
The old map made motion Of i'm.
credulity, aud shaking bis head as he
did when rain was prophesied i'm a
drouth, remarked MAY bo true Of
the Admiral, Miss Sweeta, but 7 ex-
poet that other soldier fellowll be back
hcro before fall lookin after some
more yellow lily slips-likc rs not; he
said he took q very particular interest
IN py'reunials-G should think no
would; he'll he the first man that ever
raised a bulb from n slipw
And Roger did come back many
times, but he went straight to the Adj
miral when advice was needed. for
the kind of flower me wanted was
never illustrated in the gaudiest cata.
loguc Of SamucpB loyal admiration.
Nor will tho yellow lilies watch in
vain 90 The end of tho garden walk
next spring, for Sercla has given her
lover 90 understand that sho iq n
pyrcunial Of the Admiral. however
satisfied no may be 20 live as mere