The Republican journal., 1901-03-07

Many happy hours did they spend there,
Harold joining in the reading which,
each listener thought, like his CONVEX
satiOn, could not be excelled. He was
also fine singer and musician, aiding
Myrtle much in her practice. The pas
sing traveller often paused to listen to
the rich harmony of their united voices
with the soft piano accompaniment in
that so long silent home
Did Mrs. Hadley forget her lost ones?
All! no, their memory was ever present,
! but those bright, young hearts revived
in her an interest in life,, which she
once thought it impossible to obtain
but the angel of summer now often
twined amid her garlands a leaf of
brown and crimson, thus reminding
Harold that from these care-free vaca-
ton days, so full of poetry and romance,
he must return to New York to wrestle
with musty law books, and thus prepare
himself for the actual, prosy duties of
life.
The afternoon preceding the day fix
ed for his departure, slight shower
prevented them from visiting their
favorlte haunt as they had planned;
horizons brim he looked down from his
golden chariot between the parting
| clouds and every leaf and flower glisten-
ed and smiled loving welcome to the
golden sunbeams and gave them the
pearls with which the rain clouds had
adorned them.
While Myrtle was in her garden
| gathering fresh bouquet, now so fra
over the gate with that pleading pathos
| in hic and that onnId not
| fail to reach the heart, and thus address
ed her. Il was so sorry it rained for
| this was to be our last afternoon to-
gether until | come again next year,
| but although it is too late and damp for
| the aunties to go out, why cannot we
walk awhile and enjoy the sunset?
| Please come with me, won't your"
| Myrtle thanked him, and after fastening
few flowers in her belt, entered the
house ito speak to Auntie,' then re-
| appeared with white, t1eecy shawl
thrown lightly over her shoulders.
There was a delicate flush on her fair
face and beneath the smiling surface of
| her fathomless eyes Harold felt there
were unshed tears.
The happy thought came to him, 'can
it be that she is sad at my departure; but
perhaps she is anxious for her aunt S
| health" They were soon seated i'll their
accustomed nook facing the glorious
/ sunlight. Harold in his usual easy and
! graceful manner, in eloquent words
| pictured the beauty of sky and sea and
requested her when he was absent to
watch the sunset-as he woodland
/ each think of the other and their last
! hour together in this quiet, trysting
place by the sea. The last ray OF sun
set had now gone to rest in the home
of shadows, and in the approaching
/ chill of evening they slowly and linger-
ingly left the spot, to carry with them
/ even to life's last hour-sWeet and pre-
cious memories of one happy summer.
Never since their first meeting had
they been so silent Whence came the
influence Was it the breathless hush
of nature, weary with the tumult of the
day, that lent this charm and touched
deeper chords than the brilliant joyous
music of the day could possibly awaken:
Is there not an indispensable aWe-a
vague unfathomable mystery when the
night comes with silent steps and like
tender, loving mother bends above her
sleeping children, and closely, fondly
wraps the drapery of the couch about
them ere she leaves them to pleasant
dreams" There are moments when to
break the silence seems Sacrilege, and
when the heart is too full for speech. i.
They we're nearing the cottage gate
and this was their last meeting fol-
twelve long months-and perhaps, for
ever AS Harold drew Myrtle's arm
more closely within his own an uncon
scious, amoSt inaudable sigh escaped
her. and slight shiver ran over her, as
if an icy hand had clutched her heart
Harold felt her emotion, and claspins
her trembling hand within his own. he
whispered, Il cannot leave you, deal
Myrtle please let me call you so with
out a better understanding, let us walk
farther, to the cemetery, where we
can talk more freely You know Myrtle
that is to be my last resting place, Here
my ancestors are buried, and here is oul
family lot. My father not wishing tt
send the remains of my dear mother sc
far away, had thementombed near oul
home in New York, but at his death he
had requested that they be removed
with his to the home of his boyhood
this dear little village by the sea. He
now led Myrtle to a rustic seat meath a
mourning pine that overshadowed the
graves Of his ancestors, and where his
Aunt Hadley's loved ones, too, slept
II ID WOIOo dllu lUIlSS, dlW 81 CApICo
sive, seemed to Myrtle so pathetic tina,
she could not repress her tears, which the
light of the rising moon now revealed
to him. ''Myrtle-my own-cannot
call you SO? for / do not crush the hope
that you do sorrow because | am to
leave you, and that you do care for me,
as you cannot fail to see that do fol
you. Another year, when l return fol
my vacation, hope to have fin ished my
course in the law school and then be
ready to commence practice. Can you not
promise to go back with me to Me- Y ork
to be the queen of my heart and home:
Life without you now would be void OF
everything that makes it worth living,
but with your sweet presence to bright
en- and gladden. my home l could wish fol
no other heaven"
While he was speaking he held hel
hand warmly clasped in his own, and
with his magnetic eye, that never fail
ed to inspire sympathy and love,
looked passionately, pleadingly, into hel
very soul. Her hand for moment
chung tremblingly, convulsively, to his
own, then was gently but firmly with.
drawn. She could not at once trust her
voice to speak, fearing sobs would choke
her utterance, but at last regaining
composure, she replied: MY dear friend
you have bestowed upon me-a poor un.