The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-02-14

1t was evident that could not be true
either to Phyllis or Gretchen since
did not know positively which loved.
knew that | loved one. So much was
gained. wanted TO throw up a coin.
heads for Phyllis. tails for Gretchen.
but couldn't bring myself to gamble
on the matter.
steamer came along then, putting
Importantly. sending wash almost at
my feet | followed 1t with my eye
till 1t became lost around the bend.
Over there was Austria and beyond
the orient. new world to me.
IF could see them together
unused aloud.
The squirrel cooked his head to one
side as If to ask, austria and Tur-
keyY
NO" said 1, looking around for an
other stick. Phyllis and Gretchen. II
l could see them together, you know.
l could tell positively then which
love. AS it is, I'm In doubt. Do you
understand
The squirrel ran out to the end Of
the limb and sat down. 1t was an act
of elaboration.
"Well. why don't you answerw
/ was startled to my feet by the
laughter which followed my question.
A few yards behind me stood Gret-
chen.
Cant you find better confdant?'
she asked.
Yes, but she will not be my conf
6o, II T
she had heard of the one sided dia-
logue. "Will you answer the question
just put to that squirrel of yours?"
"And what was the question:" with
innocence not feigned.
perhaps it was, Why should Gret-
chen not revoke the promise to which
she holds meY
you should know, herr" said
Gretchen gently.
But l do not. only know that
man is human and that beautiful wo-
man was made to be loved" Every
thing seemed solved now that Gret-
chen stood at my side But she turned
as If to go.
Gretchen" called 'Do not CO.
Forgive me- If only you UNDERSTOOD
Perhaps 1 do understand she re-
piled with a gentleness new to me.
"Do you remember why l asked you
to stay!"
Eyes; was to be your friend"
This time it is for me to ask wheth-
or go or stay"
"Stay, Gretchen But was hypo-
critic uhan CD i'll II TO-
81 knew that you would say that"
simply.
Gretchen. sit down and I'll tell you
the story of my life. as they say on the
stage" I knocked the dead ash from
my pipe and stuffed the bowl with
fresh weed. l lit it and blew cloud
of smoke into the air. "Do you see
that, Gretchen"
'.Yes. herr" sitting down, the space
of a yard between us.
ut is pretty, very, but see how the
wind carries it about! AS it leaves my
throat it looks like a tangible sub
stance. Reach for it, and it is gone.
That cloud Of smoke is my history"
ut disappears" said Gretchen.
L
time. That cloud of smoke was for
tune. reached for it, and there was
nothing but the air in my hand. 1t
was woman's love. For five years
watched it curl and waver In it
saw many castles. and the castles were
fair indeed. l strove to grasp this
love; smoke, smoke. Smoke is nothing
given a color. Thus it is, with our
dreams. If only we might not wakew
Gretchen's eyes were following the
course of the languid river.
"Once there was woman l thought
loved, but she would have none of
1T. She said that the love I gave her
was not complete because she did not
return it. She brought forth the sub
ject of affinities and ventured to say
that some day l might meet mine. 1
scoffed inwardly. l have now found
what she said to be true. The love
] gave her was the bud. The rose
Gretchen" said 1, rising, 81 love you.
am not hypocrite. 1 cannot parade
my regard for you under the f1imsy
guise of friendship"
go and give the rose to her to
whom you gave the bud" said Gret-
chen. The half smile struck me as
disdainful. "You are strange wooer."
II am an honest one" began
plucking at the bark of the tree. "No.
l shall let the rose wither and die on
the stem. shall leave tomorrow,
Gretchen. l shall feel as Adam did
when he went forth from Eden. What.
ever your place in this world is, it Is
far above mine. am, in truth. pen
niless adventurer. The gulf between
us cannot be bridged."
NO" said Gretchen, the smile leav-
ing her lips, 'the gulf cannot be
bridged. You are renniless adven-
turer, and | am a fugitive from-the
law, the king or what you will You
are man. Man forgets. You have
just illustrated the fact. His memory
and his promises are like the smoke