Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-12-27
THE VOICE OF
AN FcE0 a .,s,, Of Two

looking Into the pine clad amphIthea-
ter Of the ellis. which lay In stiffness
beneath the spell Of a September night.
The black hollow Of the bridge. with
Us one moonbeam sharp across the
floor. contrnsted with the awful splen-
dor Of the granite gorge. buttressed
and plnnacled Ia every rising tier. un-
der the food of ghostIy Hight. and n
the only object of the couple In coming
here was 20 see the view they were
simply repaid From their conveFsa-
ton since they LETT the hotel. which
aow lay behind them hidden by a
fringe Of the forest Il would have been
iliiicult 20 say that this was not their
only object. The small talk Of ac-
qualntancoship. friendship and even
love Is within certain limits and among
people habituated 20 each others con-
yentions practically lndistlnguishable.
Frequently II Is difficult 90 decide why
the degrees should be OF 30 much con-
sequence 10 the parties.
IL was knowledge Of the world and
the good temper OF experience that
kept Mrs. Hugonln and Arthur Kin
naird on perfectly unruiiied terms with
each other. The conviction that he had
long ago forgiven her. gratifying as IL
once had been. was BOW of such long
standing that Il bad become confused
with her earlier and less justinable
conviction that he ultimately would
forgive her. Thus secure In vindlca-
tlon. the lust for which the dying Eve
bequeathed 20 all her sex. Mrs. Hu-
gonln could without the slightest re-
Election upon her wIdowhood accept
once more the companlonshlp Of man
who tolerated life as comfortably as
Arthur Klnnaird. The immlnence Of
the clmacteric which she knew TO be
threatening him was not 20 be read
from his figure. His step was alert.
bis cheeks were bronzed. his tastes
were rational. and what more could
be deslrel
She pushed back her dark hair under
It's somewhat youthful cap. and. lean
Ing her elbows on the ledge. gnzed
without speaking at the haunted defile.
Knnalrd gave little laugh behind her
Margaret" he said. upon my word. Il
seems as II we were boy and girl
again"
why. particularly she asked.
without turning her head.
"Oh, all this summer" he replied.
She did not ask him 10 be more eX-
pllclt. 1T Is certainly an Ideal place"
she said with a half sigh yet IL Is
foolish TO say that the beauties Of ma.
ture restore ones youth. one may feel
young agsln. but one j. not really any
the less dispassionate."
Il am not so sure of that" said Kin
nalrd. Il should like to argue the point
with you-lf II could be argued"
"You men are all alike" said Mrs
with an Inconsistent shrug OF
her shoulder. "You give up to logic
what was meant for conversation"
Kinnaird stroked his mustache
for moment And so
you think me dIspassionate? he OBJ
served.
Your said Mrs. HugonIn. turning
with a delightful laugh. why. Ar
thur. there isn't a sentiment or a con
riction TO whose support society could |
order you 20 contributed"
III you mean that" he said slowly. |
IL Is quite rs feared"
"As you fearedT
"You still believe me capable OF as
much mistaken self control as ! once
vas And" he added calmly. Il don't
wonder"
Though there was no bitterness ap-
,arent In his tone Mrs. Hugonln was
tartled. Really. this is unlike you.
Arthur" she said gravely. but yet with
sense OF amusement. You petulant
With your past7 You provoked with
tour recollectlons7 Indeed. have
mistaken you"
lie laughed. but gently. Come" he
aid. you have no right TO be lronlcal.
though once let You go, II was be-
ause ! thought you wished to be re
eascd."
upon my word. Arthur" said Mrs.
Iugonln. Il did not know you were
erious or should not have taken this
: n Joke"
II am entirely serious"
Really said Mrs Hueonln. aud
be spoke with some irritation. u
leught all had been forgotten and Tor.
ivcn years ago" Then she drew her
~ mp proudly. "Can IL be that after
u this time you have conceived tho
hildlsh whlm OF forcing uie TO a-to
n Apology"
"No-hardly that"
Il am ready 20 make Ii.' she wen.
b. "But lf ! do
Klnnalrd moved 20 the window be-. ,
de her and laid n hand on her arm
You are much mistaken" be said. ln ,
le undlsturbed voice which 80 pro
Dked her You must Indeed think
.at I am taking leave of uiy years !
,ver bad much vanity. ! think. hu- I
hat ! had when was younger ! nev Z
made a pct o. Look over There ~ !