The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-31
SW l1E17' Il EAR IS I s.

She passed among her fellow crea-
lures dropping bits of sunshine !.crc
and there as she went her way, look
ing toward the mysterious future.
Sitting alone in the cleaning sac
heard some one enter. She rose noise
lessly and lighted the gas-then smiled
as the glare fell on a young man
standing before her with his hands
thrust deeply in his pockets.
Il beg pardon, Evelyn" he burst
out, laughing good naAlredly as his
hand clasped hers. What are you
doing alone in this gloom? Don't
bring sunshine enough With me with
out you lighting up as | enter?" He
threw himself into chair. what a
night! Gloomy as the hours of mid
night. have the blues, Evelyn-may
l tell you all my troubles?'
Evelyn Westland gazed down on tile
boyish face with strange wistfulness.
The five years which divided their
lives seemed like a gulf to her just
then; he was in his prime, While She
she knew the SORROWS of the world by
heart. AS he glanced up she smiled
and shook her head. Il am ready to
listen, Severance; what has life been
bringing to you? Sadness? 1t seems
impossible; you have such a bright
way of looking at care
Severance Caulder sighed. you
have been a good friend to me. Eve
lyn," he said, thoughtfully.
"And why shouldn't l be?"
"Why? Because am hayward and
nd hot 1o1.
wound you in thousand nameless
ways when 1 don't mean to; because
you are good and sweet and l am
wicked and restless" He spoke fer
vently, but Evelyn only crossed over
and laid her hand upon his arm.
Hush! You speak foolishly. Tell
ME your cares and let us have your
miserable points out of the question
smiling down into his serious eyes.
do you know, only once in mans
life does he reach the stage of self crit
icism. That is when he is in love.
You see have guessed your secret.
All, Severance. guessed it long since,
only you We're afraid to trust me with
it. Am l right?''
"1ou are right"
What had come over the world just
then? To Evelyn it looked colder and
blacker than ever before. She felt the
blood slowly go from her face, and
chill grip seemed to seize her heart.
He in love-the boy friend who had
always made her his confidant! His
heart was no longer free to tell her it's
trials. and yet she had no right to be
jealous of the little bits of exchanged
confidence. She was only friend to
him, and to her he vas
"a woman is a good guesser," she
said. still smiling, though her lips were
white. Come over here by the VIM
dow, where you can be more comforta-
BILE. Now am ready to listen"
Her voice was guarded even as her
eyes We're in the light Caulder glanced
over to her and looked intently at her
face for several minutes.
1T had crept upon me unawares,' he
began slowly. land yet might have
known in time to prevent it,
Evelyn bent forward. SIS it so I'M
happy?"
He laughed bitterly, unlike the frank.
free hearted boy of yesterday.
Unhappy? | do not know. am
Wretched. | feel so lonely, Evelyn
ooh, Severancew There was ire
NOR in her voice. Even in that hour
black shadow passed over her heart
All the sunshine went out of her life,
and she wondered if her loneliness was
not deeper than his.
"1ou-you are angry with me-" the
boy exclaimed, half passionately. you
think | am foolish to talk of love-"
mo, do not. Only why do you not
go to her and tell her of your love, all
your pain? She will listen to you-she
must listen to YOU
Caulder rose and stood in the middle
of the room. Evelyn followed his ex-
ample.
"Will you go to her?'' she asked gen
tly.
He started at her half sullenly-much
as boy would look at an older sister
who had corrected him.
Are you sure / will not regret speak
ing to herr" he questioned after
pause.
Il trust not. believe not God help
your She held out her hands impul-
sively He took them in his own. Her
hands were cold, although she candid
ly returned his glance.
What else have you to say, Eve
lyn:" There was tenderness in his
tone.
What had she not to say? Should
she tell him how her life would be a
blank without him. how he had crept
into her heart with his boyish eyes and
smile. how the woman who heard his
troubles and comforted him in his first
pain was starving for the young love
he had bestowed on some fair one?
NO; she would not tell him all the bit
ter TRUTH She was conscious of
choking sensation which prevented
speech Her glance fell lower and
lower until it rested on the rug at her
feet She knew her fingers closed
around his impulsively with Il sudden
dread OF his leaving her forever