Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-05-02


dreams. Without days warning he
had been plunged into the privacy OF
a young and modest woman's life, had
become the guardian of her honor and
in a measure of her future; and in a
mysterious way the divine sweetness
of her soul had issued forth and en-
veloped him. In the chiaroscuro of
the still room he could just determine
the outlines of her bed and upon its
whiteness the outlines of her slender
figure. He was glad that she slept;
in that quiet falling asleep was for
him the finest tribute ever paid to his
manhood. A glad quick pulse leaped
from his heart as he realized this
truth, and the words of the girls
mother, so artlessly repeated, came
back to him.
Then in the desert of his life a
stranger came before his tent and
asked for shelter. He bade him enter.
Why should not this scene be fixed
and real and lasting? Would it be
possible? Would the girl some day
accept it as such, yielding still the
trust and tenderness she had brought
to the counterfeit? Was she trusting
Brodnar? Or was she trusting him ?
The trust was in him. He felt it in
stfnctively; and her little white hand
seemed to steal forth to his again,
her arms to enfold him. What a
child she was! And yet--and yet
An irresistible impulse seized him to
be near her, to touch her hand, her
hair, and to pass within the electric
radius of her presence again, If but
for moment. He was her guardian
whether she slept or awoke.
strange curiosity to be near a
sleeping girl, to enter further into
her life and absorb the sweetness of
its innocence, possessed him. She
would not know, she would never
know, perhaps; and why should he
not snatch from fate this one brief
moment of happiness? A doubt as
sailed him and brought hesitation;
but with an impatient gesture he
threw aside the hesitation. He would
not let even himself doubt himself.
And so he came and stood above the
sleeper, and presently, entranced, he
kneeled and saw her lying there,
vague, dim and unrecognizable, but a
girl asleep. Her faSe was towards
him upon the pillow and one hand lay
upon the edge of her bed. So quietly
did she sleep she seemed not to
breathe. He watched her until a
tremor shook him from head to foot.
and never before experienced con-
fusion seized upon his mind. Instinct
lively he leaned above her hand and
touched it with his lips-lightly, rev.
erently. She sighed and spoke his
name, and, overwhelmed with sudden
dismay, he would have withdrawn, but
she seized his arms and cried out:
Light! light" And then. broken
ly: "Oh, sir, for the first time--I am
I am-frightened!" He sank his
shame.
at is half-past three" he said brok-
enly; 81 must soon say farewell to
you"
"Oh, sir, will you not light the gasp"
Seeing that she still trembed, he
arose and went to his chair.
mo" he said calmly. But sleep
on. l shall not disturb you again"
And then presently she came, and
kneeling in sudden abandon before
him, placed her hands upon his shoul-
ders, her face close into his.
81 shall not let you leave me think
ing that l do not trust YOU she said.
"Oh, sir, kiss me now, my hands, my
hair, my lips if you will. trust i'm
plicitly! 1 trust you-yes, and
more, I"
"Child, child, you DO not know what
you are saying!" He covered his face
with his hand.
Child! No, woman. You do not
understand; it is you who are the
child. Listen. l was not asleep when
you struck match and. turning your
face from me, looked at your watch
| was awake, and saw your face in
the glass across the room"
You should not"
"Tt was an accident, and | thanked
God, for it has given me a living mem
ory of the kindest friend since mother
died. 1t is not the first time for your
picture is in the Doctors office. He
did not know that have hung over it
fixing it in my mind-many-m
times-oh, will you, will you say that
you wish to see me? Have you no
wish to remember me?"
Remember you? I shall carry with
me forever the sound Of your voice,
la 81
of every curl upon your head"
But my face! VIII you look upon
that? l release you from all your
promises"
81 cannot! I capnot!"
"Oh, sir, think what 1t will mean
to me in all the lonely days to come,
the memory of you and the conscious
ness that Won carry in vour baart