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

CHAPTER u.-CoNTNUED.
"This: In the hour 1 have been
here you have found an untrodden way
20 the heart of Richard Somers. know
Row that no woman was ever there
before you; none will ever follow you.
Z may not be here to give you my hand
Il do not know the circumstances that
surround you, or even if in winning
your sympathy l am playing false-but
wherever you are, remember that my
soul follows, and l would keep guard
ever you if 1 might" He spoke with
an earnestness and passion that dis
turbed and alarmed himself. Some
thing like a groan burst from his lips
when he realized how far he had com
mitted himself, and h. sank back in his
ehair. There presently she found him.
and resting her hand timidly upon his
arm, she said gently:
What would you have me answer
your" She was calm and confident
now. At first she had shrunk little
from him. Her simple, confding action
restored to him his calmness.
81 would have you say at what hour
1t IS you are accustomed to close the
eyes which look down upon without
.sceing mine"
'At nine. But what is this upon your
Hanel-a fiower?"
A white rose for our wedding"
With pretty show of authority she
drew it from its resting place and
aixed it in her hair.
"Do not flowers belong to the
oride?"
''Wear it in memory of me-" he said,
gently But now l am going to in
sist that you take steps to preserve
those other roses which I am sure
have bloomed for you. Have you a
dressing-room
'Ges, but l am not sleepy and !
shall not desert you. Wait. Speaking
of the rose, I shall sing you a song l
love very much-that is, if l can find
my guitar All, here it is! Now I'll
sit here-and you right there-but l
w0uder if | can ever play in the dark?
My ! not have just little light?
= yon't mind"
How easily you forget! It is i'm
'T"asible. Sing as you are; I shall not
aodr any discord" He was astonished
81 her swift change of mood and a
uew, glad note in her voice She sang
low and sweetly, with perfect control
of her tones, the Last Rose of Sum-
mer." And then he understood bet
ter. For in her voice he read that
the soul and spirit of an impassioned
woman dwelt in the slender frame
veiled by the shadows of the room.
He was silent. Every heartache that
had been crushed out of his manhood
seemed to have revived under the
magic of a subtle tone, an indescriba.
BILE, indefinable echo. 1t was a resur~
Eection of something that had died
hard within him.
"You do not like my singing" she
said, disappointed, when, waiting for
his praise, she found him silent and
thoughtful.
"Your singing7 Yes. But mem
.ary! Go to sleep now. Make yourself
comfortable and leave me to keep
watch. Yet stay; will you not sing
over those lines again? To me they
are ineXpressibly beautiful"
Standing in the doorway of her
dressing-room, she sang the verse
through again softly without accom-
paniment, waited until she was as
sured that he would not speak, and
then passed thoughtfully within
When she came forth, arrayed in her
wrapper, she paused beside him, puz-
xled over his change of mood.
81 am afraid you are going to be
1onely," she said.
sleep, my child, sleep; shall not
be lonely-knowing you are there"
perhaps l am keeping you awaken
~Yes. That is it; you are keeping
me awake!"
"Well, l am holding out my hands
and saying good night" she said.
He found and pressed his lips upon
them. He held them so tightly and
Erembled SO violently she bent down
ever him confused. One of her curls,
ioosened, dropped upon his neck, and
smother across his cheek. The mingled
,odor of her hair and the rose filled
him with a strange intoXication.
IL am sorry if have distressed you
I'm any way" she said; you have been
Kind, oh. 80 kind to me. Good night"
He still held her hands, mis- face
Bowed upon them, his form shaking
with a strange emotion. Good night" >"
she said again. "If | do fall asleep
and you are lonely-oh, sir, you hurt
p1y hands"