The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-12-12
FARMVILLE VA. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 70, 1902.

.
age, though, the proportion may be
cut down to one in 10000. What youth
mistakes for the divine passion, last
ing through and beyond the span
of life, is the impatience Of young
years, the desire Of a child for the
moon, the changing whim of an
eager age. Fan this quick flame to
white heat and it will soon die to
cold ashes. Now if Edward is of the
9,999, he viii soon wear out this love
in daily sight of his desired one, and
come back TO me a wise boy, and
no law will be broken-the girl will
60 unharmed. If he is the one in
10000, and the girl is the one in 5000
(for that sex is certainly more inn
pulsive, why, then-but, pshawl he
isn't"
The brewer knew humanity pass
ing well and watched his experiment
with confidence. Old Schouler was
wild at the disappearance of his
daughter; the little world in which
the Schoulers and Mrs. Sears moved
was in a turmoil; but-old Richard
Dumble's world had a wider orbit
No suspicion attached to the old man,
and the world, or that part of II that
fretted over the young peoples af-
fairs, had to fall back upon the the
ory Of an elopement.
Deserted by the world ministered
TO by grim, close-mouthed servants,
supplied with the comforts and
amusements of normal young peo-
ple-Edwin with books and gymna-
stun apparatus, Henrietta with mu-
sic, the latest novel, embroidery
the two prisoners passed their days
in maddening proximity. The corri-
dor was far too long to permit the
tender whisperings that lovers COM
monty use; indeed, there was always
the believing wind as rival in any
exchange of vows. But there was
the language Of signs. and eternal
trust that could be expressed in a
clutching at vacancy.
Books Knocked the young man
what did they say but love that was
always rewarded in the end? Music,
such as she knew, spoke to Henrietta
of love that blossomed in a free
young breast-and here the blasts
that whirled up that precipice face
turned her plaintiye notes to a thin
wailing. The grim faces Of the serv-
ants, passing in and out, silently,
except for the jangling Of the big
keys, oppressed the spirits of both.
A sort of desperate recklessness pos
sessed the lovers-they paced their
rooms, in and out those corridor
doors, up to the line beyond which
II were death to pass; and a great
despair came upon them.
Winter gave way at last to spring
and even on that bare mountain-top,
where the world stretched away from
their view 1000 feet below, the new
balm came to renew the lovers pas
sion. Not once had Edwin taken pen
to write his defeat; not once had
Henrietta failed to gain courage from
fresh sight of the man who loved
her. Sometimes. in a lull Of the
everlasting mountain storm, they had
called to one another to be brave and
faithful
The earth was released from the
grip of the snow, and young leaves
came out to clothe the trees on the
beautiful New Hampshire hills. At
last the little lakes that dotted a
broad, green valley shone up to
the prisoners like bright jewels
on a warm, full bosom. Life, throb-
bing, new, eternal, woke the flame
of love to white heat. The decrees
of man seemed impotent, unreal.
Heaven-sent love, the cry of man to
maid, and of the spring to young
hearts, swept the lovers reason and
fear to the winds. A great cry, like
a challenge to God, rang out from the
boys lips.
"My love, do you fear deathP"
And the answer, keyed to an exultant
pitch, rang back.
"Not with you, my sweetheart"
"Ahl then come" With the words,
Edwin sprang forward to meet the
oncoming rush Of the mad girl. One
step over the white dead line, and
the floor was creaking like thin ice.
Two steps, and it was swaying like
a showman's net. With the touch Of
hand TO hand, the frail foundation
splintered and fell with a crash in
which were mingled the terrified
scream Of the girl and the exultant
cry of the infatuated lover.
"Sir, my master bade me give you
this paper whenever you appeared
here" Dazed, unsomprehending, Ed
win Dumble glanced up from tangle
Of broken beams to see a close-but-
toned, deferential servant at his side,
extending to him a square-folded pa
per. His eyes sought wildly for Hen
rietta. She was lying near him In an
incongruous heap, looking about in
a panic of wonder.
The youth opened the paper and
read:
IF you are the one in ten thousand,
and risk death for the girl you deserve
her. Go and be married. and come to me
at once hope you will not be hurt
by the spllnters.
"Rlchard Dumble."
"Splintersl" What kind Of an after
death dream was this. Then young
Dumble looked up. to see the gap
ing hole in the corridor floor hardly
six feet above the sawdust-covered
ground on which he sat.-N. y. Post.
Dusty Town.
"The other day." said Mrs. TensPot,
II was called to the telephone and had
occasion to take down an address.
Having no pencil and paper handy,
wrote it with my finger in the soft
coal dust on the billiard table cover
81 wouldn't tell that, mamma, for II
n L. L. al