The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-06-13
A STUDY IN BLUES.

over an exquisite common cOVeTe0 IN Soiu-
en- gorse. II suppose you are mad on Schop-
enhauer. Will you, just to please me, try
to take a little more interest in life and
things in general? We have both got to live,
whether we like it or not and we may as
well get as much enjoyment as we can out
of our present environment"
"My dear girl, I'm awfully sorry if I
have been depressing to you" he said. Gas
a matter of fact, was sort of musing aloud
and hardly realized your presence"
Il am not sure whether take that as a
compliment"
cts a compliment, for there is nothing
l like better than quiet companion, who
feel is sharing my thoughts"
Sharing, but not agreeing with them?''
anybody with common sense does agree
with them"
'Then, thank God, I haven't got COM
mon sense! 1 should not like to think as
you do
Women never know what they do think, F."
he said.
GIN other words, we are imbecile. Thank
you! What grand nature has man..
Il did not mean to be rude. Please for
give me-"
Don't mention it. I'm accustomed to it,
from YOU
Il often wonder you consent to come
walks with me-" he said.
''And l often wonder you ask me-" she
replied. 'But I've come for two reasons.
First, because l want to solve the enigma of
your personality, and, secondly, because l
should like to let in little sunshine where
there seems so much shadow
''You always are very sunny, there's no
mistake about that" he said, gloomily.
Don't you like me to be SOP" she asked.
mo, [ like gray lights best. They tone
with me better. I'm selfish, you know, like
other men,"
"You certainly are study in somber tints,
which, to be accurate, l should call the
blues Have you had bad love affair,
may | ask?"
Love affair! Good gracious, no. I don't
go in for love affairs"
'Then the sooner you do the better!"
'Why?"
Because you will then look at life, if
only for short time, through colored
glasses, and it would completely alter you
for the better"
81 don't care whether I'm better or
worse
'Now, look here" she said, suddenly
catching hold of his arm and shaking him.
''Do you value happiness or not?"
u.
'Poor, blind mole!" she exclaimed 'EFm
truly sorry for you. You have started on
perilous journey, and are making for a des-
tination against which your whole nature
rebels. Turn round, my friend, turn round
face the sun, and walk home"
'No one can show me any sun or any
home" he said. GAS you say, am blind
mole, and | can't see, either"
You make yourself blind, and you won't
take an outstretched hand.'
''It is not fair to say I won't listen, as I
am always listening to what the world has
to say on the subject, which is precious lit
tie, except nonsense. What is the source
of your sunshine?' he asked.
Love" she answered. 'Pm deeply and
madly in love with one person in particular,
and the world in general"
The man stopped suddenly, and dropped
his stick, which he slowly picked up, and
then asked, in a queer sort of way:
care you engaged, them"
my affections are, she replied laugh
ing.
81 suppose 1 mustn't ask the name of the
MANI"
at isn't man, it's myself" she said
"In love with YOURSELF"
They sat on the top of a low mound and
faced the setting sun.
Let me ask you again why you come and
fetch me for walks?
'EBecause-well-beca as rule, you
are a very sympathetic companion" he
said.
Sympathetic? Ah!-well, you know,
Plato says sympathy is love- and love is
communion of souls Is it, then, that you
love me? or that you think l love you? Of
cOurco 711a+op;ca111y epoolz 49,
sion"
Both he answered
''Well, then, please understand you are
laboring under great mistake-I- do not
love you at all-that is to say, l have no
communion of soul with you, because, as |
said before, you are too dusty. I can neither
see your soul nor feel its presence"
He colored deeply. go on busting, then"
Eyes she replied. 81 will, if you wish.
But pick me first few flowers"
He gathered some gorse and handed it to
her. She took it, and looked at it for some
time intently and in silence, then said
Whenever you see gorse in future, you are
to think of me- and to love it, because I love
it. That will establish one little commun-
ion of soul, anyhow. The present feeling
that you have for me is not sympathy or
platonic love; it is a selfish desire for
waste butt for your morbidity'
81 believe in way you are right"
81 know am" she answered, "and now
I want all that altered between us. want
as much sympathy for my sunshine as 1
give you for your blues. 1 want little
corner in your life where 1 may reign SUI
preme, where no thought of yourself enters.
A corner that you study to make comfort
able for me-where l can come without fear
of finding you"
cam I as horribly selfish as you paint
me? You have never asked for my SYM
pathy in any way-you have no need of it,"
he said, rather bitterly.
81 have no exact need of it, know. but
want you to give me little, all the same"
81 am quite willing and ready to do So"
he answered. "Have you finished busting
me?"
"Oh, no! You are not half DONE" she
cried, merrily. when get into my little
corner, am going to sweep away every
cobweb of pessimism that you possess so
l warn you"
"Sweep away, little grl!'
GNnw that's ho Erct