Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-02-15
/ THE VOICE OF
! AN ECHO A s;s,' o;s FOOL. OF two

bridge. whose hooded tunnel threw a
dark bar across the mOOnlit mountain
stream. man and a woman stood
looking into the pine clad amphithca-
Ter of the cliffs, which lay in stiffness
beneath the spell of a September night.
The black hollow of the bridge, with
it's one moonbeam sharp across the
floor. contrasted with the awful splcn-
dor of the granite gorge. buttresscd
and pinnaclcd in every rising tier. I'M
der the flood Of ghostly light. and il
the only object of tie couple in coming
here was to see the view they were
amply repaid. From their conversh-
ton since they left the hotel. which
now lay behind them hidden by a
fringe of the forest. it would have been
difficult to say that this was not their
only object The small talk of ac-
uuaintanccship, friendship and even
love is within certain limits and among
people habituated to each others coil
ventions practically indistnguishable.
Frequently it is difficult to decide why
the degrees should be of SO much con-
sequence to the parties.
1t was knowledge of the world and
the good temper of experience that
kept Mrs. IIugonin and Arthur Kill
naird on perfectly unrutiled terms with
each other. The conviction that he had
long ago forgiven her. gratifying as it
once had been, was now OF sEch long
standing that it had become confused
with her earlier and less juStitable
conviction that he ultimately would
forgive her. Thus secure in vindica-
ton. the lust for which the dying Eve
beuucathed to all her sex, Mrs. HUI
gonin could without the slightest re-
Election upon her wdowhOod accept
once more the compHniOnship of man
who tolerated life as comfortably as
Arthur Kinnaird The immincncc of
the climactcric which she knew to he
threatening him was not to be read
from his figure. His step was alert.
his checks were bronZed. his tastes
were rational. and what more could
he desire:
She pushed back her dark hair under
Ing her elbows on the ledge. gaZcd
without speaking at the haunted drtile.
Kinnaird gave Il little laugh behind her.
margaret" he said. upon my word, it
seems as if we were boy and girl
again
"Why. particularly?" she asked.
without turning her head.
"Oh. all this summer" he replied.
She did not ask him to be more cX-
plict. 1T is certainly an ideal place."
she said with a half sigh. Yet it Is
foolish to say that the beauties of ma
turc restore ones youth. One may feel
Young again. but one is not really any
the less diSpaSSionatc.'
Il am not so sure of that" said Kin
naird Il should like to argue the point
with you-if it could be argued"
you men are all alike" said Mrs.
IIugonin with an inconsistent shrug of
her shoulder. You give up to logic
what was meant for conversation"
Kinnaird strokrd his muStachc
thoughtfully for Il moment. And so
you think me diSpa<sionatr?" he OBJ
served.
"YouT' said Mrs. IIugOnin. turning
with delightful laugh, why. Ar
viction to whose support society could
order you to contribute.
IF you mean that" he said slowly,
1T is quite as feared"
"As you fearcdT'
"YOu still believe me capable of as
much mistaken self control as l once
was. And" he added calmly, 81 don't
wonder"
Though there was no bitterness ap-
parent in his tone Mrs. Hugonin was
startled. Really, this is unlike you,
Arthur" she said gravely, but yet with
sense of amusement. You petulant
with your past: You provoked with
your rccollections? Indeed. l have
mistaken YOU"
lie laughed, but gently. Come he
said. you have no right to be ironical.
Though | once let you go, it was be-
cause thought you wished to be re-
leased"
Upon my word, Arthur" said Mrs.
Hugonin. Il did not know you were
serious or | should not have taken this
as a joke"
Il am entirely serious"
"Rcally?" said Mrs. Iugonin, and
she spoke with some irritation. Il
thought all had been forgotten and for
given years ago" Then she drew her
self up proudly. Can it be that after
all this time you have conceived the
childish whim of forcing me to a-tO
an Apology"
"No-harily that"
II am ready to make it," she went
On. But if | do
Kinnaird moved to the window be-
tide her ard laid a hand on her arm.
You are much mistaken" he said, in
the undisturbed voice which so pro-
vOked her. You must indeed think
that | am taking leave of my years. l
never had much vanity. think, but
what had when was younger | new
er made a pet of. Look over there at
the rocks, and what do you see?'
"Rocks - and moonlight. But. Ar
thur
"The rocks make me recOllect," he
went on. unheeding. that one day
when you were about seventeen you
and I-climbed Lone msuntain together.