Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-05-31
a STUDY In BLUES.

enhauer. NiIl yoa, just TO please me, try
to take a little more interest in life and
things in g~eneraly 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 !
have been depressing to you, = be said. As
a matter OF fact. ] WIS sort Of musing aloud
and hardly realized your presence"
Il am not sure whether / take thai as a
compliment
Its a compliment, for there is nothing
! like better than a quiet companion, who |
feel is sharing my thoughts"
Sharing, but not agreeing with themy"
Anybody with common sense does agree
with them"
Then, thank God, ! haven't got com.
mon sense! | should not like to think as
you do"
Women never know what they dothink,"
he said.
"In other words. we are imbecile. Thank
you! What a 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
Wdihs Win me, ne said.
And / often wonder you ask me" she
replied. But I've come for two reasons.
First, because | want to solve the enigma of
your personality, and, secondly, because |
should like to let in a 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 so y she asked.
tNa II 1.i,a c,sa, ~ lt,ht. ha.4 TAx.r &onn
with me better. I'm selfish, you know, like
other men"
"You certainly ares study in somber tints,
which, to be accurate, | should call the
blues Have you had a bad love affair,
may | askT
Love affair! Good gracious, no. / don't
60 in for love affairs"
"Then the sooner you do the better,"
"Why?"s
Because you will then look at life, if
only for a short time, through colored
glasses, and it would completely alter you
for the better"
II 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?"
There is no such thing in the world"
Poor, blind mole!" she exclaimed. I'm
truly sorry for you. You have started on a
perilous journey, and are making for a des-
t~ination against which your whole nature
rebels. Turn round, my friend, turn round
face the sun, and walk home"
mo one can show me any sun or any
home," he said. CAS- You say, | am a blind
mole, and / can't see, either"
"You make yourself blind, and you won't
take an outstretched hand"
at is not fair to say l won't listen, as l
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. I'm 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:
Are you engaged, them
"My affections are" she replied, laugh
ing.
II suppose | mustn't ask the name Of the
man?'
"It isn't a man, it's myself" she said.
"In love with YOURSELF"
They sat on the top Of q low mound and
faced the setting sun.
let me ask you again why you come and
fetch me for walks"
"Because-well-becaus as a 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 | love you? OF
course, platonically speaking, without pas
sion"
"Both," he answered.
"Well, then, please understand you are
laboring under a great mistake do not
love you at all-that is to say. / have no
communion Of soul with you, because, as !
said before, you are too dusty. 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 a few flowers"
He gathered some gorse and handed It to
ner. She took it, and looked at il for some
time Intently and in silence. then said:
wherever you see gorse in future. you are
to think Of me, and to love it, because ! love
it. That will establish one little comnfun-
ion of soul, anyhow. The present feeling
ehat YOU nave ior me u not sympathy or
platonic love; it is a selfish desire for a
waste butt for your morhidity,"
i believe in a way you are right
II know ! am" she answered, "and now
| wan all that altered betvne en- us. / want
as much sympathy for my sunshine as |
give you for your blues. / want a little
corner in your life where I may reign SUI
preme, where no thought Of yourself enters.
A corner that you study to make comfort
able for me-where | can come without fear
of finding you"
Am | as horribly selfish as you paint
me! You have never asked for my sym
pathy in any way--yon nave no need OF IL,