The Van Buren press., 1903-06-27

sing? | asked"
And l answered" said the youth,
"even SO, dearest. II has welded our
hearts so closely that neither time
nor eternity can sever them"
How well ! recall the sweet sur
prise / felt at your words!" ex-
claimed his companion, looking fond
ly in his face. And that just then
swift, straight shape with baleful
eyes fed down the path and ! shiv-
cred, as if a cold wind had struck
me-"
a premonition Of the chill to
come. That night when you were
proclaimed Queen of Beauty, your
contestant, Alethea, bore the chap
let of queen leaves and white ber-
ries, praying you to wear it when
you slept, as a talisman, that the
gift of beauty might never fade"
"And did l wear it? / seem not
to remember"
ALAS. yes; and the next morning
was found with closed eyes and stiff
ened limbs, while the palace was
filled with subdued voices and hurry
ing footsteps. Some venomOus in
sect, some subtle. unknown sub
stance in the food the court ply
sician said, and !, alone, guessed, but
could not prove. that Alethea had in
jected an insidous poison in each
waXen berry"
"And them
with breaking heart I prostrated
myself before Venus, who, ever in
dulgent to lovers, decreed thus:
Carve her similitude, oh sculptor,
with such genius that it shall have
all but the glow Of life. After death
your statue also shall be chiseled,
and twice in a century touched by
the rays of the moon at the full you
shall both live and love-
Then | wrought what people
called the wonderful statue Of
Stephana and laid my life at its feet,
Together we, insensate marbles,
were placed in the great hall of the
palace, but where no ray of moon
light reached our carved shapes, and
half and whole centuries passed with
our divine gift wasted. Then, slow.
ly hut surely, the ages laid Paphos
in ruins; we were cold and impassive
beneath the sands, until the discov-
erer found us and brought us over
as-here-where the vivifying rays
of the moon touch us, and where
twice in a century, we shall-lye-
and-love."
The last words died away in
whisper. The figures glided with
rhythmic grace past where Cleopatra
reclined and proud Semiramis sat in
white silence, and on and on, until
they were lost in the purple shad.
ows.
The professor hurried from the
museum. That night there was a
banquet TO be given in his honor He
feared the hour had gone by, and
was amazed to find that il was still
early. but was in a dazed, contem-
plative state from which even the
clamor OF the street railway failed
to arouse him, and before he handed
his ticket 70 the conductor he looked
at it with careful scrutiny, saying,
absentlv Incredible, incredible that
il should last so long
He dressed in the same preoccu.
pied mood and was still preoccupied
at the banquet. as it not strange?"
he asked, in the course Of his re-
sponse TO the toast Buried Treas.
ures,' that love should last 1000
ycars?" Then he drew hnndker-
chief from his pocket and with it a
card Of invitation.
lie wiped his glasses TO examine it.
II was as II he cleared the dust OF
ages from them, for he saw immedi-
ately a vision Of Pamela, seductive,
winning, lissome, with soft dark hair,
glowing cheeks and eyes that kindled
when he talked Of the hgurines, She
was in perfect sympathy with him,
and he had never before appreciated
their oneness, The reception was
that night; he would bc sure 10 find
her there, and was impatient to-
leave the banquet
lie went straight 70 the tan, bril-.
liant girl who was the center OF the
social scene, taking both of her
hands in firm grasp, with an al
most overwhelming impulse 20 kiss
her as the youth did the maiden,
Fortunately the balcony was not far
away, and the moonlight an ostcnsi.
blc excuse.
Love is divine" said he as they
stood looking at the beauty of the
night
"Thcy say It is," Pamela shyly as.
serted
at is beautiful, absorbing pas
sion"
ayes" sighed Pamela.
at is worth Offering for I have
had positive proof that II is per.
moncut emotion, win you accept Il
from mc2'
"Ncf," softly murmured Pamela,
nynimg herself ~ the profrercd
shelter Of the professors encircling
arms,
Edison Optimistic,
"The commercial utility Of wireless