Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1903-02-21

such restraints.
"It's out now, y he murmured whats
the use Of trying to conceal it or evade
1t? Every look, every word. every
movement Of mine, must have betrayed
me. I didn't say anything to you In
Boston-not in words, that is. You see,
I was afraid, for one thing, and for
another did not want to take advan-
tage Of you. 1 was the only friend
you had-the only man-and I had
known you from a child. I was a
southerner, and land we," he went
on softly, eve love the south Had
been born in New England should
have loved the south, since it is your
land. And You were SO young. You
might have said yes then"
In spite OF herself the girl listening
in dreamy abandon to his passionate
pleading, nodded her head softly.
''Oh!" cried Peyton, conscious OF her
slightest motion. Would you have
said 'yes?"
"I might" she whispered, "then"-
"And now?" he Questioned eagerly.
"Oh, now-it is different now. Don't
ask me, Boyd
st must! Is 1t because there is some
one else?"
"No, there is no one. You see, the
little southern bird that was so lone
some up north is out Of the cage now
and she loves-everybody." She spread
her hands abroad with delicious ges-
ture. There isn't any one In particu-
lar, but all-you, as we'll as the rest.
like you, oh. very much, and il you
are awfully in love with me, as you
say you are, / am very sorry for you
am sorry for them ALL
"All?' he queried jealousy What
do you mean by that?"
"Why, mean all the men who are in
love with me and that I am not in
love with They all talk just as you
do, Boyd"
"Don't!" he protested vehemently. 81
cannot believe that the ephemeral at
lection of the men you meet can be
likened to my feeling. l tell you he
continued, almost fercely, "you do not
dream how love you. We sailors are
lonely folk. Do you know, do you
realize, that winter in Boston was the
only one ever spent in the society OF
a girl, woman? Are you woman,
I wonder?"
"Am I a woman, tndeedw Indignantly
and with surprise.
"Yes, l know; In years, perhaps, but
at heart only child"
"a child, sir! Well, perhaps! And
IL you knew other women maybe you
wouldn't care so much for me-
1T would not make any difference;
I'd care for no one else. You are all.
All, when 1 sailed away last spring
and left you took with me such a
memory Of you as'completely possessed
me. I did my duties, Of course; / had
been so trained. That's part Of life,
to do ones duty. / lived on the ship.
mingled with the others. My body
was on the African coast, but my soul
was where you were. I was absent
minded, distract. My shipmates rallied
me upon 1t. It was your fault. I was
thinking Of you, dreaming OF you.
1.-THE breeze of summer we've songs
about your name through the rigging"
he continued, In that low voice with it's
passionate cadence. when the moon
light beat upon the low lying sands OF
the troptc shore the mist wreathed it
self into figures whose airy grace sug-
gested you to me- Not wave that
caressed the keel OF the ship that did
not ripple with the music Of your
laughter / could shut my eyes and
hear it even now"
He suited the action to the word and
leaned his head against the tree trunk
and was silent for little space.
st welcomed the night watches" he
said at last '"They were never lonely
Of you, you, only you, with nothing to
disturb or distract me. Yes, yes, am
a dreamer, as you have said, but did
not create an ideal-I found it in you.
Beloved, you know not what this has
meant to me. You do not know what
1t means now. said you were child,
and you are. But some day you will
be woman, and then you will under
stand. Perhaps it is not altogether
you now that / love, that | Worship
but what see in you, what you shall
be-"
She listened, drinking in every word
nave made you the object or my
ambition, the end and aim OF my life
Every hope that / cherish centers in
you. Every desire that / entertain has
you for Its realization. / long to do
something for you, to have some task
set me, some great achievement placed
before me, that may show you what
love means. I ask nothing now I am
content to stand here below you and
look UP at you, to kiss the hem Of your
garment"
Again he suited the action to the
word, with reverence which touched
her soul.
ITO be near you is enough now, but
some day must have more I must
have all. Until that time comes and
you come to me with it I shall wait
no, not patiently, not willingly, but be-
cause must. Do you understand
81 understand" she murmured in an
swer. Speak on. There is music to
my heart in what you say. l am
child. do not know yet what love
means as you know 1t. as you have told
it. But perhaps I shall learn. You
nav ta0ch me- and with u11cI, a ma stor