Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-19
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Summer Couple.
IOriginal.]

the man at least seemed to be as ready
as n boy Of twenty. Besides, the mo-
ment he laid eyes on the girl he was
drawn to her by some uneXplainable
attraction. Was it that he had met his
affinity-that she, too, showed some
thing like recognition of a mate? He
was fond of the mythical and Il strong
believer in pre-eXistence. Might they
not have met in some other form, some
other world?
There were walks through valleys
and over the sides of precipitOus noun
tains There were rides on roads hard
and white, with occasional views Of the
broad valley of noble river 1000 or
5000 feet below. There were picnics at
cascades. boat rides on mountain lakes
In these amusements the two sooner or
later drifted together, and when few
weeks had passed the man acted as II
all time not passed in her company
was so much time lost. Then he awOke
to sudden realization of the fact that
in few days it would be the 31st of
August. when the season would be
over and the guests scattered.
1t was the evening before their sepa-
ration. They were sitting on the piazza
of the hotel \ moon slightly past the full
rose in the east and lighted up Il stretch
of valley land far below, visible through
a gap in the mountains. Moonlight is
becoming to n woman'S features, and
natural strength in hers was softened
into a delicious feminine repose. He
was fond OF the mythical poetry of the
Germans, and, listening as he did TO the
tumbling of water in mountain stream
near by, he almost fancied his compan-
ion a LOrelei or a water fay. He was
full of poetic fervor, and his expression
took form in poetic words.
do you know" he said, that look
ing down on that panorama of mingled
mist and confusion of dimly lighted I'M
duiation there is in me q vague sense
of some far distant land in which
have lived?"
Il don't even remember she said,
when l was baby
This was Il bit practical, but he did
not notice it.
1--WE look out into the heavens" he
went on, land in nebul;r see universeS
forming. We know that nothing is de-
stroyed. Matter forms, disintegrates.
forms again and again disintegrates
This is what we call birth and death.
The particles of which the forms are
composed were never born, never die.
They existed always and will always
exist
Are not we FORMS" she asked, "of
more consequence than unfeeling mat
ter?''
1--WE are, and if there is one attribute
within us that is immortal it is love.
Love is eternal. There are loves. ad
NIT, that are fieeting, but they are not
real loves"
Not the real thing. you mean?"
He looked at her suspiciously. Was
she not capable of following him. or
was this touch of sarcasm? She look
ed so innocent that he passed the re
mark.
Somehow" he went on, "when first
saw you it seemed that we two had
met in previous existence; not only
had met, but loved. If l could be
blessed with an eternal love- l said to
myself. Il would choose it with her
Since then the days have fitted hap
PLY by. and every day has strengthened,
this feeling. Now, when l look down
on that moonlit plain. with its gilded
river thread running through its cen
ter, it brings to me with an indescriba-
BILE vaGueneSs, yet vividness, some
where in which you and l have met
and loved. l choose to think it a love
that has had no birth and will have no
death. a perpetual mingling of two
souls"
He paused. He was very happy, for
he was in his element. His disposition
was artistic, and his surroundings were
artistic There were the towering
peaks. the distant plain, and there be
side him was the girl, her features
bathed in moonlight.
Il know it is foolish to ask such
question:" lie said, ''but have you any
glmmerings of such a past?"
Yes she whispered. 1--WE have met
before"
"At last have found one besides my
self to remember a pre-existence.
shall never again doubt my theory"
"Our meeting" she continued, was
not in some vague land myriads of
years ago and myriads of miles away;
our love was not developed in nebu-
lous cloud. 1t was at the seashOre ten
years ago. You have grown older and
have absorbed theories since then. but
you talk of love in the same strain you
talked of it then. 1t was not nebulous
love YOU told me of as we listened to
the breakers. but love in a cottage. l
was eighteen. and it was pleasant to
listen TO. | was summer girl and did
rot cherish it. But have remembered
you. which is more than you have done
in forgetting me-"
What the blue eyed f1irt of Edge
mere?'
Yes. and we girls called you the love
maker of the Cliff House."
'"The summer is ended" she added,
and this is my last as a summer girl.
Next season ! shall be on the eve of