The Jersey City news., 1903-02-05


4 Gretchen, sit down and Til tell you
the story Of my life, as they say on the
/ stage | knocked the dead ash from
my pipe and stuffed the bowl with
fresh weed. | lit 1t andsblew d cloud
OF smoke into the air. do you see
that Gretchcn?.
/ Yes, herr sitting down, the space
Of yard between us.
/ 1t Is pretty. very, but see how the
wind carries 1t about AS 1t leaves my
throat it looks like tangible sub
stance. Reach for 1t, and 1t is gone
That cloud OF smoke is my history
1T disappears said Gretchen.
And SO shall at the appointed
time. That cloud Of smoke was for
tune. | reached for it, and there was
nothing but the air in my hand. 1t
was Q WomAn's love. For I'VE years
watched 1t curl and waver. In it I
saw many castles, and the.castles were
fair indeed. strove to grasp this
love; smoke, smoke. Smoke is nothing
! given color. Thus it is with our
dreams. # only we might not wake!v
Gretchen's eyes were following The
! course of the languid river.
"Once there was woman thought
loved, but she would have none OF
It She said that the love gave her
was not complete because she did not
return it She brought forth the sub
1ect OF afiinities and ventured to say
that some day might meet mine. I
scofed inwardly. / have now found
what she said to be true The love
! gave her was the bud. The rose
Gretchen, said / rising, Il love you.
am not hypocrite. cannot parade
my regard for you under the flimsy
guise Of friendship"
Go and give the rose to her to
whom you gave the bud,'' said Gret-
chen. The half smile struck me as
disdainful. You are strange wooer."
Il am an honest one' l began
plucking at the bark of the tree mo.
shall let the rose wither and die on
the stem. shall leave tomorrow,
Gretchen. ! shall feel as Adam did
when he went forth from Eden. What
ever your place in this world is, it is
far above mine. / am, in truth, PEN
niless advcnturer. The gulf between
us cannot be bridged"
"No," said Gretchen, the smile leav-
ing her lips, '-the gulf cannot be
bridged. You are a penniless adven-
turer, and | am q fugitive fron-the
law, the king or what you win. You
are a man. Man forgets. You have
just illustrated the fact. His memory
and his promises are like the smoke
they fade away but soon. | shall be
sorry to have you go, but it is best
so,'
DO you love any one else?"
Il do not. love no one in the sense
you mean. 1t was not written that I
should love any man.
Gretchen, who are you, and what
have you doEeg'
What have / done? Nothing! Who
am /? Nobody
rs that the only answer you can
give"
It is the only answer will give"
There was something in Gretchen's
face which awed me. 1t was power
and resolution, two things man seldom
sees in womans face.
"Supposing, Gretchen, that should
take you in my arms and kiss you?'
was growing reckless because felt
awed, which seems rather a remark
able statement II know you only as
barmaid. Why notY'
She never moved to go away There
was no alarm in her eyes, though they
narrowed.
You would never forgive yourself,
would your
thought for moment. "No, Gret-
chen, should never forgive myself
But know that if ask you to let me
kiss your hand before go you viii
grant so small a favor
There and her hand stretched to-
ward me. "And what will your kiss
nean n
That love you. but also respect
YOU, and that shall go.''
Il am sorry
1t was dismal packing. swore a
good deal softly. Gretchen was not In
the dining room when / came down to
supper. 1t was just as we'll wanted
to be cool and collected when made
my final adieu. After supper lit my
pipe q shall be buried with IT. and
went for Jaunt up the road. There
was a train at 6 the next morning. /
would leave on that. Why hadn't
taken Gretchen in my arms and kissed
t,nx ~