News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1904-03-16

else who sang. The plan was a little
rough on me, for l might have fallen
in love with her tWice-as Miss Jones'
and as the girl in the orchard-but l
have been so obliging as to refrain,
though | cannot think of that glorious
voice without twinge Of the heart.
Her beauty, which is wonderful, in
credible, moves me far less. But the
voice-well, l shall not be denied the
melancholy pleasure of hearing her
sing when she shall be Mrs. Trask.
perhaps SibyPs original intention
was tc seek seclusion in order to forget
Mr.. Trask. 1t may be his amendment
of the scheme which l am now enjoy
ing-namely, the sight Of two heart
ending farewell. Don't ask me to be
the cause of anything so sad. The fact
is that am in position to sympathize
too fully. If Sibyl came here to for
get, so did |. But it has been my hard
luck to have to do it alone. Mr.. Trask
is helping her, whereas i do not even
know the postotice address Of the per-
son whose image it is my business to
efrace from the tablets of my heart"
And then | tried to tell him about
Miss Lamoine, but the words wouldn't
come. | wished, of course, to tell the
exact truth, and the desire raised this
question, What is the truth in this mat
ter? In the course of a long and hard
struggle with this problem | was sur
prised to find myself whistlng the
Swiss song and wondering how the girl
would sing it, wishing that | might
hear her, forgetting that she was really
Miss Jones, holding her, as | had done
from the first, for a half remembered
personality, distinct enough, if my
mind would only grasp it.
'There is nothing in this" said l
aloud, and then l laughed at myself,
though the expression was really well
chosen, for my state of mind was one
from which no impulse to action could
arise-it was mere confusion.
The matter was serious, and | had
no wish to treat it lightly. 1t might
be that l had begun my letter to my
father in the wrong strain. Yet knew
not how to do better, though surely
there must be a way.
There was a knock. Come in" l
said, and Derringer entered. l turned
toward him and at the same time
struck my hand down hard upon my
desk.
whats the matter?" asked my Wis
itor, startled by the noise.
"The impulse to hit something, and
hit it hard, when one has reached a
decision" said l. sis deep rooted in man
most important decisions which our
early ancestors were called upon to
make"
Il see," said Derringer. at was hit
him or run, with them. You mean those
cave dwelling fellows that didn't dare
even to go into their graves without
some sort of stone warclub in each
hand"
Il admire them for it," l rejoined,
"They were not ashamed of their prin-
ciples. They were willing to begin
hereafter where they quit here, which
is the only honest way"
Derringer slowly nodded his head as
he sat on the corner of table.
And what was your decision| he
said.
ITO ask your advice in difficulty"
said /. you are older than | am, and
you have the chin of man who never
opens his mouth except to eat, drink
or speak judiciously. l wish to do
precisely the right thing in delicate |
matter. l must show that | take a
certain problem seriously, and yet not
too seriously. l am stupid about it all,
and yet l don't want to let my own
father know the fact, though he has
had ample opportunity to find out the
truth in regard to my intelligence"