The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-02-26


mates. thought he would be minister
TO England in a few years. and the or
chestra on the casino porch was play
ing The Conquering Hero Comes in
his bouDr and at the behest of Tom
Meredith. he knew.
There wers other pretty ladies be-
sides Mrs. Van Sluyt in the launch
load from the yacht, but as they touch
ed the pier. pretty girls pr pretty wom-
en- or jovial gentlemen. all were over
looked in the wild scramble the college
men made for their hero. They halcd
him forth. set him on high. bore him on
their shoulders. shouting "Skal TO the
Viking" and carried him up the wood
cd bluff TO the casino. He heard Mrs.
Van Skuyt say: "Oh. were used to it.
We've put in at several other places
where he had friends.' lie remember
ed the wild progress they made for
him up the slope that morning ut Win
ter Harbor-how the people looked ON
and laughed and clapped their hands.
But at the veranda edge he had no
ticed little form disappearing around
a corner of the building. young cir!
running away as fast as she could
"See there" he said as the tribe set
him down; you have frightened the
populace." And Tom Meredith had
stopped shouting long enough to an
swer: Its my little cousin. overcome
with emotion. She's been counting
the hours till you came-been hearing
about you for good while. She hasn't
been able TO talk or think of anything
else. She's only fifteen. and the crucial
moment Is too much for her. The great
Harkless has arrived. and she has fed"
But the present hour grew on him
as he leaned on the pasture bars. II
had been reminiscent day with him.
but suddenly his memories sped. and
the voice that was singing Schubert's
"Serenade" across the way touched
him with the urgent personal appeal
that a present beauty had always held
for him. Ii was Il soprano and without
tremolo. yet came TO his ear with a
certain tremulous sweetness. Ii was
soft and slender. but the listener knew
1t could be lifted with fullness and
power IL the singer would. II spoke
only of the song. yet the listener
thought of the singer. Under the
moon thoughts run into dreams. and
he dreamed that the owner OF the
voice. she who quoted The walrus
and the Carpenter on Fisbee's notes.
was one TO laugh with you and weep
with you. yet her laughter would be
tempered with sorrow and her tears
with laughter.
When the song was ended he struck
the rail he leaned upon sharp blow
with his open hand. There swept over
him feeling that he had stood precise
ly where he stood now on such q night
thousand years ago; had heard that
voice aud that song ana been moved 10y
the voice and the song and the night
just as he was moved now lie had
long known himself for sentimental
list. He had almost given up trying to
cure himself. And he knew himself
for a born lover He had always been
in love with some one. In his earlier
youth his affections bad been 80 con
stantly inconstant that he finally came
to settle with his self respect by rec
ognizing in himself fine constancy
that worshiped one woman always. II
was only the shifting image of her that
| changed. Somewhere Ohe dreamed
whimsically indulgent of the fancy
yet mocking himself for iu there was 4
| girl whom he had never seen who wait
ed till he should come. She was every
| thing Until he found her he could moi
help adoring others who possessed lit
tie pieces and suggestions of her-hel
brilliancy. her courage. her short uppel
| lip. like a curled rose leaf" or hel
dear voice or her pure profile. He haC
no recollection of any lady who haC
quite her eyes. He had never passeC
lovely stranger on the street in th'
old days without thrill of delight anC
| warmth. IL he never saw her agaiI
and the vision had only lasted for th,
time it takes n lady to cross the side
walk from n shop door TO a carriag'
he was always little in love with he
because she bore about her somewhere
as did every pretty girl he ever saw
Il suggestion of the PARKWAY divinity
One does not pass lovely strangers il
the streets of Plattville. Miss Brisco
was pretty. but not at all in the wa,
that uarkless dreamed. For five year
the lover in him that had loved so of
ten had been starved Of all but dreams
Only ut twilight and dusk in the sun
mer. when sirolling he caught sight o
woman's skirt far up the villag
street. half outlined in the darknes
under the cathedral arch of mectin
branches. this romaucer OF petticoat
could sigh true lovers sigh and.
he kept enough distance between. fly
ycarning fancy that his lady wandere
there.
Ever since his university days tn
image of her had been growing NOR
and more distinct. He had completed
settled his mind rs 10 her appearanc
and her voice. She was tall. almost TO
tall. he was sure OF that: and out o
his consciousness there had grown
sweet and vivacious young face that
knew was hers. Her hair was Iigh
brown. with gold lustcrs Che reveled i
the gold luStcrs on the proper theOr
that when your fancy is painting
picture you may rs well go In for III
whole thing and make il sumptuous
and her eyes were gray. They wer
very earnest and yet they sparkled an
laughed To- him companionably an
sometimes he smiled back upon hel
The Undine danced before him throug
the lonely years. on fair nights in hi
walks and came to sit by his fire o
winter evenings when he stared alon
at the embcrs.
And tonight, here IN Plnttville.
. heard voice he had waited for Ion;
one that his ficlile memory told him L
had never heard before. But. listenin:
he knew better--he had heard 1t Ion