The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-04-08

1t needed no more than a pull upon the
chain to send the fire down into the
rift
Behind the rearward bowlder the
ledge rose ten feet, rounded like the
inside of a cup, and from its summit
there was gentle slope to meet the
descending grade of the orchard. AT
the little cliffs foot was a singular
conformation of the rocks where one
might recline in great comfort, and
upon taking my place there | discov-
cred that it was possible to look out
upon the lake without being greatly
dazzled by the fire and still be almost
entirely shielded from observation.
This intrusion was a most agreeable
sin, thing to enjoy in the doing and
be pleasantly ashamed of afterward. /
| lay some minutes in this nook of the
rocks, curious to reconstruct our little
romance as the girl had seen it. | saw
how the freight was screened by the
rocks SO that l had not been able to
discern it until l had drifted into the
proper field. In the same way my boat
must have appeared suddenly to one
sitting there. l was fattered by the
| idea that she had watched for it.
In the midst Of this thought | expe-
rienced a sensation familiar to every
one, but almost beyond rational ex-
| planation-the consciousness of being
observed. / neither saw nor heard my
| own senses gave no tidings-the five
with which we are ordinarily credited.
/ With what faculty we apprehend an
other persons observation of US | have
never been able to guess. 1t happens,
| however. 1t happened then.
| I glanced upward. The curving lip
of the ledge made Il clear gray line up
on the sky. There was a singular illu
sion of height; the rock lowered above
me as l lay almost prone. Then sud
denly / was aware of something hut-
tering downward. 1t startled me be-
cause it seemed 70 be falling all the
way from the sky. / thrust up my
| hand and caught a rose, also very
large and competent thorn, but that is
a matter Of no consequence.
In an instant l was upon my feet,
posed like the lady martyr in the ia
miliar picture of THE Last Token
looking, as she did, for my love who
had flung the rose. / forget what luck
she had in this matter, according to
the legend. AS for me, / had none.
Even when l had scaled the rock | saw
not so much as the hutter of a skirt
among the shadows of the orchard.
One thing, however, | saw clearly
enough in the light of the moon. The
rose was one of those that / had gath
cred on Copperhead hill.
1t may have been nearly IL o'clock
when l got back to the house. There
was a man sitting alone on the door
steps of my segment of the structure,
and when he lifted his face to the moon
] recognized Scovel.
Been out on the lake, l suppose"
said he. "Anot-4er serenade, eh?"
Then he began to laugh, softly, nerv-
ously. as If he didn't mean to do it. A
half consumed cigar fell from his fin
gers, and he put his foot upon it.
Come inside" said 1, and get a
fresh one" ---4-------- --t------
THANK you." he replied, 1--WE smok-
ed enough
Yet he arose with alacrity and fol-
lowed me into my room.
Perhaps you smoke when you're
nervous. as 1 do" said l. For in
stance, if l were wandering over that
hill and had seen two, or three
snakes
1.-Two or threer' he echoed, throwing |
up his hands.
$50 you were there? [ was sure Of
it. And l know why you went
His countenance expressed increduli-
ty, but something that he saw in mine
seemed to convince him.
Well" said he, with a faint note of |
defiance what do you think of it,"
II TO rifvIf I
replied.
Nov, look here" said he, ''how long |
was to go on in that way? How long
was / to permit myself to be COM
plete idiot about girl without know
ing whether she was black or white?"
did you see herr asked.
He arose from his chair and tried an
other, arising again to walk to the
mantelpiece for a match though there
were plenty on the table beside him in
plain view. He struck the match aud
then forgot to light the cigar that had I
given him.
eve enjoyed this foolishness.'' he
said. That's the main ting, after all.
The emotions were given US for self
deception. We were to use them wise
ly to gloss over this world, for the plain I
sight of it would drive us away. 1t is
love that makes woman beautiful; love
in us, you know. 1t isn't really neces-
sary to see them"
''In that case" said I, "why did you
go out on the hill with those fieldglass-
es? Your philosophy must have chang
ed since morning"
Not my philosophy" he rejoined,
"but there's limit"
l began to grow cold.