The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-22

dream. He had been carried on for the
last hour in n whirlwind OF emotion, and
now he had met an obstacle against
which II seemed that nothing could be
done. If he had planned his avowal. he
might have been prepared for rejection;
but he had been hurried into 1t with
no thought of what the result would be-
and he was equally unpro"ided for either
Issue. In face of the unwavering voice
and bearing OF Alice. who seemed ten
times more beautiful than ever as she
stood before him rs steady and unre-
sponsivc as a young Fate, his hot speech
sacemed suddenly smitten powercss. He
crly said:
1t shall be as you wish. II ever
offend you again. Will take my punish
ment upon myself and get out Of your
way
She did not dare to say another word,
for fear It would be too kind. She gave
him her hand; It was soft and warm
ns he pressed IT. and II lie had only
Known how much softer and warmer
her heart was, he would have covered
her hand with thousand kisses But
pc bowed and took his leave. and she
Stood by the lattice and saw hin, 20
away. with eyes full OF tears and ! ,
breast filed with the tcndercst ruth and
pity-for him and for herself. -
~ r. u .-r "
sa THE SANTA RITA SHERRY
Farnham walked down the mt h r. ftba
safe, then turned to 90 to his own house
Win no very definite idea OF what az
rcctlon he was taking The Interview
4 no had Just had was still powerfully ar-
1ect1ng his senses He was conscious Of
40. depression from the prompt and de-
cdcd refusal lie had received. He was
IKE soldier in his first battle who has
got sharp wound which does not i'm
mediately cripple him. the perception OF
which Is lost in the enjoyment Of a new.
Keen, and cnthralling experience. He
thoughts were full OF his own avowal OF
the beauty OF his young mistress, rather
than OF her coldness Seeing his riding
whip In his hand. he stared ut 1t an
instant, and then at his boots. with a
sudden recollection that he had intended
to ride. He walked rapidly to the stable,
where his horse was still waiting, and
rode at brisk trot out OF the avenue
:or few blocks, and then struck of
into q sandy path that led to the woods
BY the river side.
6 AS he rode, his thoughts were at first
more OF himself than Of Alice. He ex-
ultcd over the discovery that he was in
love as II some great and unlmagined
good fortune had happened to him. II
am not past It. them" he said to him
self. repeating the phrase which had
llcaped from his heart when he saw Alice
descending the stairs. II hardly thought
that such thing could ever happen to
me. She Is the only one" His thoughts
ran back to night In Heidelberg, when
q he sat in the shadow Of the castle wall
NTH German student OF his acquaint-
ance, and looked far over the valley at
the lights Of the town and the ripping
waves Of the Neckar, silyered by the
soft radiance OF the summer moon.
Poor Hammerstcin How he raved
that night about little Bertha yon Ecl-
$ho!z He called her Die Einzige some
thing like thousand times. 1t seemed
an absurd thing to say; I know dozens
Just like her, with blue eyes and Gretct-
GU braids. But Hammerstein meant 1t.
for he shot himself the week after her
wedding with the assessor, But mine is
the Only Onc-though she Is not mine.
would rather love- her without hope
than be loved by any other woman In the
world"
Afew days before he had been made
Eappy by percelvng that she was no
longer n child: now he took infinite
pleasure In the thought Of her youth; he
filed his mind and his senses with the
image Of her freshness. her clear, pure
color, tho outline of her face and FORM.
'she Is young and fragrant as spring.;
she has every bloom and charm Of body
and SOUL" he said to himself, as he gall
Hoped over the shady woodland road. In
his exalted mood, he had almost for
gotten how he had left her presence. lie
delighted in. his own reused and Wnken-
ed passion, as a devoted In his devotions.
without considering what wns to come
OF 1t all, Tho blood was surging through
his veins, He was too strons,. his
love vas too new and wonderful
to him, to leave any chance
for despair. 1t Was not that he did not
consider himself dismissed, lie felt tina
no had played great stake foolishly,
and lost, But the love was there, and ~
warmed, and cheered his heart like
are in " great hall making even the
gloom noble.
IIe was threading q hrldle-path which
led UP q gentle ascent to hill oyerlookT
ing tho river, when his horse suddenly
started back with u snort Of terror IS
two men emerged from the thlcket and
grasped at his REIN He raised his whip
to strike one Of them down. the man
lodged, ana his companion said, None
"a that, or I'll shoot your horse. Tho
sun had set, hut 1t was yet light and he
saw that the fellow had q cooked revolver
In his hand.