The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-04

''Oh, dear" said Miss Sarah. almos
aiord, what a beautiful night II IL.
wh'ch was Miss Sarah's way Of sayin
that the world was very good and sh
was happy. Then she lifted her skirt
a little higher and sped into The hear
OF the rose garden.
Paola was sitting on the lench b!
the Black Prince Miss Sarah saw tina
at once-ald beside her was youn.
Lockwood, as Miss Sarah had ais,
forcseen, and paoh's head was thrown
back, and one OF paoll's Ssim whit,
arms lay lQ>c 4 ShliaArr OF mooallgh
along tie hacS Ct the bench. Positive
" inriilag gh>umatism," murmuret
Miss Sarah miserably.
She was within d few feet of then
and call trembled on her lips, wher
Paola's own voice stopped her.
go on, said Paola In Il soft. hurried
whisper, and Miss Sarah by some queer
Instinct drew back into the shade Of
the great oak behind the bench, fearful
lest an lncautious movement would he
tray her. fearful almost OF her own
breathing, for Miss Sarah was learned
In the ways OF Paola's sultors, and Il
was one of her best learned lessons
never to interrupt them. So she drew
back and waited, innocent OF any de.
sire to eavesdrop.
Go on" said Paola again. and young
Lockwood's voice came out of the deep
er shadow. low and vibrant and rhyth.
mic, Miss Sarah leaned closer instinc-
lively 70 heas the words: they escaped
her at first, then echoed clearer:
Remember how when first We met we
stood.
stung with immortal recollections.
Q fact. immured beside fiery sea
Inat leaned down at dead midnight to be-
kissed,
Thou vast the lovely quest Of Arthur's
knights;
Thy armour glimmered In a gloom Of
green.
Did not sing to thee In Babylon?
Or did We set sail in Carthage bay?
Were thine eyes strange? Did / not know
thy voice?
All ghostly grew the sun. unreal the air
Then when We kissed"
The last word qulvered sentient on
the air. and Miss Sarah trembled with
a strange fear Of Ii. Her fingers found
the rough bark Of the tree and clung;
she waited, hungered. for the rest. but
young Lockwood's voice broke from
the beat of verse into uneven words:
"Paola, my beautiful. II Is our story
1T Is the story OF Paola and Fran.
cesca," said the cir! dreamily.
'Paola and Francesca - Paola and
Francis-what does 1t matter? Were
thine eyes strange? Did I not know
thy voiceT"
Miss Sarah, dlzzied and enwrapt by
she knew not what roseate mist, saw
the white grace OF Paola waver and
lean 10 the shadow and heard few
moments Of magical silence, the whis.
per, tender, exultant:
"And In the book they read no more that
day"
Miss Sarah felt her way back to the
path with unnecessary care. II her
light footsteps had been the crash Of
brasses they would not have reached
the two by the Black Prince, but Miss
Sarah did not know II. She hurried
along between the roses, catching her
breath in little gasps as she went, and
the wraiths of lost years swarmed
around her, singing her to wild, indeG-
mite regret. She passed through the
moonlight and up the steps. through
the open window. and caught up her
neglected knitting With pathetic de-
sire for things tangible and common
place. She openeI the volume of Fe-
licia Hemans at the purple bookmark
but without knowledge Of line.
Il never knew what 1t was likev' she
said pitifully to herself Il wish l had
known" Tie magic Of the moonllt gar
den swept over her again. and the mu-
sic of the lovers verse murmured in
her ears. Miss Sarah trcmbled with q
vague, unhappy longing for the things
that she had raYer known-the things
that were the inheritance Of Paola, her
sister, yet had never been hers.
Beyond the window the garden lay
vast and wonderful beneath the moon.
to her land where life ran in strange
between banks Of enchanted |
blossoms.
Suddenly end without warning tear
slipped down Miss Sarah's cheel. and |
splashed upon the purple bookmark.
Another followed it and yet another;
then Miss Sarah drew herself together |
and shut between the leaves Of Felicia |
Hemans poems Der one belated vision |
Of romance. And In the book they |
read no more that day." she said to |
herself, with a sad little sigh. Then |
she took up her knitting again to wait |
For pao19