Middletown transcript., 1906-01-06


Re his faitIlfnl horses.
I'D Wien he demonstrated, as he some
times did, she gave him back q tart an
swer, and began to pack her things"
preparatory to removal, but she never
removed.
May Louis father died while she was in
Europe, and her mother survived him
only three months. Tie farm, and per-
sonal property were sold at auction, and
Robert purchased May LOUIS instrument,
and had 1t placed in the great hare front
room of his house, where the peacocks'
feathers nodded over the narrow looking
glass, and the red berries Of the featliery
asparagus cleaned brightly behind the
ancient fire dogs.
The tall chest OF drawers, and the
cofin-shaped' clock were discreet and
silent witnesses Of Roberts futile attempts
to tpick out' the tunes lie had heard
May Lou play.
On Sunday evenings, when Mrs. Trull
was at prayer meeting, Robert worked
diligently, and at last managed to master
"Greenvllle," and the passers-by paused
to listen to the uncertain and labored
PUNK, PUNK of his clumsy fingers thump-
ing out the lugubrious old tune.
Five years had elapsed since May Lou
went away, and now the papers heralded
~ return to her native country. She
I'D taken Europe by storm. She had
been courted by princes and dukes-she
was on the eve of marriage with a titled
German, g the press notices affirmed.
Robert ad the accounts. and for the
first time since his separation from her,
q strange and Overwhelming desire seized
him to go and hear her sing. She was
as far removed from him as the heavens
are from the earth, but lie wanted to look
at her, and judge il fame and fortune had
crushed out the truth and purity Of her
soul. -
He purchased a new suit Of faslionably
made clothes-he invested in regulation
white tie, and squeezed Ills honest, plow
jogging feet into pair OF stylish boots.
He went to the city, aud at the box
Office OF the theatre where May Lou was
to appear, he purchased seat In the front
row, close up TO the footIights.
The fashionable audience looked won-
deringly at the grave-facednan who sat SO
quiet through the three acts OF the pop
uIar opera,-who never took his sombre
eyes from the stage-who never joined in
the tumultuous applause, aud who, at
the close Of the performance, took his
hat and went away, with his eyes fixed
straight before him, like one who is walk
ing in his sleep.
That radiant vision Of white and gold,
Of starry eyes-of crimson lips, from
which foated forth breath OF song pure
and clear, and spontaneous as the note
Of biri-that was never May Lou-May
Lou, whose white hands he had held
close in his-whose brow he had kissed
WHOSO bOAih1 S0AAClI ilCdu lIG Ibdu OuC6
hoped would nestle in his hesSal until
they both should grow old, and be per-
mit!ed to go quietly fortl, into the life
which takes hold on eternity.
Could it be that he had ever hello in
his horny hands those slim fingers which
now bIazed with diamonds? Could it be
that he had touched his lips to that snowy
forehead on which crown would sit SO
regally7 Could it be that he-plain,
common sense Robert Holbrook-had
ever been insane enough to think that
this replendent queen Of fashion and
song, would be content to sit at his hum
BILE. freside-would cook bis frugal din
ners-iron his coarse flannel shirts-and
sew patches on his blue jeans? What
fool he had been in those far away
days, and what besotted fool she must
have thought him
And, tonight, she lad not even seen
him. She had sung TO the stars-and
the stars were thousands OF leagues above
his lead.
He went back to his plowing, for it was
the spring, and if the great patient horses,
plodding along in the moist burrows, heard
anght Of the sad refrain Msich thrilled in
his broken voice, they dropped their do
-cile heads lower, and stiffened their sim
eWy shoulders beneath the heavy pres
aurn al the collar.
Another year went by, and Robert HoI-
brook received letter from his Uncle
George, who was located up in the Klon-
dixie, offering him partnership in a
mine which was yielding wealth in fab
ulous abundance.
Robert was heart sick Of Beech Mar.
rows, and the desolate life he led. He
shrank from going on to old age and death
in this iifeless and soulless way. He
wrote to his uncle at once, and closed
with the offer.
He sold oat his household goods at
misunderstanding only May Lou's in
strument. That would 60 with him
wherever I've went.
Robert Holbrook's got a streak Of in
sanity i'd him. said Mrs. Norris, as she
discussed the matter With Mrs. Lane after |
the auction, s'the lies Of toting that 'er
peapny clean acFost to The Pacific ocean.
and my nieus Sarah Jaue Briggs. had
sot her heart On bidding i of shonId
have thought he'd liked 10 kept his
poor mothers beet clliny set. thongl. old