Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-23

In the tall luted columns of the porch, the
colonies of bats were astr, and soon began
scrambing out by twos and threes; darting hither
and thither through the pines, they were soon
lost in the darkness, seeking their prey
The moon rising from the east its silver beams
sitting through the trees now began to cast IAN
tastic shadows upon the lawn as the boughs were
swayed hither and thther by the light summer
wind. kissing the lovers cheeks, it brought to
them the dew distilled odors of the honeysuckles
of the trees were now all abloom. In the grass
the crickets chirping as merrily, as If they
were scraping their tiny fddles for dance.
Watching the moon mounting higher and higher
and the shadows creeping closer and closer TO
them, husband and wife sat speechless for Margue-
rites heart was filled with unrest, and That
dread uncertainty which enforces silence.
The melancholy hooting of an owl perched in
tree nearby reused them both Placing his arm
about her Wallace, drew her closer to his side.
Her head sunk upon his shoulder, and as he kissed
her cheek he felt upon his lips tears,-ot late
such strangers to her eyes that she had thought
the fountain happily dried up.
Tears, Sweetheart, and for such little thing
as my absence for day."
"Ah-if that were all: Why, why can we not
remain we are in the privacy OF our nome WIN
only such friends as we choose to gather ABOUT
us;-out of the worlds eye-secure OF the nappl-
ness which it can not give?" She spoke slowly,
and brokenly though following her own
thoughts rather than speaking to her husband;
clasping her arms about him as If to hold MIN last
in her embrace.
YOUR brave resolution" he asked, bending lower
his head to look into the troubled eyes raised 10
his. 49,.
"All gone Love has made of me only pitiful
weak coward and l thought 1 strong"
you are strong. Let look our future
squarey in the face, for feel tonight thaI nave
come to a turning point in my life Whlle we
have been sitting here SILENT | too nave Deen
thinking and waging battle with myself. Dearly
as l love you; 10th as | am to break the spell
that draws us so closely together, | know that IN
the nature of things this can not last always l
have asked myself, as you asked just now, why
break the spell? Why? Because dear one am
a man. l cannot be drone. owe duty to YOU
to myself, to my felloWmen and to my state. You
recognized this as the Judge explained the sltua-
ton this afternoon. You pressed my hand in token
of approval - -
moment I scarce realized all that it involved"
"True This is not matter for day, or
month or a year. 1t may be matter of years
and as the stress becomes greater, and the need
for strong and true becomes more urgent
and you see others ascending the ladder OF tame
which 1 too might have essayed, you Will ask
yourself, "Why is mig husband not among themY
''Words-words-empt words with which men
deceive themselves-and others. | seem to near
but the echo of another who once spoke to me OF
the power of name, of ambition, of wealth and
honor of the worship of the multitude. was TOO
young to understand Them l have since thought
that fame perhaps oftener robs one of happiness,
than confers it..
Maybe Sweetheart, you are right should
have spoken only of duty. Many poor felloW
goes down in his countrys service, unhonored and
unsung who is more deserving of praise than he
over whom the marble shaft is raised"
He ceased speaking for suddenly there came
voice from his soul; swift presentment OF
evil which deprived him for the moment OF the
power of speech. Involuntarily he twined his
arms more closely about her as if to ward of
some impending danger There was silence for
few moments between them He could near the
nulsing of her heart as she strove for self con-