Free press., 1908-02-01
Romance as Il Is Writ.


Stars studded the canopy and the
moon. shedding soft and subtle sill
yer. sent shafts OF light to CLINT upon
the bosom of the Cedar. Two young
lovers, Algernon Edward Knotington
and Constance Clementine Atherton,
wandered near the village upon the
river shore.
They paused beneath the grandeur
OF the stars Then in voice impas-
stoned, yet low and gentle In its earn
estness, the lover-youth spoke his az
lection. The maiden, trembling,
listened to the burning words that
filled her heart with yearning, but her
tongue spoke not. She was stilled by
a strange fear that Knocked her happi-
ness.
What! Are you afraid. frightened
like a timid child?" the lover cried,
wrapping his arm around her automo-
bile coat.
No! No." she cried in startled
tones Not thati Not that. but to-
morrow we separate, cur lives diverge,
our paths lie wide apart for months
and who shall say"
With kisses he smothered the words
that fell and murmured softly: Fear
not, Constance-dear. dear Constance!
The world is wide. but | shall ne'er
forget thee! All, the ripple of that
voice! the liquid purity of those
great brown eyes! the nectar Of those
lips! the raven black Of this dark
hair! the thousand perfumes Of thy
presence! All these 1 could ne'er for
get, sweetheart Never! Never"
The telltale flush leaped to the girls
cheek. and she buried her face in his
ulster as he continued:
mo. Constance; our hearts are beat
ing in a rhythmic alchemy of love
which neither time nor absence can
efface. Here, Constance, is the rib
bon we found yesterday. See, ] have
cut the silk in twain and on the ends
have scratched words our hearts can
understand. You keep that end and
will cherish this, and when We meet
again it will be to join the two for
ever"
And If either learns to love an.
other, then he or she is to send the
ribbon to the one who yet loves, that
each may know" said the girl. sadly.
ling? Not yet shall the flowers fade in
autumn, the winter come and go and
the apple blossoms hang beautiful like
this" pointing in the moonlight. than
i, my sweet, my own, shall come to
wed my flower, my nightingale, my
love-" clasping her in his arms and
pressing her warm face to his.
You will be far away and eyes more
beautiful, lips more voluptuous, faces
more fair will teach you to forget me.
shall not hope too much my dear
one," cried the girl-woman weeping.
STOPPING, he tenderly turned her
wet face TO his, and gazing eagerly
into her sad eyes, into the face that
spoke OF constancy and love, he cried
passionately:
hope! Hope ever! Believe! Believe
ever! for will not forget thee!"
Looking trustingly into his eyes
through her tears. she whispered: II
will hope-and believe"
Long they stood thus, wrapped In
their affection. while the stars
glistened on the water, the zephyrs
blew softly and the wild apple blooms
shed perfume and petals at their feet!
A year had passed and q woman
stood alone upon the bank. The moon
hid his face and the waters lay a dark
and pulseless mass before her Her
white face she turned upward In
agony and clasped her thin hands In
prayer.
The breezes soughed through the ap
pie trees. and the blossoms fell un-
needed at her feet With a loud moan
Of anguish her body swayed, then
Imply down she sank into the fallen
petals sobbing:
What shall 1 do? What shall 4
do? Algernon Edward Knotington re-
turns tomorrow to knot the ribbons,
and-and-I cannot stop-him-even
for Harry's sake!" tSob. sob, sob)-
"be-be-cause that pesky pug dog of
mine-has eaten my END of the rib
bon! Oh! oh! Oh! ~
Life is not all sunshine and apple
blossoms.