The sun., 1912-06-30

was hIllng tho narrow va llcv
Inc fertile pastures we're now
colorless stretch Of land and tn
eNrGie Of the mountain stream. rleam
ing white IN the deepening shadows
grew more and more audible. Ever,
evening II was wont thus TO rais, il
voice. and in the deep night none but ii
babolinc words were SPOKEN. From tn,
lake. lurking dark and silent beyond tn,
trees. there blew IA cool breath On IN,
hilltops some of the sunset glow wa.
still lingering.
The married couple from Basel wer
returning slowly from their walk, tired
their limbs heavy from the heat of tn,
day aud from the long tramp they hac
taken
Oscar was walking a few steps aheat
OF Dina; he stopped. took of his hat anc
looked at the mountains summit with
the insistcnce of one who is determined
to gather an impression.
Here in the country he had let his beard
grow and his hair was rather long His
shapely head, usually carefully groomed
was by now more like the head Of poet
Oscar was indeed convinced that there
was poet slunbering in him. He had
in his youth published some poetry in
the magazines. and now he was repeat
Ing constantly that he had in his mind
the outline of an important work.
II he could only master enough leisure
time. But there was his position at
the Department of Finances. and then his
social duties, and then he was popular
he was man of the world. man of
sports. and with all that how could he
find time 10 write poems?
Dina had stopped too and was looking
at the mountains.
'Oh, look" she said
That's wha. am DOING he retorted
peevish!y and walked on.
Evening aftcr evening this same little
scene took place. for when the mountain in
tops turned scarlet Dina simply couldn t
help saying
-Oh. look" and this always enraged
Oscar as though it had spoiled the whole
sunset for him
II must certainly have spoiled il for
him. Pima thought. Cor whenever they
had their exchanges of sharp words
Oscar liked to say:
Il don't know but my nature is Just
thwartcd by YOU
And now she had probably thwartcd
his sunset. Dina felt very unhappy
without being able to understand why
she should he 80 unhappy. Her only
wish was to receive happiness and to give
happiness, but somehow that couldn' be.
II Oscars life left him Very little time
for his poetry ii left him even less time
for Dina. Everything care before Dina
business. pleasure. women friends. The
only thing left for Dina was now and then
few hours. in which hs always showed
himself moody and unpleasant or mono
syllable. How could Dina help weeping.
making him ,eproaChes or scenes OF
jealousy;
Now and then great scenes of recon-
cliation took place which for Dina were
festive occasions but which were only
too soon forgotten. 1t was after one
Of those reconciliation scenes that they
had decided to spend some time in the
country.
In this solitude. in communion with
Mother Nature they found themselves
again and Oscar lived for the two things
he had always SO completely neglected,
poetry and his wife
1t was started very nicely. although the
way in which Oscar fairly underscored
his amiability was somewhat unpleasant
and made Dina feel very self f-conscious.
Then something always seemed to GO
wrong with the poems and il always seemed
to be Dina's fault; Oscar grew bitter and
Dina grew lachrym Ose, they exchanged
unpleasant words or never exchanged "A
word. and Dina felt that the happiness
which she had hoped to hold securely was
once more slipping away from her All
her surroundings seemed sad and de-
pressing these mountains. these luminous
days. the strong, sweet fragrance of the !
pastures these numbering cows and
people.
The most melancholy hours Of her
existence were the end Of Their evening
strolls when she and Oscar were walking
home. he leading. she following. The
fatigue of the day hung heavily On her
shoulders. field flowers were willing in
her warm hand. and there was nothing.
nothing TO look forward to which would
give her a little bit Of JOY.
They would drink their milk and eat
the everlasting cold cut in the low ceilinged
farmers cottage. then they would sit on
the balcony staring into the darkness,
to the various sounds of night,
and Oscars silence would finally torture
Dina like physical pain. Dina's pretty
round face that seemed to have been made
for nothing but smiles assumed while
She was walking behind Oscar a woebe.
gone expression; all the youth and the
bloom which made it pretty seemed TO
have been bighted.
From the forest path that led to the lake
emerged another couple that also stru X
for the main road. The man. a youthful
type, wore cycling cost ume, his shoulders
were as narrow as a boys; he carried
his hat in his hand. his thick black hair
waved in the wind. and his right arm j.,
encircled the waist of a young girl.
She was extremely slender, clothed
all in white. she wore no hat and her {
hair dampened by the evening mist Dill .
low on her forehead She leaned heavily
against her friend as though It were
dif'i"rlt for her to walk unsupported ,
That's the couple that lives below
said Dina.
u see il iS,' answered Oscar; and after ,
3 short while he added: Il don't zee why
,on need to call my attention to every
thing that happens" =
In IN" rustic room now darkened thew .
a . III 4 A