Year: 1879

attentive and Industrious


month rapidly passed, and then she
avoided me. She stunned the canoe, and
IN order to keep me at more appropriate
distance, attached to her side a couple of
girls-senseless, soulless beings | thought
them-the daughters of the local doctor.
Constance allowed these young persons to
adore her, and they by their continual
presence threw such obstacles in the way
OF my alteration that her victory was, If
possible, more complete. She grew paler
too, and the only exercise she allowed her
self was an afternoon airing on the river,
when the soulless ones would punt her
mildly up stream and then drift back. |
| accompanied her once in one of these law
| outings, and enjoyed it after disconsolate
fashion. She read hook. | remember
all the time. and | employed myself in
watching the action of her dark lashes
against her white skin, and the VARYING
expression which broke from the corners
of her mouth. | was hardly less egotisti-
cal than most boys of my age, but began
to realize what worthless person | was
in comparison with her bewitching and
semi-divine self Constance-why-Con
stance was worthy of the greatest and no.
blest man in the land, while--I? And in
the meantime Godfrey Stow gtM twenty,
was morally convinced, however much he
reveled in doubt, that Constance Silver
thorne and he were spiritually one, as he
was determined they should presently be
morally and practically


Some Frenchman has remarked that
man OF sense NAV love like madman,
but never like fool and if this moral
reflection be Just it is evident enough that
after the fashion of fool must have wor-
shipped my divinity. | never saw ma
mae making love, and nowadays | don't
believe man of sense ever loves at ALL


Yes, loved her; possibly like fool,
at all events like "A boy. | have seen and
known many women since whose beauty
was indescribable, whose fascination was
enthralling, whose wit was inspiring |
have been enticed through the fancy. |
have been fiattered through the intellect.
but never have thought so unselfishly or
lived so free from worldly cravings as dur
ing these summer days at Greybridge,
with Constance as the goal of my ambi-
ton and my life.


One happy consolation was afforded me.
After the sOulless ones had received their
dismissal, when the house was still, the
Doctor dreaming of his work on the di-
gamma. Smart of his next cricket match,
and the other fellow of his oppressed Mag
yars, | used to leap out of the study win
dow and watch the Pickering light which
shone through the curtains of her bed
chamber. Frequently she would lean out
on the sill and watch the stars for half an
hour at time. took care to let her be
aware of my presence, and then she would
bid me soft good night" and retire to
rest. One evening-how wen remem-
Der it the light was Pickering as usual,
but no divinity was forthcoming. | wait
ed for an hour at least, and then her light
was put out. Oh the anguish of that
sudden eclipse. She could not have known
that was there, leaning, anxiOusly ex-
pectant, under the copper beech rushed
to the study snatched pile of newspapers
and set light to the bameless sheets a
dozen yards from her window The flame
rose and lit up the solemn grandeur of the
trees; still no movement in her room.
threw patriarchal Times on blazing Tele-
graph, heaped blushing Globe on incande-
scent World, with such effect that never
have these irreproachable journals thrown
so much light on situation since
Yet there was no responsive glimmer
from Constance's chamber. Presently
the flames died out The fiery columns
of even ''word-wide circulation are less
than ephemeral, and in minute and
half they were dust. Then voice reached
me from her window.


''Sh-ush! How could you. DO 60 to
bed"


And did. s.t...s ....l


The next day she avoided me. | had
notion she would, but felt piqued neverthe-
less. At night mastered my desire. and
did not watch beneath her window; of
course, passed sleepless night. In the
morning | met her among the standard
roses: She gave me a budding flower.


This, without asking" she said.


knew | ought to say something. if only
to declare my passion. but | couldn't. /
blushed pinker than the rose itself.


You are avery silly boy, " she said, oh
so demurely, land why on earth do you
wander about the garden at nightp''


Il didn't wander last night. y | returned
with an effort at indifference.


NO" said she, fixing the rose in my
coat, quite as a matter of course, as It
seemed "No, you didn't wander last
night. And, pray, why didn't youp''


One evening after dinner she went into
the urawlng-room, contrary to her usual
custom, and seated herselfbefore the piano.
The other fellow was there reading his
favorite Rochefoucald, but rose as she en-
tered and placed some music on the instru-
ment. Then, as matter of course, he
began to sing. To do him Justice, the
wretch had magnificent voice, and the
two presently started the Duet La ci
darem." Somehow l felt de hop, and re-
tired to a dark corner and watched them.
The melody was anything but music in my
ears. and a dull aching pain crept into my
heart. Jealousy is nourished by doubt,
and was determined to put an end to both
as soon as possible. In the meantime
their singing was unbearable; rose and
abruptly left the room. threw myself upon
the lawn. and smoked.


Perhaps ten minutes passed, and then
she, unconscious of my supine presence.
stepped out upon the grass alone. She
was singing lightly to herself the refrain
of her favorite song


sometimes forward, sometimes coy,


Yet she never fails to please"


''Oh, here You are. beau sire. So YOU
don't like my singing p',