s: While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring.


s: O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;


s: Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills--


s: My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;


s: My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will.


s: The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;


s: From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won.


s: For the story of Nathan Hale see any good history of the American


s: "Truth, crushed to Earth, shill rise again;


s: Born in Maryland, he graduated from St. John's College, Md., and


s: The second quest is described by the monarch as follows


s: Thy flame-wood lamp is quenched and dark,


s: The last feint spark of its burning train


s: "The poems of Halleck are written with great care and finish, and


s: "Small as the quantity of his true verse is, it more sustains his


s: plinth: the block upon which a column or a statue rests.


s: entablatures: the part of a building borne by the columns.


s: frieze: an ornamented horizontal band in the entablature.


s: cornices: the horizontal molded top of the entablatures.


s: "His verse blooms like a flower, night and day;


s: Bees cluster round his rhymes; and twitterings


s: Are mingling with the tender songs he sings.


s: Nor shall he cease to sing--in every lay


s: Of Nature's voice he sings--and will alway."


s: The poems by Longfellow are used by permission of, and by special


s: "Night, undesired by Troy, but to the Greeks


s: Thrice welcome for its interposing gloom."


s: --SCOTT, Lay of the Last Minstrel, can. 6, St. 22.


s: Numerous beautiful illustrations may be found in Marriage, "The


s: The "Tales of a Wayside Inn" were series of stories told on three


s: bl.  almoner: official dispenser of alms.


s: "Best loved and saintliest of our singing train,


s: Earth's noblest tributes to thy name belong.


s: A lifelong record closed without a stain,


s: A blameless memory shrived in deathless song."


s: The poems by Whittier are used by permission of, and by special


s: Barclay of Ury: David Barclay (1610-1686).  Served under Gustavus


s: Entertainments for the story of the one-eyed beggar.


s: introducer of the alphabet from Phoenicia into Greece.


s: Longfellow refers to this legend in "The Children's Hour."


s: The poems by Emerson are used by permission of, and by special


s: With what other poems in this book may "Hakon's Lay" be compared?


s: Shades of the prison-house begin to close


s: A Puritan Tieck is another anomaly.  From the early poems in this


s: Read was essentially an artist, and in this poem he expressed his


s: I sat and sewed, and sang some tender tune,


s: Oh, beauteous was that morn in early June!


s: Mellow with sunlight, and with blossoms fair:


s: The climbing rose-tree grew about me there,


s: And checked with shade the sunny portico


s: Where, morns like this, I came to read, or sew.


s: I heard the gate click, and a firm, quick tread


s: Upon the walk.  No need to turn my head;


s: I would mistake, and doubt my own voice sounding,


s: Before his step upon the gravel bounding.


s: He stretched his comely form; and from his face


s: He tossed the dark, damp curls; and at my knees,


s: With his broad hat he fanned the lazy breeze,


s: And turned his head, and lifted his large eyes,


s: Of that strange hue we see in ocean dyes,


s: And call it blue sometimes and sometimes green,


s: And save in poet eyes, not elsewhere seen.


s: "Lest I should meet with my fair lady's scorning,


s: For calling quite so early in the morning,


s: I've brought a passport that can never fail,"


s: He said, and, laughing, laid the morning mail


s: Upon my lap.  "I'm welcome? so I thought!


s: I'll figure by the letters that I brought


s: That, lightly skimmed, you'll think me SUCH a bore,


s: And wonder why I did not bring you four.


s: This little letter, precious if not long,


s: Is just the one, of all you might have brought,


s: To please me.  You have heard me speak, I'm sure,


s: Of Helen Trevor:  she writes here to say


s: She's coming out to see me; and will stay


s: Till Autumn, maybe.  She is, like her note,


s: Petite and dainty, tender, loving, pure.


s: You'd know her by a letter that she wrote,


s: For a sweet tinted thing.  'Tis always so:-


s: Letters all blots, though finely written, show


s: A slovenly person.  Letters stiff and white


s: Bespeak a nature honest, plain, upright.


s: And tissuey, tinted, perfumed notes, like this,


s: Tell of a creature formed to pet and kiss."


s: My listener heard me with a slow, odd smile;


s: Stretched in abandon at my feet, the while,


s: He fanned me idly with his broad-brimmed hat.


s: "Then all young ladies must be formed for that!"


s: They're written in a dainty, spider scrawl,


s: To 'darling, precious Kate,' or 'Fan,' or 'Moll.'


s: The 'dearest, sweetest' friend they ever had.


s: They say they 'want to see you, oh, so bad!'


s: Vow they'll 'forget you, never, NEVER, oh!'


s: And then they tell about a splendid beau -


s: A lovely hat--a charming dress, and send


s: And then to close, for lack of something better,


s: They beg you'll 'read and burn this horrid letter.'"


s: He watched me, smiling.  He was prone to vex


s: He liked, he said, to have me flash and frown,


s: So he could tease me, and then laugh me down.


s: My storms of wrath amused him very much:


s: So he would talk--and so he watched me now,


s: To see the hot flush mantle cheek and brow.


s: Instead, I answered coolly, with a smile,


s: Felling a seam with utmost care, meanwhile.


s: "The caustic tongue of Vivian Dangerfield


s: Is barbed as ever, for my sex, this morn.


s: Still unconvinced, no smallest point I yield.


s: Woman I love, and trust, despite your scorn.


s: There is some truth in what you say?  Well, yes!


s: Your statements usually hold more or less.


s: Some women write weak letters--(some men do;)


s: Some make professions, knowing them untrue.


s: And woman's friendship, in the time of need,


s: Giving from out her large heart's bounteous store


s: Than, through and by that love, she knows she can:


s: And living by her professions, LIKE A MAN.


s: And such a tie, true friendship's silken tether,


s: Binds Helen Trevor's heart and mine together.


s: I love her for her beauty, meekness, grace;


s: She loves me, for my greater strength, maybe;


s: Loves--and would give her heart's best blood for me.


s: And I, to save her from a pain, or cross,


s: Such can be woman's friendship for another.


s: Could man give more, or ask more from a brother?"


s: I paused:  and Vivian leaned his massive head


s: Smiled his slow, sceptic smile, then laughed, and said:


s: "Nay, surely not--if what you say be so.


s: You've made a statement, but no proof's at hand.


s: Wait--do not flash your eyes so!  Understand


s: I think you quite sincere in what you say:


s: You love your friend, and she loves you, to-day;


s: But friendship is not friendship at the best


s: Man's, less demonstrative, stands strain and tear,


s: While woman's, half profession, fails to wear.


s: Two women love each other passing well -


s: At ball and concert, in the church and street,


s: They kiss and coo, they visit, chat, caress;


s: Their love increases, rather than grows less;


s: And all goes well, till 'Helen dear' discovers


s: That 'Maurine darling' wins too many lovers.


s: And then her 'precious friend,' her 'pet,' her 'sweet,'


s: Becomes a 'minx,' a 'creature all deceit.'


s: Let Helen smile too oft on Maurine's beaux,


s: Or wear more stylish or becoming clothes,


s: Or sport a hat that has a longer feather -


s: And lo! the strain has broken 'friendship's tether.'


s: Maurine's sweet smile becomes a frown or pout;


s: 'She's just begun to find that Helen out.'


s: The breach grows wider--anger fills each heart;


s: They drift asunder, whom 'but death could part.'


s: You shake your head?  Oh, well, we'll never know!


s: You'll live, and love; and, meeting twice a year,


s: While life shall last, you'll hold each other dear.


s: To shake your faith in woman by the test.


s: Keep your belief, and nurse it while you can.


s: I've faith in woman's friendship too--for man!


s: They're true as steel, as mothers, friends, and wives:


s: And that's enough to bless us all our lives.


s: That man's a selfish fellow, and a bore,


s: "But there is need of more!" I here broke in.


s: Who would not cling to, and defend another,


s: As nobly as she would stand by a brother.


s: Who would not suffer for a sister's sake,


s: And, were there need to prove her friendship, make


s: 'Most any sacrifice, nor count the cost.


s: Who would not do this for a friend is lost


s: Cried Vivian, laughing, "for you now defame


s: The whole sweet sex; since there's not one would do


s: The thing you name, nor would I want her to.


s: I love the sex.  My mother was a woman -


s: I hope my wife will be, and wholly human.


s: And if she wants to make some sacrifice,


s: I'll think her far more sensible and wise


s: Instead of some old maid or senseless chit.


s: Selfish?  Of course!  I hold all love is so:


s: And I shall love my wife right well, I know.


s: Now there's a point regarding selfish love,


s: You thirst to argue with me, and disprove.


s: But since these cosy hours will soon be gone,


s: No more of these rare moments must be spent


s: (You see the selfishness begins to show.)


s: She wants to see you?--So do I:  but she


s: Will gain her wish, by taking you from me.


s: 'Come all the same?' that means I'll be allowed


s: To realize that 'three can make a crowd.'


s: With two girl cronies would I not be so?


s: My ring would interrupt some private chat.


s: You'd ask me in and take my cane and hat,


s: And think--'The lout!  I wish he'd kept away.'


s: Miss Trevor'd smile, but just to hide a pout


s: And count the moments till I was shown out.


s: And, while I twirled my thumbs, I would sit wishing


s: That I had gone off hunting birds, or fishing,


s: No, thanks, Maurine!  The iron hand of Fate,


s: (Or otherwise Miss Trevor's dainty fingers,)


s: And I shall be like some poor soul that lingers


s: At heaven's portal, paying the price of sin,


s: I laughed outright.  "How well you act a part;


s: You've missed your calling, sir! suppose you start


s: Upon a starring tour, and carve your name


s: With Booth's and Barrett's on the heights of Fame


s: But now, tabooing nonsense, I shall send


s: Unless you come without it.  'Cronies?'  True,


s: Wanting our 'private chats' as cronies do.


s: And we'll take those, while you are reading Greek,


s: Or writing 'Lines to Dora's brow' or 'cheek.'


s: But when you have an hour or two of leisure,


s: Call as you now do, and afford like pleasure.


s: For never yet did heaven's sun shine on,


s: Two maids so bound, by ties of mind and heart,


s: They did not feel the heavy weight of time


s: In weeks of scenes wherein no man took part.


s: Nor law of man, nor stern decree of Fate,


s: And, quite alone, make happy either one.


s: Has been denied one boon for which she pleaded.


s: A fragile thing, her lightest wish was heeded.


s: Would she pluck roses?  They must first be shorn,


s: By careful hands, of every hateful thorn,


s: And loving eyes must scan the pathway where


s: Her feet may tread, to see no stones are there.


s: She'll grow dull here, in this secluded nook,


s: Of entertaining.  Drop in with your book -


s: Read, talk, sing for her sometimes.  What I ask,


s: Do once, to please me:  then there'll be no need


s: For me to state the case again, or plead.


s: There's nothing like a woman's grace and beauty


s: Your slightest wish is law, Ma Belle Maurine,"


s: He answered, smiling, "I'm at your command;


s: Point but one lily finger, or your wand,


s: And you will find a willing slave obeying.


s: There goes my dinner bell!  I hear it saying


s: I've spent two hours here, lying at your feet,


s: All time is money; now were I to measure


s: The time I spend here by its solid pleasure,


s: And that were coined in dollars, then I've laid


s: Each day a fortune at your feet, fair maid.


s: There goes that bell again!  I'll say good-bye,


s: I'll come again, as you would have me do,


s: And see your friend, while she is seeing you.


s: He drew his fine shape up, and trod the land


s: With kingly grace.  Passing the gate, his hand


s: Leaped over like a leopard, and was gone.


s: And, going, took the brightness from the place,


s: Yet left the June day with a sweeter grace,


s: And my young soul, so steeped in happy dreams,


s: Heaven itself seemed shown to me in gleams.


s: There is a time with lovers, when the heart


s: First slowly rouses from its dreamless sleep,


s: Ere yet have wakened jealousy and strife.


s: Just as a young, untutored child will start


s: Out of a long hour's slumber, sound and deep,


s: And lie and smile with rosy lips and cheeks,


s: In a sweet, restful trance, before it speaks.


s: A time when yet no word the spell has broken,


s: Save what the heart unto the soul has spoken,


s: In quickened throbs, and sighs but half suppressed


s: A time when that sweet truth, all unconfessed,


s: Gives added fragrance to the summer flowers,


s: And lends to life a new and tender grace.


s: When the full heart has climbed the heights of bliss,


s: And, smiling, looks back o'er the golden past,


s: I think it finds no sweeter hour than this


s: In all love-life.  For, later, when the last


s: Translucent drop o'erflows the cup of joy,


s: And love, more mighty than the heart's control,


s: Surges in words of passion from the soul,


s: And vows are asked and given, shadows rise


s: Like mists before the sun in noonday skies,


s: Vague fears, that prove the brimming cup's alloy;


s: A dread of change--the crowning moment's curse,


s: Since what is perfect, change but renders worse:


s: Bearing our joys away, and bringing woes.


s: And later, doubts and jealousies awaken,


s: And plighted hearts are tempest-tossed and shaken.


s: Doubt sends a test, that goes a step too far,


s: A wound is made, that, healing, leaves a scar,


s: Or one heart, full with love's sweet satisfaction,


s: Thinks truth once spoken always understood,


s: While one is pining for the tender action


s: And whispered word by which, of old, 'twas wooed.


s: But this blest hour, in love's glad, golden day,


s: Is like the dawning, ere the radiant ray


s: Warm with its fervour, mellow with its light,


s: While Care still slumbers in the arms of night.


s: But Hope, awake, hears happy birdlings sing,


s: And thinks of all a summer day may bring.


s: In this sweet calm, my young heart lay at rest,


s: Filled with a blissful sense of peace; nor guessed


s: That sullen clouds were gathering in the skies


s: To hide the glorious sun, ere it should rise.


s: To little birds that never tire of humming


s: Aunt Ruth compared us, after Helen's coming,


s: As we two roamed, or sat and talked together.


s: Twelve months apart, we had so much to say


s: Of school days gone--and time since passed away;


s: Of that old friend, and this; of what we'd done;


s: Of how our separate paths in life had run;


s: Of what we would do, in the coming years;


s: Of plans and castles, hopes and dreams and fears.


s: All these, and more, as soon as we found speech,


s: We touched upon, and skimmed from this to that.


s: But at the first each only gazed on each,


s: Like lesser joys, to say, "Lo!  I rejoice,"


s: With smiling eyes and clasping hands we sat


s: Wrapped in that peace, felt but with those dear,


s: But when this silent eloquence gave place


s: To words, 'twas like the rising of a flood


s: Above a dam.  We sat there, face to face,


s: And let our talk glide on where'er it would,


s: Speech never halting in its speed or zest,


s: Save when our rippling laughter let it rest;


s: Just as a stream will sometimes pause and play


s: About a bubbling spring, then dash away.


s: No wonder, then, the third day's sun was nigh


s: Opened our eyes from slumber long and deep:


s: Spent in the portico, among the flowers,


s: Halves of two nights we should have spent in sleep.


s: So this third day, we breakfasted at one:


s: Then walked about the garden in the sun,


s: Hearing the thrushes and the robins sing,


s: And looking to see what buds were opening.


s: The clock chimed three, and we yet strayed at will


s: When Aunt Ruth came, with apron o'er her head,


s: At least his servant brought it.  And now, girls,


s: You may think this is no concern of mine,


s: In morning wrappers, and with tangled curls,


s: 'Tis three o'clock, and time for you to dress.


s: Come! read your note and hurry in, Maurine,


s: And make yourself fit object to be seen."


s: And ere she looked up I had read the note,


s: And calmed my heart, that, bounding, sent a flush


s: To brow and cheek, at sight of aught HE wrote.


s: "Ma Belle Maurine:" (so Vivian's billet ran,)


s: "Is it not time I saw your cherished guest?


s: Banished from all that makes existence blest.


s: I'm dying to see--your friend; and I will come


s: And pay respects, hoping you'll be at home


s: Inside my belt I slipped the billet, saying,


s: "Helen, go make yourself most fair to see:


s: Quick! hurry now! no time for more delaying!


s: In just five hours a caller will be here,


s: And you must look your prettiest, my dear!


s: How long it takes you to arrange each bow -


s: To twist each curl, and loop your skirts aright.


s: And you must prove you are au fait to-night,


s: And make a perfect toilet:  for our caller


s: Is man, and critic, poet, artist, scholar,


s: Cried Helen with a well-feigned look of fear,


s: "You've frightened me so I shall not appear:


s: Of all my friends, my peaceful home I've left,


s: To meet the fate of poor Red Riding Hood.


s: No, Maurine, no! you've given me such a fright,


s: I'll not go near your ugly wolf to-night."


s: Meantime we'd left the garden; and I stood


s: In Helen's room, where she had thrown herself


s: Pouting and smiling, cheek upon her arm,


s: "Now, sweet!" I coaxed, and knelt by her, "be good!


s: Go curl your hair; and please your own Maurine,


s: Nor Mephistopheles, you'll meet to-night,


s: But what the ladies call 'a nice young man'!


s: Yet one worth knowing--strong with health and might


s: Of perfect manhood; gifted, noble, wise;


s: And helpful hand; progressive, brave, refined,


s: "Now, now, Maurine!" cried Helen, "I believe


s: Why have you never written of him, pray?


s: Is the day set?--and when?  Say, Maurine, say!"


s: The secret love that all my being stirred?


s: My lover?  Ay!  My heart proclaimed him so;


s: But first HIS lips must win the sweet confession,


s: I must straightway erase the slight impression


s: I gaily cried, "your fancy's straying wild.


s: Just let a girl of eighteen hear the name


s: Of maid and youth uttered about one time,


s: And off her fancy goes, at break-neck pace,


s: And straightway builds romances so sublime


s: They put all Shakespeare's dramas to the shame.


s: This Vivian Dangerfield is neighbour, friend,


s: And kind companion; bringing books and flowers.


s: And, by his thoughtful actions without end,


s: Helping me pass some otherwise long hours;


s: But he has never breathed a word of love.


s: If you still doubt me, listen while I prove


s: My statement by the letter that he wrote.


s: 'Dying to meet--my friend!' (she could not see


s: The dash between that meant so much to me).


s: 'Will come this eve, at eight, and hopes we may


s: Be in to greet him.'  Now I think you'll say


s: 'Tis not much like a lover's tender note."


s: We laugh, we jest, not meaning what we say;


s: We hide our thoughts, by light words lightly spoken,


s: And pass on heedless, till we find one day


s: They've bruised our hearts, or left some other broken.


s: I sought my room, and trilling some blithe air,


s: Opened my wardrobe, wondering what to wear.


s: More than all others, vexing mind of woman,


s: Since that sad day, when in her discontent,


s: To search for leaves, our fair first mother went.


s: My simplest robe, but Vivian's favourite one.


s: And placing a single flowret in my hair,


s: I crossed the hall to Helen's chamber, where


s: I found her with her fair locks all let down,


s: Brushing the kinks out, with a pretty frown.


s: 'Twas like a picture, or a pleasing play,


s: To watch her make her toilet.  She would stand,


s: And turn her head first this, and then that way,


s: Then she would pick up something else, and curve


s: Her lovely neck, with cunning, bird-like grace,


s: And watch the mirror while she put it on,


s: With such a sweetly grave and thoughtful face;


s: And then to view it all would sway and swerve


s: Her lithe young body, like a graceful swan.


s: Helen was over medium height, and slender


s: Even to frailty.  Her great, wistful eyes


s: Were like the deep blue of autumnal skies;


s: And through them looked her soul, large, loving, tender.


s: Her long, light hair was lustreless, except


s: Upon the ends, where burnished sunbeams slept,


s: And on the earlocks; and she looped the curls


s: Back with a shell comb, studded thick with pearls,


s: Costly yet simple.  Her pale loveliness,


s: That night, was heightened by her rich, black dress,


s: That trailed behind her, leaving half in sight


s: Her taper arms, and shoulders marble white.


s: Was shaped and coloured like my grandsire's race;


s: For through his veins my own received the warm,


s: Red blood of Southern France, which curved my form,


s: And glowed upon my cheek in crimson dyes,


s: And bronzed my hair, and darkled in my eyes.


s: And as the morning trails the skirts of night,


s: And dusky night puts on the garb of morn,


s: So we two glided down the hall and stair,


s: Arm clasping arm, into the parlour, where


s: Sat Vivian, bathed in sunset's gorgeous light.


s: He rose to greet us.  Oh! his form was grand;


s: And he possessed that power, strange, occult,


s: Which moves the world, achieving great result


s: Where genius fails completely.  Touch his hand,


s: It thrilled through all your being--meet his eye,


s: And you were moved, yet knew not how, or why.


s: Let him but rise, you felt the air was stirred


s: It leads to grand achievements; all things yield


s: Before its mystic presence, and its field


s: Is broad as earth and heaven.  But abused,


s: It sweeps like a poison simoon on its course,


s: And leaving all it touches struck with death.


s: Far-reaching science shall yet tear away


s: The mystic garb that hides it from the day,


s: And drag it forth and bind it with its laws,


s: Guided by common-sense and reason.  Then


s: We'll hear no more of seance, table-rapping,


s: And all that trash, o'er which the world is gaping,


s: Lost in effect, while science seeks the cause.


s: Or, if he was, knew not its full extent.


s: He knew his glance would make a wild beast cower,


s: And yet he knew not that his large eyes sent


s: Reached forth his hand, and in it clasped my own,


s: While I held Helen's; and he spoke some word


s: Of pleasant greeting in his low, round tone,


s: Just as the white cloud, at the sunrise, glows


s: Of Helen's cheek, like tinted sea-shells grew.


s: Through mine, his hand caused hers to tremble; such


s: Was the all-mast'ring magic of his touch.


s: Then we sat down, and talked about the weather,


s: The neighbourhood--some author's last new book.


s: But, when I could, I left the two together


s: To make acquaintance, saying I must look


s: And ran away and left them, laughing, there.


s: Knee-deep, through clover, to the poplar grove,


s: I waded, where my pets were wont to rove:


s: And there I found the foolish mother hen


s: Brooding her chickens underneath a tree,


s: Quoth I, while reaching for the downy things


s: That, chirping, peeped from out the mother-wings,


s: There waits a haven, pleasant, bright, and warm,


s: And one to lead you thither from the storm


s: And, thinking to be your own protector, stray


s: You thought safe shelter.  Go now to your pen."


s: And, followed by the clucking, clamorous hen,


s: Moaning because a strong, protecting arm


s: Would shield her little ones from cold and harm,


s: Of chirping chickens, like white balls of wool


s: A sound like gentle winds among the trees,


s: Or pleasant waters in the summer, stirred


s: 'Twas Helen singing:  and, as I drew near,


s: Mingled with hers, as murmuring streams unite,


s: And flow on stronger in their wedded might.


s: The songs that other people sang.  She took


s: Sometimes an extract from an ancient book;


s: Or else composed the music.  One of these


s: She sang that night; and Vivian caught the strain,


s: And joined her in the chorus, or refrain,


s: The melody, so full of plaintive chords,


s: Sobbed into silence--echoing down the strings


s: Like voice of one who walks from us, and sings.


s: The while they sang.  But, as he spoke those words,


s: "Love, I am near to thee, I come to thee,"


s: He turned his grand head slowly round, and bent


s: His lustrous, soulful, speaking gaze on me.


s: And my young heart, eager to own its king,


s: Sent to my eyes a great, glad, trustful light


s: Of love and faith, and hung upon my cheek


s: Hope's rose-hued flag.  There was no need to speak


s: I crossed the room, and knelt by Helen.  "Sing


s: That song you sang a fragment of one night


s: Out on the porch, beginning, 'Praise me not,'"


s: I whispered:  and her sweet and plaintive tone


s: Rose, low and tender, as if she had caught


s: From some sad passing breeze, and made her own,


s: The echo of the wind-harp's sighing strain,


s: O praise me not with your lips, dear one!


s: O chide me not with your lips, dear one!


s: Words, at the best, are but hollow sounds;


s: Then breathe no vow with your lips, dear one;


s: But I read the truth of your noble heart


s: The twilight darkened, round us, in the room,


s: While Helen sang; and, in the gathering gloom,


s: Vivian reached out, and took my hand in his,


s: And held it so; while Helen made the air


s: Languid with music.  Then a step drew near,


s: Why, Maurie, Helen, children! how is this?


s: I hear you, but you have no light in there.


s: For folks to visit!  Maurie, go, I pray,


s: And all the sweet dreams hovering around


s: The twilight shadows flitted in affright:


s: In pleasant converse passed an hour away:


s: And Vivian planned a picnic for next day -


s: A drive the next, and rambles without end,


s: That he might help me entertain my friend.


s: And then he rose, bowed low, and passed from sight,


s: Like some great star that drops out from the night;


s: And Helen watched him through the shadows go,


s: And turned and said, her voice subdued and low,


s: "How tall he is! in all my life, Maurine,


s: One golden twelfth-part of a checkered year;


s: One summer month, of sunlight, moonlight, mirth,


s: With not a hint of shadows lurking near,


s: With her warm arms, upon her glowing breast,


s: Smiling and panting in his dream-stirred rest.


s: She bound him with her limbs of perfect grace,


s: And hid him with her trailing robe of green,


s: And wound him in her long hair's shimmering sheen,


s: And rained her ardent kisses on his face.


s: Through the glad glory of the summer land


s: Helen and I went wandering, hand in hand.


s: In winding paths, hard by the ripe wheat-field,


s: White with the promise of a bounteous yield,


s: Across the late shorn meadow--down the hill,


s: That like a pretty, placid infant, slept


s: Low at its base:  and little ripples crept


s: Along its surface, just as dimples chase


s: Each other o'er an infant's sleeping face.


s: A thousand pretty, feminine knick-knacks:


s: For brackets, ottomans, and toilet stands -


s: That morning she had been at work in wax,


s: Moulding a wreath of flowers for my room, -


s: Taking her patterns from the living blows,


s: In all their dewy beauty and sweet bloom,


s: Fresh from my garden.  Fuchsia, tulip, rose,


s: And trailing ivy, grew beneath her touch,


s: These lacking but the perfume, and that, breath.


s: And now the wreath was all completed, save


s: And 'twas in search of it that we had come


s: Down to the lake, and wandered on the beach,


s: Some broken stalks, where flowers late had been;


s: Some buds, with all their beauties folded in,


s: We found, but not the treasure that we sought.


s: And then we turned our footsteps to the spot


s: Where, all impatient of its chain, my boat,


s: The Swan, rocked, asking to be set afloat.


s: It was a dainty row-boat--strong, yet light;


s: Each side a swan was painted snowy white:


s: He sailed, with Death, to that mysterious strand,


s: Where freighted ships go sailing evermore,


s: I freed the Swan, and slowly rowed about,


s: Wherever sea-weeds, grass, or green leaves lifted


s: Their tips above the water.  So we drifted,


s: And watched for lilies in the waves below,


s: And softly crooned some sweet and dreamy air,


s: That soothed me like a mother's lullabies.


s: I dropped the oars, and closed my sun-kissed eyes,


s: And let the boat go drifting here and there.


s: Oh, happy day! the last of that brief time


s: Of thoughtless youth, when all the world seems bright,


s: Leads the sad heart through valleys dark as night,


s: As golden as the summer noontide's beams,


s: "Strange ship, ahoy!  Fair frigate, whither bound?"


s: And, starting up, I cast my gaze around,


s: And saw a sail-boat o'er the water glide


s: Close to the Swan, like some live thing of grace;


s: And from it looked the glowing, handsome face


s: Come sail across the raging main with me!"


s: He laughed; and leaning, drew our drifting boat


s: Beside his own.  "There, now! step in!" he said;


s: "I'll land you anywhere you want to go -


s: My boat is safer far than yours, I know:


s: And much more pleasant with its sails all spread.


s: The Swan?  We'll take the oars, and let it float


s: Ashore at leisure.  You, Maurine, sit there -


s: Miss Helen here.  Ye gods and little fishes!


s: I've reached the height of pleasure, and my wishes.


s: 'Twas done so quickly:  that was Vivian's way.


s: He gave commands, and left you with no choice


s: But just to do the bidding of his voice.


s: His rare, kind smile, low tones, and manly face


s: And winning charm, completely stripping it


s: Of what might otherwise have seemed unfit.


s: That nameless force that seemed to say, "You must."


s: (So named, he said, that it might rhyme with Swan),


s: Vivian's sail-boat was carpeted with blue,


s: While all its sails were of a pale rose hue.


s: The daintiest craft that flirted with the breeze;


s: His room was like some Sultan's in the East.


s: His board was always spread as for a feast,


s: Whereat, each meal, he was both host and guest.


s: He would go hungry sooner than he'd dine


s: To dine within the humble peasant's cot,


s: It was a time for dreams, and not for speech.


s: Helen leaned idly o'er the sail-boat's side,


s: And dipped her rosy fingers in the tide;


s: Half sat, and watched the fleecy clouds at play,


s: While Vivian with his blank-book, opposite,


s: In which he seemed to either sketch or write,


s: No time, no change, no scene, can e'er efface


s: My mind's impression of that hour and place;


s: It stands out like a picture.  O'er the years,


s: Black with their robes of sorrow--veiled with tears,


s: Lying with all their lengthened shapes between,


s: Untouched, undimmed, I still behold that scene.


s: Replete with sunlight, crowned with amber haze,


s: Through all the months of winter we remember.


s: The sun slipped westward.  That peculiar change


s: Which creeps into the air, and speaks of night


s: While yet the day is full of golden light,


s: Of dream-fraught silence, throwing down his book:


s: "Young ladies, please allow me to arrange


s: These wraps about your shoulders.  I know well


s: Her smile swift followed by a frown or tear, -


s: And go prepared for changes.  Now you look,


s: Like--like--oh, where's a pretty simile?


s: In shawling you.  Red on the brunette maid;


s: Blue on the blonde--and quite without design


s: Well--like a June rose and a violet blue


s: And now I crave your patience and a boon,


s: Which is to listen, while I read my rhyme,


s: 'Tis neither witty, wonderful, nor wise,


s: And brought their precious freight to me,


s: Ah, well!  I should have wealth as great


s: Ah, well! the storm-clouds then might frown:


s: Weighed down with gems and wealth untold,


s: Rested against my shoulder:  as he read,


s: I stroked her hair, and watched the fleecy skies,


s: And when he finished, did not turn my eyes.


s: His gaze just then.  I said, "'Tis very sweet,


s: And suits the day; does it not, Helen, dear?"


s: But Helen, voiceless, did not seem to hear.


s: "'Tis strange," I added, "how you poets sing


s: So well, it looks a living, breathing real!


s: Now, to a listener, your love song seemed


s: A heart's out-pouring; yet I've heard you say


s: Gained without loss of conscience or good name,


s: Laughed Vivian, "but 'twas years--or months' ago!


s: And Solomon says wise men change, you know!


s: I now speak truth! if she I hold most dear


s: Slipped from my life, and no least hope were left,


s: My heart would find the years more lonely here


s: Than if I were of wealth, fame, friends, bereft,


s: His voice was low, and measured:  as he spoke,


s: With that sweet fulness born of love.  I turned


s: To hide the blushes on my cheek that burned,


s: And leaning over Helen, breathed her name.


s: She lay so motionless I thought she slept:


s: But, as I spoke, I saw her eyes unclose,


s: And a slight tremor thrilled all through her frame.


s: "Sweet friend," I said, "your face is full of light


s: What were the dreams that made your eyes so bright?"


s: Threw back the clust'ring ringlets from her face


s: With a quick gesture, full of easy grace,


s: And, turning, spoke to Vivian.  "Will you guide


s: The boat up near that little clump of green


s: Off to the right?  There's where the lilies grow.


s: We quite forgot our errand here, Maurine,


s: And our few moments have grown into hours.


s: What will Aunt Ruth think of our ling'ring so?


s: There--that will do--now I can reach the flowers."


s: "Hark! just hear that!" and Vivian broke forth singing,


s: "'Row, brothers, row.'  The six o'clock bell's ringing!


s: I could have sworn not over one had passed.


s: I thank you for the pleasure you have given;


s: This afternoon has been a glimpse of heaven.


s: Good-night--sweet dreams! and by your gracious leave,


s: A smile, a bow, and he had gone his way:


s: Down cool, green lanes, and through the length'ning shadows,


s: Silent, we wandered back across the meadows.


s: The wreath was finished, and adorned my room;


s: Long afterward, the lilies' copied bloom


s: Staring upon me morning, noon, and night.


s: The sun went down.  The sad new moon rose up,


s: The Great Unseen brims full of pain or bliss,


s: And gives His children, saying, "Drink of this."


s: A light wind, from the open casement, fanned


s: My brow and Helen's, as we, hand in hand,


s: Sat looking out upon the twilight scene,


s: In dreamy silence.  Helen's dark-blue eyes,


s: Like two lost stars that wandered from the skies


s: Some night adown the meteor's shining track,


s: And always had been grieving to go back,


s: Now gazed up, wistfully, at heaven's dome,


s: And seemed to recognise and long for home.


s: Her sweet voice broke the silence:  "Wish, Maurine,


s: Before you speak! you know the moon is new,


s: And anything you wish for will come true


s: Before it wanes.  I do believe the sign!


s: Now tell me your wish, and I'll tell you mine."


s: I turned and looked up at the slim young moon;


s: And, with an almost superstitious heart,


s: I sighed, "Oh, new moon! help me, by thine art,


s: To grow all grace and goodness, and to be


s: Worthy the love a true heart proffers me."


s: Then smiling down, I said, "Dear one! my boon,


s: I'll listen now to your wish.  Tell me, please!"


s: And hid her blushing face upon my knees.


s: Then drew my hand against her glowing cheek,


s: And, leaning on my breast, began to speak,


s: Half sighing out the words my tortured ear


s: Reached down to catch, while striving not to hear.


s: "Can you not guess who 'twas about, Maurine?


s: Oh, my sweet friend! you must ere this have seen


s: And from myself.  Ah, foolish little heart!


s: As well it might go seeking for some art


s: Whereby to hide the sun in noonday skies.


s: When first the strange sound of his voice I heard,


s: Looked on his noble face, and, touched his hand,


s: My slumb'ring heart thrilled through and through and stirred


s: And day by day mine eyes were blest beholding


s: In countless words and actions that portrayed


s: The noble stuff of which his soul was made.


s: And more and more I felt my heart upreaching


s: Toward the truth, drawn gently by his teaching,


s: As flowers are drawn by sunlight.  And there grew


s: A strange, shy something in its depths, I knew


s: At length was love, because it was so sad


s: And yet so sweet, and made my heart so glad,


s: Yet seemed to pain me.  Then, for very shame,


s: Lest all should read my secret and its name,


s: Where God could see it only.  But each day


s: It seemed to grow within me, and would rise,


s: Like my own soul, and look forth from my eyes,


s: Defying bonds of silence; and would speak,


s: In its red-lettered language, on my cheek,


s: If but his name was uttered.  You were kind,


s: So long the sharer of my heart and mind,


s: While yet you saw, in seeming not to see.


s: In all the years we have been friends, my own,


s: It has not shared at once, in full, with you.


s: And I so longed to speak to you of this,


s: When first I felt its mingled pain and bliss;


s: Yet dared not, lest you, knowing him, should say,


s: Can win the love of such a lofty heart.'


s: Till I could know I did not love in vain.


s: Did he not say, 'If she I hold most dear


s: Slipped from my life, and no least hope were left,


s: My heart would find the years more lonely here


s: Than if I were of wealth, fame, friends, bereft,


s: Oh, darling, you must LOVE, to understand


s: The joy that thrilled all through me at those words.


s: Within my heart broke forth in notes of praise.


s: Was on my face, and that his eyes must see


s: He loves me--loves me! so the birds kept singing,


s: And all my soul with that sweet strain is ringing.


s: If there were added but one drop of bliss,


s: No more my cup would hold:  and so, this eve,


s: I made a wish that I might feel his kiss


s: Upon my lips, ere yon pale moon should leave


s: The stars all lonely, having waned away,


s: Too old and weak and bowed with care to stay."


s: Her voice sighed in silence.  While she spoke


s: My heart writhed in me, praying she would cease -


s: Each word she uttered falling like a stroke


s: On my bare soul.  And now a hush like death,


s: Save that 'twas broken by a quick-drawn breath,


s: Fell 'round me, but brought not the hoped-for peace.


s: For when the lash no longer leaves its blows,


s: The flesh still quivers, and the blood still flows.


s: And 'neath her head my tortured heart throbbed wild


s: With pain and pity.  She had told her tale -


s: So fair, and sweet, and lily-like, and frail -


s: "Nay, you are wrong--you do mistake, dear friend!


s: 'Tis I am loved, not you"?  Yet that were truth,


s: And spread a ghastly pallor o'er the cheek


s: Flushed now with joy?  And while I, doubting pondered,


s: She spoke again.  "Maurine!  I oft have wondered


s: Is all a heart could ask its king to be;


s: And you have beauty, intellect and youth.


s: I think it strange you have not loved each other -


s: Strange how he could pass by you for another


s: I think my heart has known him all these years,


s: And waited for him.  And if when he came


s: I should have recognised him, all the same,


s: As my soul-mate, and loved him to the end,


s: Hiding my grief, and forcing back my tears


s: Till on my heart, slow dropping, day by day,


s: With all the largeness of his love, for me -


s: To grow in grace and goodness, and to lift


s: Sweet friend, it fills my whole heart with delight


s: To breathe its long hid secret in your ear.


s: Speak, my Maurine, and say you love to hear!"


s: The while she spoke, my active brain gave rise


s: To one great thought of mighty sacrifice


s: And self-denial.  Oh! it blanched my cheek,


s: And wrung my soul; and from my heart it drove


s: All life and feeling.  Coward-like, I strove


s: And hold fast on my mind like some live thing;


s: And all the Self within me felt its touch


s: And cried, "No, no!  I cannot do so much -


s: I am not strong enough--there is no call."


s: And then the voice of Helen bade me speak,


s: And with a calmness born of nerve, I said,


s: Scarce knowing what I uttered, "Sweetheart, all


s: Your joys and sorrows are with mine own wed.


s: I thank you for your confidence, and pray


s: I may deserve it always.  But, dear one,


s: Something--perhaps our boat-ride in the sun -


s: We'll talk of this together.  Now good-night,


s: And angels guard you with their wings of light."


s: I kissed her lips, and held her on my heart,


s: And viewed her as I ne'er had done before.


s: I gazed upon her features o'er and o'er;


s: Marked her white, tender face--her fragile form,


s: Like some frail plant that withers in the storm;


s: Than e'er before; and thought, "Can I destroy


s: God's handiwork, or leave it at the best


s: A broken harp, while I close clasp my bliss?"


s: I bent my head and gave her one last kiss,


s: And sought my room, and found there such relief


s: As sad hearts feel when first alone with grief.


s: The moon went down, slow sailing from my sight,


s: And left the stars to watch away the night.


s: O stars, sweet stars, so changeless and serene!


s: What depths of woe your pitying eyes have seen!


s: The proud sun sets, and leaves us with our sorrow,


s: To grope alone in darkness till the morrow.


s: The languid moon, e'en if she deigns to rise,


s: Soon seeks her couch, grown weary of our sighs;


s: But from the early gloaming till the day


s: Sends golden-liveried heralds forth to say


s: He comes in might; the patient stars shine on,


s: Steadfast and faithful, from twilight to dawn.


s: And watched the struggle of a God-like soul,


s: Now from the same far height they shone on me,


s: And saw the waves of anguish o'er me roll.


s: I floated with the current of the stream,


s: And thought life all one golden-haloed dream.


s: Swept swift upon its devastating course,


s: Wrecked my frail bark, and cast me on the wave


s: Where all my hopes had found a sudden grave.


s: Love makes us blind and selfish; otherwise


s: In her sweet face, as I would read a book.


s: But now, made sightless by love's blinding rays,


s: Where Pain dispelled the mist of golden haze


s: That walled me in, and lo!  I found my friend


s: Who journeyed with me--at my very side -


s: Had been sore wounded to the heart, while I,


s: Both deaf and blind, saw not, nor heard her cry.


s: And then I sobbed, "O God!  I would have died


s: To save her this."  And as I cried in pain,


s: There leaped forth from the still, white realm of Thought


s: Where Conscience dwells, that unimpassioned spot


s: As widely different from the heart's domain


s: As north from south--the impulse felt before,


s: And put away; but now it rose once more,


s: In greater strength, and said, "Heart, wouldst thou prove


s: What lips have uttered?  Then go, lay thy love


s: On Friendship's altar, as thy offering."


s: "Nay!" cried my heart, "ask any other thing -


s: Ask life itself--'twere easier sacrifice.


s: But ask not love, for that I cannot give."


s: "But," spoke the voice, "the meanest insect dies,


s: When all that makes life sweet is snatched away."


s: So with my heart, in converse, till the day,


s: In gold and crimson billows, rose and broke,


s: The voice of Conscience, all unwearied, spoke.


s: Love warred with Friendship, heart with Conscience fought,


s: Hours rolled away, and yet the end was not.


s: And wily Self, tricked out like tenderness,


s: Sighed, "Think how one, whose life thou wert to bless,


s: Will be cast down, and grope in doubt and fear!


s: Wouldst thou wound him, to give thy friend relief?


s: And Time can heal the saddest hurts of Love.


s: While Friendship's wounds gape wide and yet more wide,


s: And bitter fountains of the spirit prove."


s: At length, exhausted with the wearing strife,


s: On God's broad breast, and sought that deep repose


s: That only he who watched with sorrow knows.


s: "Maurine, Maurine, 'tis ten o'clock! arise,


s: My pretty sluggard, open those dark eyes


s: And see where yonder sun is!  Do you know


s: 'Twas Helen's voice:  and Helen's gentle kiss


s: Fell on my cheek.  As from a deep abyss,


s: I drew my weary self from that strange sleep


s: That rests not nor refreshes.  Scarce awake


s: Or conscious, yet there seemed a heavy weight


s: I knew not why, and yet I longed to weep.


s: Some dark cloud seemed to hang upon the day;


s: And, for a moment, in that trance I lay,


s: When suddenly the truth did o'er me break,


s: Like some great wave upon a helpless child.


s: The dull pain in my breast grew like a knife -


s: The heavy throbbing of my heart grew wild,


s: And God gave back the burden of the life


s: Cried Helen, "with that blinding headache still!


s: Play nurse, Maurine, and care for you to-day!


s: And first I'll suit some dainty to your taste,


s: And bring it to you, with a cup of tea."


s: But, wanting most the sunshine and the light,


s: I left my couch, and clothed myself in haste,


s: And, kneeling, sent to God an earnest cry


s: Where duty leads, for I am blind! my sight


s: Obscured by self.  Oh, lead my steps aright!


s: Let this cup pass:- and yet, Thou heavenly One,


s: Thy will in all things, not mine own, be done."


s: The strength prayer gives alway to hearts believing.


s: I felt that unseen hands were leading me,


s: Cried Helen, coming with a tray, and cup,


s: Of tender toast and fragrant, smoking tea.


s: "You naughty girl! you should have stayed in bed


s: Until you ate your breakfast, and were better;


s: I've something hidden for you here--a letter.


s: But drink your tea before you read it, dear!


s: 'Tis from some distant cousin, auntie said,


s: And so you need not hurry.  Now be good,


s: And loitered at my breakfast more to please


s: Then listlessly I broke the seal and read


s: The few lines written in a bold free hand:


s: (In spite of generations stretched between


s: Our natural right to that most handy claim


s: Of cousinship, we'll use it all the same)


s: I'm coming to see you! honestly, in truth!


s: I've threatened often--now I mean to act;


s: You'll find my coming is a stubborn fact.


s: Keep quiet, though, and do not tell Aunt Ruth.


s: Your faithful friend, and loving cousin, Roy."


s: As boy and girl, and later, youth and maid,


s: Full half our lives together.  He had been,


s: Gave both kind shelter.  Swift years sped away


s: Ere change was felt:  and then one summer day


s: A long-lost uncle sailed from India's shore -


s: Made Roy his heir, and he was ours no more.


s: "He'd write us daily, and we'd see his face


s: Once every year."  Such was his promise given


s: The morn he left.  But now the years were seven


s: Since last he looked upon the olden place.


s: He'd been through college, travelled in all lands,


s: Sailed over seas, and trod the desert sands.


s: Would write and plan a visit, then, ere long,


s: Some fancy called him thither unforeseen.


s: So years had passed, till seven lay between


s: To Aunt Ruth's queries, "What the truant wrote?"


s: And merely dropped a line, while journeying,


s: To say he lived:  and she was satisfied.


s: Sometimes it happens, in this world so strange,


s: A human heart will pass through mortal strife,


s: And writhe in torture:  while the old sweet life,


s: So full of hope and beauty, bloom and grace,


s: Is slowly strangled by remorseless Pain:


s: And one stern, cold, relentless, takes its place -


s: Yet those in daily converse see no change


s: Stern duty pointed, and no mortal guessed


s: A mighty conflict had disturbed my breast.


s: The man I loved.  Since she, too, loved him so


s: She was so weak and fragile, once bereft


s: Of this great hope, that held her with such power,


s: She would wilt down, like some frost-bitten flower,


s: And swift, untimely death would be the end.


s: But I was strong; and hardy plants, which grow


s: In out-door soil, can bear bleak winds that blow


s: From Arctic lands, whereof a single breath


s: Would lay the hot-house blossom low in death.


s: The hours went by, too slow, and yet too fast.


s: That bade me play the shrinking coward's part


s: And hide from pain.  And when the day had past


s: And time for Vivian's call drew near and nearer,


s: It pleaded, "Wait until the way seems clearer;


s: Until you gather strength enough to play


s: Made answer clear-eyed Reason; "do you go


s: Is but a still-born babe of Thought until


s: It proves existence of its life and will


s: And knelt by me, her fair face all aflame


s: With sudden blushes, whispering, "My sweet!


s: My heart can hear the music of his feet,


s: And went with her all calmly, as one goes


s: I was not cold--my manner was not strange;


s: Perchance I talked more freely than my wont,


s: But in my speech was naught could give affront;


s: That nameless SOMETHING which bespeaks a chance.


s: Whole-souled and noble, free from coquetry -


s: Her motives all unselfish, worthy, good,


s: By nameless acts, thus sparing what to man,


s: The offering of his hand and heart in vain.


s: She can be friendly, unrestrained, and kind


s: But in her voice, her manner, and her glance,


s: Convey that mystic something, undefined,


s: Which men fail not to understand and read,


s: My task was harder--'twas the slow undoing


s: Of long sweet months of unimpeded wooing.


s: The truth, assuming what I did not feel.


s: That blessed me with its hopeful, tuneful tone


s: By feigned indiff'rence, till it turned aside


s: And changed its channel, leaving me alone


s: To walk parched plains, and thirst for that sweet draught


s: My lips had tasted, but another quaffed.


s: It could be done, for no words yet were spoken -


s: None to recall--no pledges to be broken.


s: "He will be grieved, then angry, cold, then cross,"


s: I reasoned, thinking what would be his part


s: In this strange drama.  "Then, because he


s: Feels something lacking, to make good his loss


s: He'll turn to Helen, and her gentle grace


s: And loving acts will win her soon the place


s: I hold to-day; and like a troubled dream


s: At length, our past, when he looks back, will seem."


s: That evening passed with music, chat, and song,


s: But hours that once had flown on airy wings


s: Now limped on weary, aching limbs along,


s: Each moment like some dreaded step that brings


s: Slow bending to me from his greater height,


s: He took my hand, and, looking in my eyes,


s: With tender questioning and pained surprise,


s: Said, "Maurine, you are not yourself to-night;


s: I answered, laughing lightly, "I am not;


s: Just see my cheek, sir--is it thin, or pale?


s: "Nay, nay," he answered, "it cannot be SEEN,


s: The change I speak of--'twas more in your mien -


s: Seem to have something on her mind this eve?"


s: "She does," laughed Helen, "and I do believe


s: Close to her heart, not knowing I was near,


s: And since she's been as you have seen her here.


s: We must believe has struck a tender spot."


s: Her rippling laughter floated through the room,


s: And redder yet I felt the hot blood rise,


s: Then surge away, to leave me pale as death


s: Under the dark and swiftly gathering gloom


s: That searched my soul.  I almost shrieked beneath


s: That stern, fixed gaze, and stood spellbound until


s: He turned with sudden movement, gave his hand


s: To each in turn, and said:  "You must not stand


s: Longer, young ladies, in this open door.


s: The air is heavy with a cold, damp chill.


s: We shall have rain to-morrow, or before.


s: And so the dreaded evening found an end,


s: That saw me grasp the conscience-whetted blade,


s: And strike a blow for honour and for friend.


s: "How swiftly passed the evening!" Helen sighed.


s: "How long the hours!" my tortured heart replied.


s: Joy, like a child, with lightsome steps doth glide


s: By Father Time, and, looking in his face,


s: Cries, snatching blossoms from the fair roadside,


s: "I could pluck more, but for thy hurried pace."


s: The while her elder brother Pain, man grown,


s: Whose feet are hurt by many a thorn and stone,


s: Looks to some distant hilltop, high and calm,


s: Where he shall find not only rest, but balm


s: For all his wounds, and cries, in tones of woe,


s: "Oh, Father Time! why is thy pace so slow?"


s: Two days, all sad with lonely wind and rain,


s: Went sobbing by, repeating o'er and o'er


s: Which every human heart must sometime hear.


s: Pain is but little varied.  Its refrain,


s: Whate'er the words are, is for aye the same.


s: The third day brought a change, for with it came


s: But Roy, our Roy came back to us.  Once more


s: We looked into his laughing, handsome eyes,


s: Which, while they gave Aunt Ruth a glad surprise


s: In no way puzzled her, for one glance told


s: What each succeeding one confirmed, that he


s: Who bent above her with the lissome grace


s: Of his fine form, though grown so tall, could be


s: So much of sunshine with him that I caught,


s: Just from his smile alone, enough of gladness


s: To make my heart forget a time its sadness.


s: We talked together of the dear old days:


s: Leaving the present, with its depths and heights


s: I turned back to my childhood's level land,


s: And Roy and I, dear playmates, hand in hand,


s: Wandered in mem'ry through the olden ways.


s: It was the second evening of his coming.


s: Some wordless melody of white-souled thought,


s: My eyes were glowing, and my cheeks were hot


s: With warm young blood; excitement, joy, or pain


s: Alike would send swift coursing through each vein.


s: Some old adventure of those halcyon days,


s: I heard a well-known step upon the walk,


s: And looked up quickly to meet full in mine


s: The eyes of Vivian Dangerfield.  A flash


s: Shot from their depths:- a sudden blaze of light


s: Like that swift followed by the thunder's crash,


s: Which said, "Suspicion is confirmed by sight,"


s: As they fell on the pleasant doorway scene.


s: Then o'er his clear-cut face a cold, white look


s: Crept, like the pallid moonlight o'er a brook,


s: And, with a slight, proud bending of the head,


s: He stepped toward us haughtily, and said:


s: "Please pardon my intrusion, Miss Maurine,


s: She spoke of lending me; nay, sit you still,


s: And I, by grant of your permission, will


s: I said, "one moment, Vivian, if you please;"


s: And some way made each to the other known.


s: They bowed, shook hands, then Vivian turned away


s: "One of Miss Trevor's or of Maurine's beaux?


s: Which may he be, who cometh like a prince


s: Roy queried, laughing; and I answered, "Since


s: You saw him pass me for Miss Trevor's side,


s: I leave your own good judgment to reply."


s: And straightway caused the tide of talk to glide


s: The sudden gloom that o'er my spirit fell.


s: When Conscience tries our courage with a test,


s: And points to some steep pathway, we set out


s: But pause before the first rock in the way,


s: And, looking back, with tears, at Conscience, say:


s: "We are so sad, dear Conscience! for we would


s: Most gladly do what to thee seemeth good;


s: But lo! this rock! we cannot climb it, so


s: Thou must point out some other way to go."


s: When right before our faces, as we stand


s: In seeming grief, the rock is cleft in twain,


s: Leaving the pathway clear, we shrink in pain,


s: What we so tried from Conscience to conceal.


s: I saw that hour, the way made plain, to do


s: With scarce an effort what had seemed a strife


s: That would require the strength of my whole life.


s: Women have quick perceptions, and I knew


s: That Vivian's heart was full of jealous pain,


s: To be my lover.  First my altered mien -


s: And next the letter--then the doorway scene -


s: That bent so near me, and my strange confusion


s: When Vivian came all led to one conclusion:


s: That I had but been playing with his love,


s: With hearts when their true lovers are away.


s: Should turn to scorn and anger all his grief.


s: Compared with me, so doubly sweet and pure


s: Would Helen seem, my purpose would be sure


s: But now, the way was made so straight and clear,


s: My coward heart shrank back in guilty fear,


s: Till Conscience whispered with her "still small voice,"


s: "The precious time is passing--make thy choice -


s: Resign thy love, or slay thy trusting friend."


s: The growing moon, watched by the myriad eyes


s: Of countless stars, went sailing through the skies,


s: Like some young prince, rising to rule a nation,


s: To whom all eyes are turned in expectation.


s: And strength of will can take the hand of doom,


s: And walk on, smiling sweetly as she goes,


s: With rosy lips, and rounded cheeks of bloom,


s: Cheating a loud-tongued world that never knows


s: The pain and sorrow of her hidden heart.


s: And so I joined in Roy's bright changing chat;


s: Answered his sallies--talked of this and that,


s: My brow unruffled as the calm, still wave


s: That tells not of the wrecked ship, and the grave


s: The sound of Helen's gentle voice in song,


s: And, rising, entered where the subtle power


s: Of Vivian's eyes, forgiving while accusing,


s: Finding me weak, had won me, in that hour;


s: Where ladies were, now hung about my chair


s: With nameless delicate attentions, using


s: That air devotional, and those small arts


s: And not myself he bowed to.  Had my place


s: Twice his own age, he would have given her


s: The same attentions.  But they served to vex


s: Whatever hope in Vivian's heart remained.


s: The cold, white look crept back upon his face,


s: Which told how deeply he was hurt and pained.


s: Little by little all things had conspired


s: We were in constant intercourse:  walks, rides,


s: Picnics and sails, filled weeks of golden weather,


s: And almost hourly we were thrown together.


s: No words were spoken of rebuke or scorn:


s: Good friends we seemed.  But as a gulf divides


s: This land and that, though lying side by side,


s: So rolled a gulf between us--deep and wide -


s: The gulf of doubt, which widened slowly morn


s: These picnics and excursions.  Yet, although


s: Helen and I would sometimes choose to go


s: Without our escorts, leaving them quite free,


s: Ere passed the day, while Vivian walked with her.


s: I had no thought of flirting.  Roy was just


s: Like some dear brother, and I quite forgot


s: Without reserve or caution.  Many a time,


s: When there was some steep mountain-side to climb


s: And I grew weary, he would say, "Maurine,


s: Come rest you here."  And I would go and lean


s: My head upon his shoulder, or would stand


s: And let him hold in his my willing hand,


s: The while he stroked it gently with his own.


s: Or I would let him clasp me with his arm,


s: In his suspicions.  But ere long the truth


s: I learned in consternation! both Aunt Ruth


s: Some careless words might open Vivian's eyes


s: And spoil my plans.  So reasoning in this wise,


s: To naught assented, and yet naught denied,


s: Each understood just what the other meant.


s: And self-imposed deception caused my heart


s: Sometimes to shrink, I needed but to gaze


s: On Helen's face:  that wore a look ethereal,


s: As if she dwelt above the things material


s: I fed my strength and courage through the days.


s: What time the harvest moon rose full and clear


s: And cast its ling'ring radiance on the earth,


s: We made a feast; and called from far and near,


s: Our friends, who came to share the scene of mirth.


s: Fair forms and faces flitted to and fro;


s: But none more sweet than Helen's.  Robed in white,


s: She floated like a vision through the dance.


s: She seemed like some stray spirit of the air,


s: And was pursued by many an anxious glance


s: That looked to see her fading from the sight


s: Like figures that a dreamer sees at night.


s: And noble men and gallants graced the scene:


s: Yet none more noble or more grand of mien


s: Than Vivian--broad of chest and shoulder, tall


s: Whose high-arched foot on Mount Olympus trod.


s: His clear-cut face was beardless; and, like those


s: Same Grecian statues, when in calm repose,


s: Was it in hue and feature.  Framed in hair


s: Dark and abundant; lighted by large eyes


s: That could be cold as steel in winter air,


s: Of tripping feet, I sought a moment's rest


s: Within the lib'ry, where a group I found


s: Of guests, discussing with apparent zest


s: Some theme of interest--Vivian, near the while,


s: Leaning and listening with his slow, odd smile.


s: "Now, Miss La Pelle, we will appeal to you,"


s: Cried young Guy Semple, as I entered.  "We


s: Have been discussing right before his face,


s: Compared with those who are like yon fair moon


s: Whether she's greeted by the flowers of June


s: Or cold and dreary stretches of white space."


s: Look to your laurels! or you needs must yield


s: The crown to Semple, who, 'tis very plain,


s: Has mounted Pegasus and grasped his mane."


s: All laughed:  and then, as Guy appealed to me,


s: I answered lightly, "My young friend, I fear


s: To prove the truth of woman.  To her place


s: The moon does rise--but with a different face


s: Each time she comes.  But now I needs must hear


s: All clamoured that the author was the man


s: To read the poem:  and, with tones that said


s: More than the cutting, scornful words he read,


s: The love of strong hearts in sweet draughts,


s: I knew the cold, fixed gaze of Vivian's eyes


s: Saw the slow colour to my forehead rise;


s: But lightly answered, toying with my fan,


s: Men call us fickle, but they do us wrong;


s: We're only frail and helpless, men are strong;


s: And when love dies, they take the poor dead thing


s: And make a shroud out of their suffering,


s: And drag the corpse about with them for years.


s: But we?--we mourn it for a day with tears!


s: And then we robe it for its last long rest,


s: We cannot dig the grave ourselves.  And so


s: We call strong-limbed New Love to lay it low:


s: To do this service for her earthly friends,


s: The trusty fellow digs the grave so deep


s: Nothing disturbs the dead laid there to sleep."


s: The laugh that followed had not died away


s: The band was tuning for our waltz, and so


s: Back to the ball-room bore me.  In the glow


s: And heat and whirl, my strength ere long was spent,


s: And, sitting there, Roy drew my languid head


s: Upon the shelter of his breast, and bent


s: And let me make some passes o'er your brow.


s: Why, how it throbs! you've exercised too much!


s: I shall not let you dance again to-night."


s: Just then before us, in the broad moonlight,


s: Two forms were mirrored:  and I turned my face


s: To catch the teasing and mischievous glance


s: Of Helen's eyes, as, heated by the dance,


s: Leaning on Vivian's arm, she sought this place.


s: "I beg your pardon," came in that round tone


s: Of his low voice.  "I think we do intrude."


s: Bowing, they turned, and left us quite alone


s: Ere I could speak or change my attitude.


s: Four prancing steeds conveyed a laughing load


s: Of merry pleasure-seekers o'er the road.


s: Were in the programme.  Skies were blue and clear,


s: And cool winds whispered of the Autumn near.


s: The merry-makers filled the time with pleasure:


s: Some floated to the music's rhythmic measure,


s: Some played, some promenaded on the green.


s: Ticked off by happy hearts, the moments passed.


s: The afternoon, all glow and glimmer, came.


s: Helen and Roy were leaders of some game,


s: I challenge you to climb yon cliff with me!


s: And who shall tire, or reach the summit last


s: Must pay a forfeit," cried a romping maid.


s: "Come! start at once, or own you are afraid."


s: So challenged I made ready for the race,


s: The victor's loss who made the rough ascent.


s: The cliff was steep and stony.  On we went


s: And what we climbed for, glory and a name.


s: My hands were bruised; my garments sadly rent,


s: But on I clambered.  Soon I heard a cry,


s: "Maurine!  Maurine! my strength is wholly spent!


s: You've won the boots!  I'm going back--good-bye!"


s: And back she turned, in spite of laugh and jeer.


s: I reached the summit:  and its solitude,


s: Save some sad birds that wheeled and circled near,


s: I found far sweeter than the scene below.


s: I mixed with th' unthinking throngs of men.


s: Some flowers that decked the barren, sterile place


s: I plucked, and read the lesson they conveyed,


s: That in our lives, albeit dark with shade


s: And rough and hard with labour, yet may grow


s: The flowers of Patience, Sympathy, and Grace.


s: A serpent writhed across my pathway; not


s: A large or deadly serpent; yet the sight


s: Filled me with ghastly terror and affright.


s: I shrieked aloud:  a darkness veiled my eyes -


s: And I fell fainting 'neath the watchful skies.


s: I was no coward.  Country-bred and born,


s: For those fine lady "ah's" and "oh's" of fear


s: That squirms a limbless carcass o'er the ground.


s: And where that inborn loathing is not found


s: You'll find the serpent qualities instead.


s: Who fears it not, himself is next of kin,


s: And in his bosom holds some treacherous art


s: Whereby to counteract its venomed sting.


s: And all are sired by Satan--Chief of Sin.


s: Who loathes not that foul creature of the dust,


s: And Vivian's voice was speaking, soft and low,


s: Sweet whispered words of passion, o'er and o'er.


s: I dared not breathe.  Had I found Eden's shore?


s: "My love," he sighed, his voice like winds that moan


s: For one sweet stolen moment, lie and rest


s: Upon this heart that loves and hates you both!


s: O fair false face!  Why were you made so fair!


s: O mouth of Southern sweetness! that ripe kiss


s: HIS lips shall never gather.  There!--and there!


s: I steal it from him.  Are you his--all his?


s: Nay, you are mine, this moment, as I dreamed -


s: Blind fool--believing you were what you seemed -


s: You would be mine in all the years to come.


s: Fair fiend!  I love and hate you in a breath.


s: O God! if this white pallor were but DEATH,


s: My lips pressed, so--upon your dying face!"


s: "Woman, how dare you bring me to such shame!


s: How dare you drive me to an act like this,


s: To steal from your unconscious lips the kiss


s: You lured me on to think my rightful claim!


s: You snare and bind in your enticing arts,


s: The thin, pale stuff that in your veins doth flow


s: To please or pain us, poor, weak, soulless things -


s: Devoid of passion as a senseless flower!


s: Like butterflies, your only boast, your wings.


s: There, now I scorn you--scorn you from this hour,


s: And hate myself for having talked of love!"


s: He pushed me from him.  And I felt as those


s: Doomed angels must, when pearly gates above


s: And looked about.  Then in confusion rose


s: He said quite coldly.  "Half an hour ago


s: And sought this cliff.  A moment since you cried,


s: You'll need assistance down the rugged side


s: Of this steep cliff.  I pray you take my arm."


s: So, formal and constrained, we passed along,


s: Rejoined our friends, and mingled with the throng


s: To have no further speech again that day.


s: The legal firm of Blank and Blank had sent,


s: Containing news unlooked for.  An estate


s: Which proved a cosy fortune--nowise great


s: Or princely--had in France been left to me,


s: My grandsire's last descendant.  And it brought


s: A sense of joy and freedom in the thought


s: Of foreign travel, which I hoped would be


s: That longed to leave the olden scenes behind


s: With all their recollections, and to flee


s: I gave Aunt Ruth no peace, until she planned


s: To sail that week, two months:  though she was fain


s: To wait until the Springtime.  Roy Montaine


s: The cause of my strange hurry, but all seemed


s: To think good fortune had quite turned my brain.


s: One bright October morning, when the woods


s: Had donned their purple mantles and red hoods


s: In honour of the Frost King, Vivian came,


s: Bringing some green leaves, tipped with crimson flame, -


s: Must stay at home.  Then Vivian, with a smile,


s: Responded, "I will stay and talk to you,


s: And they may go;" at which her two cheeks grew


s: Like twin blush roses--dyed with love's red wave,


s: Her fair face shone transfigured with great joy.


s: Peculiar to some men, which seems to say,


s: "I shield my own," a manner pleasing, e'en


s: When we are conscious that it does not mean


s: Whose heart is wholly feminine and human,


s: That guardianship which man bestows on her,


s: Yet mixed with deference; as if she were


s: To raise her hand and voice against all wrong


s: With all the independence of her thought,


s: As man, her brother, yet his strength of arm,


s: His muscle and his boldness she has not,


s: Is far more precious, modesty and grace.


s: She does not strive to ape him, nor pretend


s: But that she needs him for a guide and friend,


s: To shield her with his greater strength from harm.


s: We reached the forest; wandered to and fro


s: Through many a winding path and dim retreat,


s: Upon an oak-tree, which had been laid low


s: By some wind storm, or by some lightning stroke.


s: And Roy stood just below me, where the ledge


s: On which I sat sloped steeply to the edge


s: One hand held mine; the other grasped a limb


s: That cast its checkered shadows over him;


s: And, with his head thrown back, his dark eyes raised


s: Until I, smiling, turned to him and spoke:


s: "Give words, my cousin, to those thoughts that rise,


s: The smooth and even darkness of his cheek


s: Was stained one moment by a flush of red.


s: He swayed his lithe form nearer as he stood


s: Still clinging to the branch above his head.


s: His brilliant eyes grew darker; and he said,


s: With sudden passion, "Do you bid me speak?


s: I cannot, then, keep silence if I would.


s: A harsh-tongued world would quickly misconstrue


s: My motive for a meaner one.  But, sweet,


s: So big my heart has grown with love for you


s: And so I cast it throbbing at your feet,


s: For you to guard and cherish, or to break.


s: Maurine, I love you better than my life.


s: My friend--my cousin--be still more, my wife!


s: Maurine, Maurine, what answer do you make?"


s: I scarce could breathe for wonderment; and numb


s: With sheer amaze, and stared at Roy with eyes


s: That looked no feeling but complete surprise.


s: He swayed so near his breath was on my cheek.


s: "Maurine, Maurine," he whispered, "will you speak?"


s: One picture in a score of shapes will pass,


s: I seemed to see Roy glide before my gaze.


s: First, as the playmate of my earlier days -


s: Next, as my kin--and then my valued friend,


s: And last, my lover.  As when colours blend


s: In some unlooked-for group before our eyes,


s: We hold the glass, and look them o'er and o'er,


s: In which he ne'er appeared to me before.


s: His form was like a panther's in its grace,


s: So lithe and supple, and of medium height,


s: And garbed in all the elegance of fashion.


s: His large black eyes were full of fire and passion,


s: And in expression fearless, firm, and bright.


s: His hair was like the very deeps of night,


s: And hung in raven clusters 'round a face


s: Upon the handsome face to mine upraised,


s: I saw before me, living, breathing, real,


s: The hero of my early day-dreams:  though


s: So full my heart was with that clear-cut face,


s: Which, all unlike, yet claimed the hero's place,


s: Or thought of him, save as a valued friend.


s: At that sweet trust I had reposed in you.


s: Steadfast man friend, on whom I could depend,


s: Because I loved you more than any brother,


s: Or any friend could love."  Then he began


s: With all his eloquence.  And, listening,


s: And it were best to give his wooing heed,


s: In all its clear-cut majesty, that other


s: Haughty and poet-handsome face would rise


s: And rob my purpose of all life and strength.


s: Roy urged and argued, as Roy only could,


s: He held my hands, and vowed I must, and should


s: Give some least hope; till, in my own defence,


s: I turned upon him, and replied at length:


s: "I thank you for the noble heart you offer:


s: Who keeps my heart; so I have none to proffer."


s: Then, seeing how his dark eyes flashed, I said:


s: "Dear Roy!  I know my words seem very strange;


s: A river rolls between us, dark and deep.


s: To cross it--were to stain with blood my hand.


s: You force my speech on what I fain would keep


s: My heart is given to love that's sanctified,


s: Dear Roy, my brother! speak of this no more,


s: And now come home.  The morning, all too soon


s: Helen will miss us, and we must return."


s: He took my hand, and helped me to arise,


s: Smiling upon me with his sad, dark eyes,


s: Where passion's fires had, sudden, ceased to burn.


s: "And so," he said, "too soon and unforeseen


s: My friendship melted into love, Maurine.


s: But, sweet!  I am not wholly in the blame


s: For what you term my folly.  You forgot,


s: So long we'd known each other, I had not


s: In truth a brother's or a cousin's claim.


s: But I remembered, when through every nerve


s: Your lightest touch went thrilling; and began


s: For comely woman.  By your coaxing arts,


s: You won your way into my heart of hearts,


s: With one who's not her kinsman, out and out.


s: But as we now, with measured steps, retrace


s: The path we came, e'en so my heart I'll send,


s: At your command, back to the olden place,


s: And strive to love you only as a friend."


s: But answered, laughing, "'Tis the same old cry:


s: Since Adam's time we've heard it.  But I'll try


s: And be more prudent, sir, and hold aloof


s: The fruit I never once had thought so sweet


s: 'Twould tempt you any.  Now go dress for dinner,


s: Thou sinned against! as also will the sinner.


s: And guard each act, that no least look betray


s: And sought my room, low humming some old air


s: That ceased upon the threshold; for mine eyes


s: All other senses, merged in that of sight,


s: Were lost in contemplation of the bright


s: And wond'rous picture, which had otherwise


s: Her whole face lit as by an inward flame


s: That shed its halo 'round her, Helen stood;


s: Her fair hands folded like a lily's leaves


s: Weighed down by happy dews of summer eves.


s: As sunlight flickers o'er a bed of bloom;


s: And, like some slim young sapling of the wood,


s: Her slender form leaned slightly; and her hair


s: Fell 'round her loosely, in long curling strands


s: Like some unearthly creature of a dream;


s: Until she started forward, gliding slowly,


s: And broke the breathless silence, speaking lowly,


s: As one grown meek, and humble in an hour,


s: Bowing before some new and mighty power.


s: "Maurine, Maurine!" she murmured, and again,


s: "Maurine, my own sweet friend, Maurine!"


s: Laying her love-light hands upon my head,


s: She leaned, and looked into my eyes, and said


s: With voice that bore her joy in ev'ry tone,


s: Are weighed with fragrance, "He is mine alone,


s: So pledged this hour, by that most sacred tie


s: Save one beneath God's over-arching sky.


s: I could not wait to tell you of my bliss:


s: I want your blessing, sweetheart! and your kiss."


s: So hiding my heart's trouble with a smile,


s: I leaned and kissed her dainty mouth; the while


s: I felt a guilt-joy, as of some sweet sin,


s: When my lips fell where his so late had been.


s: A sense of shame--yet mixed with satisfaction,


s: As some starved child might steal a loaf, and be


s: Sad with the guilt resulting from her action,


s: While yet the morsel in her mouth was sweet.


s: That ev'ning when the house had settled down


s: To sleep and quiet, to my room there crept


s: A lithe young form, robed in a long white gown:


s: With steps like fall of thistle-down she came,


s: Her mouth smile-wreathed; and, breathing low my name,


s: "Sweetheart," she murmured softly, "ere I sleep,


s: I needs must tell you all my tale of joy.


s: Beginning where you left us--you and Roy.


s: When Vivian spoke of staying.  So did he; -


s: With such a strange look in his wond'rous eyes.


s: The silence deepened; and I tried to speak


s: Five happy moments glided by us, fraught


s: With hours of feeling.  Vivian rose up then,


s: And came and stood by me, and stroked my hair.


s: And, in his low voice, o'er and o'er again,


s: Said, 'Helen, little Helen, frail and fair.'


s: Then took my face, and turned it to the light,


s: Was shining from them, murmured, sweet and low,


s: 'Dear eyes, you cannot veil the truth from sight.


s: And I made answer straightway, 'With my life


s: And soul and strength I love you, O my love!'


s: He leaned and took me gently to his breast,


s: And said, 'Here then this dainty head shall rest


s: And then I told him all my thoughts; and he


s: Listened, with kisses for his comments, till


s: My tale was finished.  Then he said, 'I will


s: Be frank with you, my darling, from the start,


s: And hide no secret from you in my heart.


s: I love you, Helen, but you are not first


s: To rouse that love to being.  Ere we met


s: She was not all in truth she was in seeming.


s: Enough! she proved to be that thing accursed


s: I hate myself for having loved her.  Yet


s: So much my heart spent on her, it must give


s: A man's great riches, causing him to live


s: In some low cot, all unpretending, still


s: As much his home--as much his loved retreat,


s: E'en so I give you all that's left, my sweet!


s: I made swift smiling answer, 'than to be


s: The worshipped consort of a king.'  And so


s: Our faith was pledged.  But Vivian would not go


s: Before that time.  I shall not feel half wed


s: Without you here.  Postpone your trip and stay,


s: 'Twould disarrange our plans for half a year.


s: I'll be in Europe New Year day," I said,


s: "And send congratulations by the cable."


s: And from my soul thanked Providence for sparing


s: The pain, to me, of sharing in, and wearing,


s: While all my heart was hung with sorrow's sable.


s: The cup and lip lies many a chance of loss,


s: All would be as I planned it; and, across


s: The briny waste of waters, I should find


s: Some balm and comfort for my troubled mind.


s: The sad Fall days, like maidens auburn-tressed


s: And amber-eyed, in purple garments dressed,


s: Passed by, and dropped their tears upon the tomb


s: Of fair Queen Summer, buried in her bloom.


s: To make the nuptial preparations.  Then,


s: Aunt Ruth complained one day of feeling ill:


s: Her veins ran red with fever; and the skill


s: Of two physicians could not stem the tide.


s: The house, that rang so late with laugh and jest,


s: Grew ghostly with low whispered sounds:  and when


s: The Autumn day, that I had thought to be


s: Came sobbing in, it found me pale and worn,


s: Striving to keep away that unloved guest


s: Who comes unbidden, making hearts to mourn.


s: Through all the anxious weeks I watched beside


s: The suff'rer's couch, Roy was my help and stay;


s: Brought strength and comfort, by his cheerful face,


s: And hopeful words, that fell in that sad place


s: November passed; and Winter, crisp and chill,


s: In robes of ermine walked on plain and hill.


s: Returning light and life dispelled the gloom


s: That cheated Death had brought us from the tomb.


s: Aunt Ruth was saved, and slowly getting better -


s: Was dressed each day, and walked about the room.


s: Then came one morning in the Eastern mail,


s: A little white-winged birdling of a letter.


s: I hear Aunt Ruth is better, and am glad.


s: To bear your pain and worry, and those nights


s: Your plans are changed now, and you will not sail


s: Before the Springtime.  So you'll come and be


s: My bridesmaid, darling!  Do not say me nay.


s: But three weeks more of girlhood left to me.


s: Come, if you can, just two weeks from to-day,


s: And make your preparations here.  My sweet!


s: Indeed I am not glad Aunt Ruth was ill -


s: I'm sorry she has suffered so; and still


s: I'm thankful something happened, so you stayed.


s: Without your presence.  Selfish, I'm afraid


s: You'll think your Helen.  But I love you so,


s: How can I be quite willing you should go?


s: Come Christmas Eve, or earlier.  Let me know,


s: And I will meet you, dearie! at the train.


s: Had made no moan, but silent, seemed to sleep,


s: Woke from its trance-like lethargy, to steep


s: My tortured heart in anguish and despair.


s: But sent his servant each new day to bring


s: Of juicy fruits to cool the lips of fever,


s: Or dainty hot-house blossoms, with their bloom


s: "Dear Sir, and Friend"--in letters bold and plain,


s: Written on cream-white paper, so it ran:


s: "It is the will and pleasure of Miss Trevor,


s: That you shall honour me next New Year Eve,


s: My wedding hour, by standing as best man.


s: Miss Trevor has six bridesmaids I believe.


s: If I should fail in acting well my part,


s: I'll need protection 'gainst the regiment


s: Of outraged ladies.  So, I pray, consent


s: To stand by me in time of need, and shield


s: Your friend sincerely, Vivian Dangerfield."


s: The last least hope had vanished; I must drain,


s: E'en to the dregs, this bitter cup of pain.


s: There was a week of bustle and of hurry;


s: Of busy bridesmaids, running to and fro,


s: With all that girlish fluttering and flurry


s: Decked with the dainty robes of her trousseau.


s: My robe was fashioned by swift, skilful hands -


s: And as I watched it growing, stitch by stitch,


s: I felt as one might feel who should behold


s: With vision trance-like, where his body lay


s: His grave-cloth sewed together, fold on fold.


s: I lived with ev'ry nerve upon the strain,


s: That, more and more, to my sad heart revealed


s: Grew ghastly with its horrors, was concealed


s: That God bestowed upon me, hour by hour.


s: What night the Old Year gave unto the New


s: The pointed stars, upon their field of blue,


s: Shone, white and perfect, o'er a world below,


s: Of snow-clad beauty; all the trees were dressed


s: In gleaming garments, decked with diadems,


s: Each seeming like a bridal-bidden guest,


s: The bustle of the dressing-room; the sound


s: Of "sweet bells jangled"; thud of steel-clad feet


s: That beat swift music on the frozen ground -


s: All blent together in my brain, and rang


s: Streamed from the open vestibule, a light


s: That lit the velvet blossoms which we trod,


s: With all the hues of those that deck the sod.


s: With gorgeous colours; through a sea of bloom,


s: Up the long aisle, to join the waiting groom,


s: Might surge on with the curious crowd, to gaze


s: With that glad festal throng.  The organ sent


s: That broke and fell, in liquid drops, like spray,


s: On happy hearts that listened.  But to me


s: Gave utterance to sighing sounds of dole.


s: We paused before the altar.  Framed in flowers,


s: The solemn service open; through long hours


s: I seemed to stand and listen, while each word


s: Fell on my ear as falls the sound of clay


s: The bridegroom circled with a golden band


s: The last imposing, binding words were said -


s: "What God has joined let no man put asunder" -


s: And all my strife with self was at an end;


s: How strangely, in some awful hour of pain,


s: External trifles with our sorrows blend!


s: I never hear the mighty organ's thunder,


s: Nor see stained windows all ablaze with light,


s: Without that dizzy whirling of the brain,


s: And all the ghastly feeling of that night,


s: When my sick heart relinquished love and hope.


s: And e'en its memory cease to haunt the heart:


s: But some slight thing, a perfume, or a sound


s: Will probe the closed recesses of the wound,


s: And for a moment bring the old-time smart.


s: Congratulations, kisses, tears and smiles,


s: Good-byes and farewells given; then across


s: Back to my girlhoods' home, where, through each room,


s: Should aimless wander, always in my sight,


s: Pointing, with ghostly fingers, to the tomb


s: Wet with the tears of living pain and loss.


s: The sleepless nights of watching and of care,


s: Followed by that one week of keenest pain,


s: Taxing my weakened system, and my brain,


s: But lay without ambition, strength, or will.


s: Which seemed, of all God's store of gifts, the best.


s: Physicians came and shook their heads and sighed;


s: And to their score of questions I replied,


s: With but one languid answer, o'er and o'er,


s: I slept, and dreamed I was some feathered thing,


s: Flying through space with ever-aching wing,


s: Seeking a ship called Rest all snowy white,


s: That sailed and sailed before me, just in sight,


s: But always one unchanging distance kept,


s: And woke more weary than before I slept.


s: I slept, and dreamed I ran to win a prize,


s: A hand from heaven held down before my eyes.


s: Of that great prize, whereon was written "Rest,"


s: Which ever just beyond my reach did gleam,


s: That saw a snow-white lily on the plain,


s: And left the cloud to nestle in her breast.


s: I fell and fell, but nevermore found rest -


s: I fell and fell, but found no stopping place,


s: Through leagues and leagues of never-ending space,


s: While space illimitable stretched before.


s: And all these dreams but wearied me the more.


s: Aunt Ruth's, and Roy's, and Helen's:  but they seemed


s: A part of some strange fancy I had dreamed,


s: My mind, o'ertaxed, lost hold of time at last,


s: Ignored its future, and forgot its past,


s: And groped along the present, as a light,


s: Carried, uncovered, through the fogs of night,


s: When March winds brought vague rumours of the spring,


s: A certain sense of "restlessness with rest."


s: Came back with Mem'ry, hand in hand, to bring


s: And lay upon my sore and bleeding breast,


s: Grim-visaged Recollection's thorny rose.


s: I gained, and failed.  One day could ride and walk,


s: The next would find me prostrate:  while a flock


s: Of ghostly thoughts, like phantom birds, would flit


s: Pale spectres of the past, with folded wings,


s: Perched, silently, upon the voiceless strings,


s: That once resounded to Hope's happy lays.


s: When May came, lightsome footed, o'er the lea,


s: I bade farewell to home with secret joy,


s: And turned my wan face eastward to the sea.


s: Roy planned our route of travel:  for all lands


s: Or Alps of Switzerland, or stately Rome,


s: All were familiar as the fields of home.


s: There was a year of wand'ring to and fro,


s: Like restless spirits; scaling mountain heights;


s: Dwelling among the countless, rare delights


s: Stamped with the tragedies of mighty ages


s: Of kings long buried--bare, unvarnished facts,


s: Surpassing wildest fictions of the brain;


s: Rubbing against all people, high and low,


s: And by this contact feeling Self to grow


s: Smaller and less important, and the vein


s: And to the ruling monarch on the throne,


s: Has given hope, ambition, joy, and pain,


s: And that all hearts have feelings like our own.


s: There is no school that disciplines the mind,


s: And broadens thought, like contact with mankind.


s: The college-prisoned graybeard, who has burned


s: The midnight lamp, and book-bound knowledge learned,


s: He has not conned and studied, o'er and o'er,


s: With some unlettered wand'rer, who has shared


s: Felt touch of brother in each proffered hand;


s: Made man his study, and the world his college,


s: And gained this grand epitome of knowledge:


s: Who best and most can love and sympathize.


s: Book-wisdom makes us vain and self-contained;


s: Our banded minds go round in little grooves;


s: But constant friction with the world removes


s: To grander heights, and, all untrammelled, find


s: And through its broadened realm, no longer chained,


s: Thought travels freely, leaving Self behind.


s: Where'er we chanced to wander or to roam,


s: Glad letters came from Helen; happy things,


s: Like little birds that followed on swift wings,


s: Bringing their tender messages from home.


s: Her days were poems, beautiful, complete.


s: The rhythm perfect, and the burden sweet.


s: My heart had found contentment in that year.


s: With health restored, my life seemed full of cheer


s: The heart of youth turns ever to the light;


s: Sorrow and gloom may curtain it like night,


s: It beats and tears the pall-like folds away,


s: And finds again the sunlight of the day.


s: And yet, despite the changes without measure,


s: Despite sight-seeing, round on round of pleasure;


s: Despite new friends, new suitors, still my heart


s: Was conscious of a something lacking, where


s: Love once had dwelt, and afterward despair.


s: Now love was buried; and despair had flown


s: Before the healthful zephyrs that had blown


s: From heights serene and lofty; and the place


s: Where both had dwelt was empty, voiceless space.


s: And worked, and laboured, with a right good will.


s: Aunt Ruth and I took rooms in Rome; while Roy


s: Lingered in Scotland, with his new-found joy.


s: Had snared him in her flossy, flaxen hair,


s: In contact with her people while in France


s: The previous season:  she was wholly sweet


s: Won by her fresh face, and her artless ways,


s: Roy fell a helpless captive at her feet.


s: Her home was in the Highlands; and she came


s: Of good old stock, of fair untarnished fame.


s: Through all these months Roy had been true as steel;


s: He was my friend and brother, and no more,


s: The same big-souled and trusty friend of yore.


s: Yet, in my secret heart, I wished I knew


s: Whether the love he felt one time was dead,


s: So when he came to me one day, and said,


s: With light of love and triumph:  "Cousin, mine,


s: Has pledged to me the promise of her hand;


s: With double gladness, for it freed my mind


s: Of fear that he, in secret, might be sad.


s: From March till June had left her moons behind,


s: There was no message from my native land.


s: Then came a few brief lines, by Vivian penned:


s: Death had been near to Helen, but passed by;


s: The mother and the child were both alive;


s: As throve this one, nurse had been heard to say.


s: Such hair before?  Helen would write, ere long:


s: She gained quite slowly, but would soon be strong -


s: Stronger than ever, so the doctors said.


s: Mayhap his hand had severed from the head


s: Of his own child, and pressed it to my cheek


s: And to my lips, and kissed it o'er and o'er.


s: All my maternal instincts seemed to rise,


s: And clamour for their rights, while my wet eyes


s: Rained tears upon the silken tress of hair.


s: The woman struggled with her heart before!


s: Moaning, like Rachel, that her babes were not,


s: Once I bemoaned the long and lonely years


s: That stretched before me, dark with love's eclipse;


s: And thought how my unmated heart would miss


s: The shelter of a broad and manly breast -


s: The strong, bold arm--the tender clinging kiss -


s: And all pure love's possessions, manifold;


s: Thinking of little heads of shining gold,


s: That would not on my bosom sink to rest;


s: Of little hands that would not touch my cheek;


s: Of little lisping voices, and sweet lips,


s: That never in my list'ning ear would speak


s: How mighty is the love of offspring!  Ere


s: Unto her wond'ring, untaught mind unfolds


s: The myst'ry that is half divine, half human,


s: Of life and birth, the love of unborn souls


s: Within her, and the mother-yearning creeps


s: Through her warm heart, and stirs its hidden deeps,


s: And grows and strengthens with each riper year.


s: And spend their fury, and then pass away,


s: Leaving again the blue of cloudless day,


s: E'en so the tempest of my grief passed by.


s: 'Twas weak to mourn for what I had resigned,


s: If God, from out His boundless store above,


s: I would rejoice, for her sake--not repine


s: That th' immortal treasures were not mine.


s: Better my grief and my strength to control,


s: Than the despair of her frail-bodied soul;


s: Than wear love's rose, whose thorn had slain my friend.


s: Work is the salve that heals the wounded heart.


s: And if I failed to climb the dizzy height,


s: To reach some point of excellence in art.


s: E'en as the Maker held earth incomplete,


s: Till man was formed, and placed upon the sod,


s: All landscape scenes were lacking in my sight,


s: In that, all lines of symmetry did meet -


s: All hues of beauty mingle.  So I brought


s: Much study, and some talent, day by day,


s: Stamped on some form, or looking from some face.


s: This is not Genius.  Genius spreads its wings


s: And soars beyond itself, or selfish things.


s: Talent has need of stepping-stones:  some cross,


s: Some cheated purpose, some great pain or loss,


s: Must lay the groundwork, and arouse ambition,


s: But, as the lark from beds of bloom will rise


s: Still mounting near and nearer to the light,


s: Impelled alone by love of upward flight,


s: So Genius soars--it does not need to climb -


s: Some sportman's shot, grazing the singer's throat,


s: May speed its flight toward the realm of day,


s: And tinge with triumph every liquid note.


s: So deathless Genius mounts but higher yet,


s: When Strife and Envy think to slay or fret.


s: Can silence it, or hinder.  While there's breath


s: Or sense of feeling, it will spurn the sod,


s: The acorn sprouted--weeds nor flowers can choke


s: The certain growth of th' upreaching oak.


s: Talent was mine, not Genius; and my mind


s: Seemed bound by chains, and would not leave behind


s: Looked from the canvas:  and my buried pain


s: Rose from its grave, and stood by me alive.


s: Whate'er my subject, in some hue or line,


s: The glorious beauty of his face would shine.


s: Since it but freshened, and made keener yet,


s: The grief my heart was striving to forget.


s: While in his form all strength and magnitude


s: With grace and supple sinews were entwined,


s: While in his face all beauties were combined


s: Of perfect features, intellect and truth,


s: With all that fine rich colouring of youth,


s: How could my brush portray aught good or fair


s: Wherein no fatal likeness should intrude


s: That thus would mix its sorrow with my art,


s: And made the toilsome present passing bright


s: With dreams of what was hidden from my sight


s: In the far distant future, when the soil


s: Should yield me golden fruit for all my toil.


s: With much hard labour and some pleasure fraught,


s: The months rolled by me noiselessly, that taught


s: My hand to grow more skilful in its art,


s: Strengthened my daring dream of fame, and brought


s: Brief letters came from Helen, now and then:


s: She was quite well--oh yes! quite well, indeed!


s: But still so weak and nervous.  By-and-by,


s: Such constant care, she would grow strong again.


s: No least cloud hovered in her azure sky;


s: She had not thought life held such depths of bliss.


s: And said she was a naughty, naughty girl,


s: Not to come home and see ma's little pearl.


s: As each brief line wherein her joy was told.


s: It lightened toil, and took the edge from pain,


s: Roy purchased fine estates in Scotland, where


s: And when the Roman Summer's languid heat


s: Made work a punishment, I turned my face


s: Toward the Highlands, and with Roy and Grace


s: Found rest and freedom from all thought and care.


s: Passed idly by me:  each, I would employ


s: To swell the tide of hours forever gone.


s: My first completed picture, known as "Joy,"


s: Won pleasant words of praise.  "Possesses power,"


s: "Displays much talent," "Very fairly done."


s: So fell the comments on my grateful ear.


s: Swift in the wake of Joy, and always near,


s: Walks her sad sister Sorrow.  So my brush


s: The careful study of long months, it won


s: Which set both pieces down as daubs, and weak


s: As empty heads that sang their praises--so


s: Proving conclusively the pictures' worth.


s: A worthless work.  That, left alone, they know


s: Will find its proper level; and they aim


s: Their batteries at rising works which claim


s: Too much of public notice.  But this shot


s: Resulted only in some noise, which brought


s: Of holding those frail baubles, Fame and Pow'r.


s: An English Baron who had lived two score


s: Of his allotted three score years and ten


s: Bought both the pieces.  He was very kind,


s: "Sweet friend, whom I would make my wife,


s: The 'Joy' and 'Sorrow' this dear hand portrayed


s: The joy and sorrow of your future life," -


s: And grant him favour.  He was good and kind;


s: Not young, no doubt he would be quite content


s: With my respect, nor miss an ardent love;


s: And then, perhaps, my mind was not above


s: Would be encouraged and pursued the same,


s: And I could spend my winters all in Rome.


s: Love never more could touch my wasteful heart


s: That all its wealth upon one object spent.


s: After long years, when I was gray and old,


s: And pile new sods upon the grave of pain.


s: My mind so argued; and my sad heart heard,


s: I strove for strength to utter that one word


s: My mind dictated.  Moments rolled away -


s: And forced my trembling lips to say him nay.


s: And then my eyes with sudden tears o'erran,


s: Who stood before me, lost in pained surprise.


s: "Dear friend," I cried, "dear generous friend, forgive


s: A troubled woman's weakness!  As I live,


s: From out its store, my heart can give you naught


s: But honour and respect; and yet methought


s: I would give willing answer, did you sue.