Ten Days In Love

It was a cold night in January. People were hurrying along through the blindiug snow storm, battling with the wind that howled and moaned out by turns its story of woe. Ilugh Remington and his friend Williams, glad to be out of the storm, had settled themselves in gown and slippers for a quiet evening at home, The shutters were closed and the curtains drawn, and on either side of the hearth was placed a f avorite chair of each. These f riends had lived together in their bachelor quarters for more than two years. Everything in the apartment showed refined taste and wealth. Some said that it all belonged to Hugh and that he made it a home for his friend. No one, however,knew this to be trae. Hugh was quiet and reserved, seldom spoke of his affairs to anyone, never laid any special claim to anything, but allowed it to appear that itll mmjps ncic equtuiy siiaiett. Aiwjr the evening papers had been read and discussed, the two sat talking of days gone bv, of little episodes in their lives. Hugh was in a good talking mood and had told several good stories of his past lif e ; stopping suddenly, he exclaimed : "Did I ever teil you of my love for the widow?" "No," replied "Williams. "Let's have it." "Well," said Hugh, taking another cigar, and looking very serious as he leaned back in his great easy chair, "I met her in Paris." "Met who ?" "Oh, never mind wlio. Be content that I am telling you the story, and don't ask f or ñames. I thought of her as 'the widow.' It is a sufficient title." "Well, I won't interrupt. Go on'" So Hugh continued : "I was calling upon my old friend Mrs. Lee, and while waiting for the servants to take my card, an odd piece of brie a brac standing in the corner of the room attracted my attention. I got up and went over to examine it. While thus engaged, the door opened. I turned, thinking it was Mrs. Lee, when oh ! what a beauty met my sight ! - so small thatshe lookedlike a child, large deep blue eyes that carne out from under a mass of light golden curls, a small nose, and a rosebud of a mouth. She was dressed in deep mourning, and I thought as I looked at her, that I had never seen a more beautiful picture. She didn't see me until I made a slight movement, which startled her. Coming forward, I said, " 'I f rightened you, did I not ?' " 'Yes ; I was not aware that there was any one in the room. You are waiting for Mrs Lee?' And she gave me the sweetest of smiles, showing a most perfect row of teeth. "Bef ore I could answer, Mrs. Lee appeared, and introduced us. Mrs. - - was making Mrs. Lee a short visit prior to her departure for America. I was glad of that. as I should then have the pleasure of seeing her agam. "The evening passed only too quickly, and I aróse with an apology for staying so late. Mrs. Lee invited me to dme with them informally the noxt day. She said her friend preferred bting quiet, so they should be quite alone. You may be sure that I accepted the invitation, and was there promptly at the hour. The widow was more charming than on the previoas evening. I longed to stop the hours f rom rolling on. Having been in the habit of dropping in at Mrs. Lee'a at all hours, my frequent - almost daily - visits were not noticed as anything strange or unusual. Mrs Lee thanked me for coming to them in their loneliness, and the widow would give rne one of lier sweet smiles, and I was thankf ui in my inmost heart that they were lonely, and that it feil to my lot to cheer them. So the week passed, until the time carne for the departure of Mis. Lee's friend. "Now I had intended passing a month or two in England before coming home, but when I found that the widow was to return in ten days, I began to think that my duty called me back to my business. The more I thought of it, the more important it seemed to me to go" 'Do you know of any one going on the 15th ?' the widow asked me, one evening, in her dove-like way. " 'X o one but myself,' I answered. 'Business has called me sooner than I expeeted.' '"How delightful!' f rom the widow; while Mrs. Lee exclaimed, 'Oh, Mr. Eemington, I am so glad ! I couldn't bear the idea of my friend going entirely alone, and you of all othe-s will know best how to take care of her.' "We then began to make our plans. Mrs. intended making a visit of a few days to soine f riends in London. I was going direct to Liverpool. Mrs. Lee and I drove down to see our friend off, and I looked forward to the pleasure of meeting her on bourd the steamer. My last days in Paris were apent in saying 'good-bye' to old friends, and buying presents for sister Nell and the chiidren. 1 got every nouveaute that 1 could lind, and feit well pleased with my selection. At last I was on the steamer, and stood looking at the widow, and I thought that I had never seen her look so lovely. I exulted in the knowledge that she knew no one on board. I was her only f riend, consequently should have her all to myself ; this was (so I said to myself ) what I liad for weeks been longing for. Was it love ? That question had not occurred to me. I was supremely happy, and thought the situation delightful. I was ready to do anything for this fair creature. She had only to command; for I was all eagerness to obey. I soon liad opportunities of showing my devotion. "Tlie following morning I came out on deck very early, and was surprised to lind my little lady already there. Shelooked very miserable and very pretty. The morning salutations over, I asked her how she had slept. " 'I havn't slept at all,' she said, in a fretful, childish way, which I thought charming. 'Such a noise all night,' she continued, 'I could not get to sleep ; and the smells are simply dreadful. I must have another room, I'd rather sit up here all night than sleep in that horrid place again. Don't you think, Mr. Remington, if you asked the captain, or somebody, he would give me another stateroom ?' and her big eyes looked enquiringly into mine. " 'Certainly,' I said. 'I will go at once and see about it, and if there is no ocher, you shall change with me. Take my room, which is a good one, and as I don't mind either noise or smells, your room will suit me well enough. Here Hugh leaned over his chair to knock the ashes off his cigar, and said to his f riend : "I must have had it pretty bad - eh, Williams? - to have said that, for you know that I can't endure either a bad odor or a loud iioise. But I forgot everything when under th inttuence of those eyes, and when she exclaimed, 'Oh, no; I couldn't let you do that,' I feit that my fate was sealed, and that I should take the noise and the smells. "The next thing I discovered was that my lady had no sea chair. There was only one left, and that had been spoken for; but I paid doublé the amount, and the chair was mine. " 'You are so kind, Mr. Remington, she said. '1 don't know what I should have done without you. I am not fit to tmvel alone,' she added, in childish tones. "I longed to press her to my heart and telf of my love ; and if she would but let me, it would be the joy of my lif e to care for her. I looked all this ; 1 am sure I did. But there were too many people around for me to speak. lap, and looked divinely unconscious. "The third day out the weather became bitterly cold. " 'I am almost frozen," said Mrs. . 'What shall I do ? I have nothing to wrap around me, and shallhave to stay below, and, oh dear, it is s,o uncomfortable there!' The face turned up to mine was that of a spoiled child. "Now I had a finejEnglish rug, which I had used at night, for you know everything at sea is so horribly damp. It had been a great comfort to me, and I knew that I should miss it. But what of that ? I couldn't see the woman I loved suffer. So I got it, and tucked her all up in it. Her delicious smile repaid me for the sacriflce. " 'Oh how nice !'she said,as she put her hands under the warm rug. 'It seems to me, Mr. Remington, that you have everything to make one comfortable. I never heard of such a man. I am so glad that I carne under your care !" "I was so love-strickeii that I did not refleet upon her unconsciousness of the fact that I had deprived myself of these comforts in order that she shoukl be made comfortable. She seemed to take it f or granted that I was a sort of traveling missionary, with extra wraps, state-rooms, chairs and anything else that one might need ; and I was such a slave to her facinations that, had she asked me to do the impossible I should have attempted it. "Every day I had it upon my lips to teil her of my love. Each day courage forsook me, We walked the deck day after day. She would put her little ;oft hand on my arm in the most conflding way, look up from under her curls, laugh her low sweet laugh, and ask the most childish, innocent questions. "We were walking tliis way on the sixth day out. I had carefully rehearsed my part, and was about to teil my story. Her conversation seemed to lead to it, f or she said, ' 'You will come to see me when you are in IsTew York, won't you, Mr. Reinington?' "'Nothing,' I said, 'would give me greater pleasure.' "You will come of ten ? Promise to dine at our house once a week. You won't forget me?' and the blue eyes sought mine. "I looked into them, and my look told what my tongue had ref used to say. I pressed the little hand close to my heart, and after a pause said, below my breath, 'Forget you !' and I was about to pour forth my love when she gave a little scream, and cried, 'Oh, my veil !' There sure enough, was the confounded blue thing sailing before the wind, and all the passengers, it soemed to me, after it. Of course I had to go too, and make believe to capture it. I never hated anything so much as I did that yard of blue gauze. I couldn't go back and continue my story from where it was so suddenly broken oñ', and indeed the widow seemed quite shy of me. "The incident had given the passengers an opportunity to speak to her and when I joined her (without the veil, for it had, I hope, struck bottom) she was surrounded by a group of people. I had no chance that day, nor the next, to get her to myself. I tried to think of something that I could do or show her that would amuse and detain her. It seemed as though I had exhausted all my resources, when at last a brilliant idea occurred to me; I would show her the presents I had brought for sister Nell. They were all in my little sea trunk, and I knew that she couldn't resist their attractions. She came up on deck bright and beautii'ul as ever. " 'Isn't it delightful,' she said, 'to think that to morrow we shall be at home ? I can hardly wait for the time to come ; and yet' - and her voice dropped into the dearly loved soft tone - 'the voyage has been a most charming one, owing to your kindness,' she added brightly. "I longed to launch forth my tale of love, but thinking it more prudent to wait until I had secured her wholly to mysel I', I asked her in the most ordinary manner, if she wouldn't enjoy looking at some little trinkets that I had picked up in Paris. Her eyes sparkled. " 'Yes, indeed,' she said. 'ÏTothing could be more delightful than to get a glimpse of Paris while at sea.' "I went below and got all my pretty ouveaute.1 and brought them up to her. Placing a chair in a quiet corner, and well hid from the other people, then drawing mine up beside her, began shovving one by one my collection of orld things. "'Wliere did you get them, Mr. Remin gtonT Í hunted all over P;uïs and found nothing half so pretty. Wliat exquisite porte bonhmirsl' and she slipped one after another of my carefully chosen bracelets on her little plump wrists, and turned them first on side and then on the other. "I know Nell's taste, and had searched tor something uncommon, and was well pleased with what I had bought. Bat Nell and eerything were forgotten with this bewitching creature by my side, and when she made a move to take them off I said, laughingly, of course, 'Oh, don't disturb them ; they look so well where they are, and it is so pleasant, you know, to get a glimpse of Paris white at sea.' "She kept them on, and I opened the other boxes. There were rings, crosses, medallions, chatelains, and many other ornaments of curious design. The widow decked herself, and was in high glee. A child could not have enjoyed it more. I watched her with loving eyes, told her where each one carne f rom and helped fasten them on. " 'I f eel like an Iridian princesa,' she said, 'and ought to have a throne and a crowd of kneeling courtiers, and the picture would be complete.' "'Can't y ou imagine a throne? I said, 'and take me for 'kneeling courtiers. Wouldn't my love compénsate for the admiring crowd ?' She looked up quickly and was about to answer, when one of those eternal oíd bores that, no matter when you cross, are always to be found on shipboard, carne up and began telling of his early reminisicences : what the sea was twenty years ago - as though the sea had ever changed - and how, when he had first crossed, his friends never expected to see him again. He had made his will and they parted as though he were to be forever lost to them. I assure you that I silently wished in my heart that he liad never turned up again.Without saying a word, I got up, took my boxes and lef t my Indian princess. I was thoroughly angry with the oíd fellow for interrupting our tete a tete and seriously annoyed with Mrs. for listening to and anavvmincf, him. I made up my mind Enattnat garile ñau. ul f..„,i n,x„ enough. I would ask her the simple question the ürst chance I got and know my fate at once. But the chance did not come as soon as I expected it would. "She went to her room with a sick head-ache so she said, and I paced the deck alone. We were a long way up the harbor when she made her appearance the folio wingmoming. She said that she had hurried witli her packing, thinking that we were nearer than we really were to the city. " 'Oh, Mr Remington, I had no opportunity of returning your jewelry, and so I packecl them with my things. But you are coming you know, to dine with me on Saturday, and I will then give them toyou.' " 'Certainly,' I said. 'There is no time for us to cliange them now. Wear tliem until I see you again.' "I had fully made up my mind tliat, as I had been baffled so often, I would now wait until I had seen her in lier own home before I opened my heart to her, or rather before I asked her my fate. She already knew my heart. There was no time to talk ; all was excitement ; we were rapidly approaching; bandkerchiefs were waving f rom the docks. The widow was straining het eyes, and suddenly leaving me and going farther forward. I saw her throw akiss. How I longed to catch it! I looked with jealous eyes to see who would take it up and answer it. Foremost among the crowd was a great big man - six f eet and broad in proportion. It was he who was returniag her kisss. Conld it be her brother, or was it a friend, and this merely a pleasant greeting f rom a distance ? "I watched him come on board, and what did the big idiot do but cateh her up in his arms- my sweet one, whom though loving, I had never dared to toueli - and kiss her over and over again! I could have knocked him down. "On drawing near to them, I saw that neither of them noticed me. She had forgotten my existence. With a heart-sick feeling I turned away. "Was this to be the end V Why had I come home? I could hear them talking, though too miserable to listen. They came neaier, and the same eoft voice uhat i loved so dearly said, 'Mr. liemington, I have been talking about you, telling how good and kind you have been, and how utterly forlorn I should have been had you not always looked out for my comfort. I have come to thank you, and my husband wants to thank you too.' "Her husband ! Great heavens ! And I thought she was a widow, and had made love to her! I listened as though in a dream, and a deuced unpleasant one it was, too. I believe he thanked me, and she praised, and he thanked again, and Uien they urged me tocóme to see them, and she said, 'Don't forget Saturday.' "Whether I said anything, or er I remained mute, is more than I can teil. I was like a man asleep, and had to give myself a good shake to come out of the nightmare tiiat 1 ws in. When I looked around, she-they - were gone." Here Hugh stopped as though he had flnished ; but his friend Williams, whose curiosity was aroused, asked : "Did you dine with her on Haturday?" "No ; I sent a regret." "Have you ever seen her since ?" "No, never." "What became of your nouveautes de Paris f' "Nell went without them, as I went without my English robe." "You don't mean that she never sent them to you." "I never gave her my address, and she was not supposed to know where I was." Williams didn't ask any more questions and Hugh remained quiet for a time. Then arousing himself and getting out of his chair, he said : "I have never made love since, and" - with a bitter laugh- "I alwaysavoid women in deep mourning. And now, as the tire has gone out with my story, I think we had better go to bed."