Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1880 — THE FOLDED LEAF. [ARTICLE]

THE FOLDED LEAF.

The light from two large lamps shed its soft, mellow radiance over the room, and contrasted strangely with the bright rays of the crescent moon that came in through the open window and lay in silver bars upon the carpeted flopr. That the room was what is usually termed a “bachelor’s den” was to be seen at a glance; but there was far more taste displayed in the arrangement of all it contained than is generally found in any place not under the immediate supervision of one of the gentler sex. It could be seen in the arrangement of the pictures upon the walls ; the careful manner in which the choice books and magazines were placed upon the table, and in the ornaments displayed upon the mantel. Everything iu the room gave evidence that its occupant was a man of taste. And well it might, for Charlie Knight, who passed the greater portion of his leisure time within this room, was proverbially fastidious, and iu nothing was he more so than in the arrangement of all that pertained to his own immediate comfort.

A brief description of Charlie Knight will be sufficient, find we will give it as he sits at one of the windows, lazily smoking a cigar and caressing a small, yellow terrier that is asleep in a chair at his side. His is not a face that would attract the attention of a casual observer, but a second glance would have revealed the unmistakable signs of temper, pride and stubbornness. Broad, high forehead, full lips and small, blue eyes, were all indications of a strong will and determination. His complexion was fair as a girl’s, and there was a peculiar feminine east about his countenance which, with his low, well-modulated voice, was well in keeping with his lazy, indolent style ; but there were well-defined lines of care upon his forehead and beneath his eyes which told that even thus early in life lie had found that— There’s a burden in life for every man’s shoulders— A sorrow which all must bear; We may miss it in youth, but ’twill conic when we’re older, And lit us ns close as the garment we wear. Seated near him at table is a youth who, though he boars little or no resemblance, is his brother. No two persons could be more opposite in looks, ideas and disposition. Yet between these two, despite the difference in their ages, there was a strong bond of sympathy and love, so often remarked between persons of directly opposite natures. It need but one glance at the face of Walter Knight to know that he was totally without firmness. He had been potted from earliest childhood—-not a desire of his, that was possible, but had been granted by indulgent parents, and now, at the age of 19, when most boys go forth into the world to battle with its reverses and disappointments, he was wholly unprepared to meet the stern Fealities of life.

As he sat at the table now, his head resting upon his hand, his handsome, boyish face was distorted by an angry frown, and occasionally lie muttered some indistinct word as lie ground his heel, into the carpet. At length he sprung up, and, giving his chair a kick which sent it spinning into the further cosuer of the room, lie began walking up and down the apartment with angry strides. His brother glanced up from liis cigar with a half-amused, half-angry expression upon his countenance, at this sudden outburst, but said nothing. At length Walter threw himself into a chair near his brother, and exclaimed : “Charlie, you are a brute ! ” Charlie removed liis cigar from his lips and blew fort)t a cloud of fragrant smoke that completely enveloped him, and as it slowly lioatcd forth upon the night air he laughed good-humoredly, and said : “You are very complimentary, Walter, and 1 fully appreciate the delicacy with which it was passed, but I fear if any representatives of the brute creation were present they would hold you personally responsible for the insult, to their race. Here f.tiks ; wonder what he will think of it V But. then he has associated with me so much that he has lost all self-respect, and considers himself no better than I am.”

Ami, as lie ceased speaking, lie gave the dog’s ear a pull that caused him to yelp with pain and annoyance. “Justus good as I could have expected from you,” exclaimed Walter, in disgust. “There you sit, stargazing out of that window, knowing that Jennie refused nm this evening, and knowing that for lhe life has lost all brightness, and yet not one word of sympathy do you offer ; and when I remind you of what a brute you are, you must needs get off one of your cursed jokes.” “ Because I do not talk to you about your disappointment, is that any reason that Ido not sympathize with you? I believe, with Tennyson, that “ Sorrow’s crown of sorrow Is In remembering, happier things. ” “ There you go again with one of your poetical quotations. I believe you devote all your leisure moments to storing up such rubbish,” exclaimed Walter, angrily. “Yes, I plead guilty to the ’charge,*’ replied Charlie, laughing, “ for, like the man who bought the coffin at auction, * they are good things to have on hand. ’ But seriously, Walter, did you care so very much for this girl ? ” ' And as he asked the question his face assumed a grave look, and the mirthful expression went out of his eyes. “Carefor her!” exclaimed Walter, excitedly; “she is the only woman I ean ever love. But what do' you know of such love as mine ? You, who care nothing for woman except to flirt with her for an hour, and forget her in five minutes afterward. Of course you will only laugh at me, and I was a' fool to expect anything like sympathy from y° u -” k Charlie did not immediately reply, but turned again to the window, and looked out into the night. The soft summer wind sighed through the branches of the tall oaks, as though ringing a requiem for the shattered hopes of the living and the sohls of the dead. At length he tossed his unfinished cigar out of the window and, turniug to his brother, said : ‘‘ Waiter, you think me eojd tiu,j sols-

ish it is impossible forme to appreciate your disappointment, bes!Smtiflfe''’yon believe I have never been /nmjlarly situated. Ah ! Walter, there ytf a folded leaf in my life—a tumedoown page that you have never read—never even heard of. I seldom speak of myself, as you are aware, for I always think I can find a more interesting topic for conversation, but, after hearing you assert so positively that you could never love any woman except Jennie B—- —, I fief it my duty to. unfold that hidden page to you—though to recall the past will be anything but pleasant to me, for “There are hours long departed which memory , brings. Tike the serpent of Eden to twine ’round iny boart, Atid, as time rusheß by on the might of bis wings, They may vanish awhile, but never depart." 'BRH . Walter looked up at his brother, and, as he noted the serious expression upon his Usually-smiling countenance, the restless, disappointed look upon his own face gave place to one of attention and interest. Charlie was silent for a few moments, as if recalling the past. At length lie spoke m a ealm, even tone of voice : “ It has not l>een very long since what I*am about to relate occurred. Not long, if measured by months and years, but sometimes real or supposed sorrow causes time to go by on leaden wings, ami so in this case,

“ It has not been so very long Measuring the years that have fled; Hut it teems to me « century, Counting the hopes that are dead! “I cannot, now remember the first time l imagined myself in love, but I think it must have been far back in my juvenile days, and from that time on I worshiped at a new shrine of beauty every few months, for, as you know, I have always borne the reputation of being tickle. It was soon after my return from abroad that I first met Annie Everets, and a more self-conceited, egotistical person than I wrs at that time you have seldom met with. I had decided that it was about time for me to marry and settle down, and I auis fool enough to think I had only to choose from among the girls of my acquaintance any one that might please my fancy, never for a moment supposing that they would think of- declining the honor I considered I would be doing the one on whom I bestowed my name. You may well smile,” he said, as he caught the merry twinkle in his brother’s eyes, “ I am disgusted with myself now whenever I think of what a consummate idiot I was at that period of my life. “As I said before, I met Anfiie Everets, and, as 1 thought, fell in love with her at first sight. Her face was dark as a Spaniard's, hair and eyes to correspond, and form tall and stately ; add to these a nature proud and selfish, a temper beyond her Control, and a disposition that was obstinacy itself, and you have a description of Annie as 1 recollect her. Of course I was blind to all her faults, and magnified her attractions—if attractions she possessed —in a manner that, would have been creditable to the love-sick hero of a modern literary production. “ Well, 1 had been acquainted with her but. a few months a lien I told her, in my self-conceited way, that I had a decided preference for her above other girls, and asked her to accept my hand and heart. She blushed and declined to give me a positive answer just tlieh. I attributed this to her extreme shyness, and left her presence that day feeling uncommonly well pleased with the world in general and myself in particular. “ Months passed on, and I did not again allude to the. subject except in a casual way, for I felt perfectly satisfied what her answer would be, and considered myself the same as engaged to her. I called at her home to see her often, and was her escort to all the social gatherings and places of amusement which at that time, it being near the Christmas holidays, were very numerous. Already rumor had linked .our names together as a couple who would, at some time in the not far distant future, launch our bark on the broad sea of matrimony. “I will at this point of my story do myself the justice to say that I was honest in what I told Annie in regard to mv love for her. Even now I believe I loved her as much as it was possible for me to love any one at that time’ except myself. “How long this state of things would have continued I am unable to say, had not the fates decreed that it should come to an end. There was a party iu town ■ one" evening, but, for some reason which

I cannot now recall, I did not accompany Annie. Parties, as a general thing, were my beta noir. So on that occasion I did not put in an appearance until rather late in the evening. When I arrived, of course my first thought was of Annie, and, after searching among the crowd of her acquaintances and failing to discover her, I decided that she had concluded to remain at home, and I was just wondering what I should do with myself during the evening when a couple in a distant part of the room changed positions, and I discovered her seated near it window and engaged in earnest conversation with a young man. As that individual still resides here, and is an intimate friend of yours, I will not call his name. Let it suffice for me to say that he was one toward whom 1 had always entertained it most supreme contempt and abhorrence. I felt somewhat chagrined at her evident interest in what he was saying, and determined to tell her so as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

“ Seating myself beside an incipient girl, I amused myself by passing compliments upon her beauty, every one of which she believed to be seriously meant. Wearying of this sort of thing after a short time, I walked out upon the long veranda and concluded to indulge in a quiet smoke until such a time as Annie should be disengaged. “ Lighting a cigar, I seated myself in the shadow at the further end of the veranda and gave myself up to meditations, of which Annie was the most prominent object. “How long I had been sitting there, lost in reverie, I know not, ivhen suddenly 1 was aroused by voices very near me. In a moment I recognized the voices of Annie and the fellow I had seen her conversing with a few moments before. I was satisfied they were not cognizant of my close proximity, < and was on the point of speaking to them, when I heard my own name pronounced by the man, and concluded to renfain quiet and learn in what way I was connected with their conversation. I had not long to wait; in a moment he spoke again : ‘ ‘ ‘ But report says you are engaged to Charlie Knight, and his exclusive attentions to yon of late are sufficient grounds for such a rftrnor. ’

“ Breathlessly I waited to hear Annie’s reply. .She laughed a low, mocking laugh, and replied: “ ‘And would you hold me responsible for every absurd rumor that is started by meddling gossips ? Have I not told you, only a few moments since, that you are the only one I ever loved ? As for Charlie Knight, I will admit that I have allowed him to make a great fool of himself iu his attentions to me, but you know he bears the name of t ■***> Prstelass flirt, and 1 thought I would teach him a lesson he would not soon forget, for I am satisfied the fellow really does care for me. But if you object I will bring the flirtation to an end. I “ ‘ If that is the ease, I have no objection to your continuing it as long as you like* Knight is a conceited puppy, and ‘deserves just such treatment. ’ | “How I hated that man then ! You •know self-control is not one of the peculiarities of our family, and instinctively ,my hand sought a small pistol, which ‘from force of habit I always carried, but *in an ins. ant I gained control of myself, and they walked away and returned to the room. lyhere the company were assembled,

“I -will not tell you of the sleepless night I passed, or of the thousand and one curses I heaped upon the head of this woman, whom I considered the destroyer of my happiness. The next morning I wrote a short, note to Annie, telling her to forget all I had ever said about loving her, as I had discovered that I was mistaken in supposing that I ever cared for her. During the day I sought out her companion of the evening previous, and accused him of using my name disparagingly, and when he denied it I gave him the lie, and followed it up with a storm of epithets and abuse that few men would care to hear Applied to themselves. Having thus relieved my feelfar as possible, I settled down inWWpffioomy, morose lilT*Tforswore women, isolated myself from society, and, in fact, made myself as miserable as possible, and thus continued •until 1 met, by accident, Ida Severeri. She was all an artist could paint or a poet dream of. A perfect description of her would be as impossible as a perfect description of some hot-house exotit!, whose loveliness must be seen to be truly appreciated. “ Light and willowy of form, with indescribable grace in every movement and gesture, complexion fair as a lily, dark hair and eyes, small mouth, with lips just a shade deeper than the crimson that tinted her cheeks, aud constantly reminding mo of two twin rosebuds. When she spoke they displayed two rows of small, even teeth, that were pearl-like in their whiteness. Her face was perfect enough to have served as a model for a sculptor, and in each velvety cheek were tiny dimples, which seemed fit hiding-places for the god of love.

“All this I noted on the occasion of our first meeting, but, as I became better acquainted with her, I learned to fully appreciate the many noble qualities that composed her nature. Above everything else, 1 had always admired truthfulness in women, but Ida Severen was the only woman I had ever met who would not occasionally tell what in society is usually termed ‘ while lies,’ and it was seldom indeed that she would attempt to prevaricate on any question. And last, but not least of the admirable qualities in her nature, was the gentle, lady-like manner that characterized her conversation and actions on all occasions. “I visited her frequently and met her often away from home, and I learned that there was much congeniality between us. She was fond of books, had read considerable, and possessed the happy faculty of remembering what she read, consequently she could converse well on subjects pertaining to literature for one of her age. We became firm friends, and, while I knew I admired her beauty and goodness, the idea that I loved her never once occurred to me, for, like you, I considered that to love once was to love forever, and I believed that my love had been sacrificed at the shrine of Annie Everets. The knowledge that she was dearer than a friend came to me suddenly—like the bright rays of sunshine bursting through a dark cloud alter a summer shower shower. We were together one evening when she informed me that she would soon leave her native town, perhaps never to return, and expressed her deep regret at being forced to separate from her many friends. It was then that I knew that I loved her. It came to me like a revelation—all iu a moment. I thought that I had loved Annie Everets ; I now knew that I worshiped Ida Severen with a passion that would be life-long in its duration.

“It had been an easy matter for me to tell Annie of my supposed love for her, but now it was different. I trembled to ask the question, the answer to which I knew must either bring perfect happiness or bitter disappointment. All ray self-assurance left me, and my lips refused to give utterance to the words t hat trembled upon them. “A week passed—a miserable week to me—and again I was with Ida in the cozy little parlor of her home. It was a beautiful Sabbath evening, but all the beauties of nature were to me as nothing, when compared to the exquisite loveliness of her sylph-like face and figure. On that evening, for the first time, I saw her with that wealth of dark, shining hair unbound, falling in all its glorious beauty about her graceful shoulders, and down below her slender waist, and she seemed to me an angel who had left for a time her celestial home above to visit this mundane sphere. As I sat listening to the dulcet tones of her soft, musical voice, I felt that I could never leave her presence without knowing my fate, let it be what it might. “In a voice suppressed by the conflicting emotion of hope and fear,. I told her of my love, and, with as much composure as I could command, awaited her answer. ‘ ‘ She was very candid,and told me that, as she had always considered me as a friend, she had never dreamed of my thinking of her in any other light, but gave me to understand that she was not wholly indifferent to me, and bade me hope. When I pressed her for a more positive answer, she replied : “ Ob, bid li o not so soon decide, For fear that we should part; Ask me not to be your bride, Til] you have won my heart.” ‘ ‘ She left town before I had an opportunity of seeing tier again, and I am still hoping for the best. ‘‘ My story is now ended. You can now understand what before was a mystery to you, as well as to others of my acquaintance. You now comprehend what it is that has changed my indolent, careless life, of a few months ago, to one of energy and perseverance. lam still hoping that sometime I may gain her love, and am striving to make myself more worthy of her. “Of course, what I have told you has been in confidence—you are not to repeat it, but,” he added, with his accustomed laugh, “as it is close upon the noon of the night, suppose we retire to our humble couches and sleep the sleep of the just.” —Chicago Ledger.