Daybreak: A Romance of an Old World

the nineteenth century. We were nearing the close of

I had just been over to bring her home, and we wer

llection. No formal words of betrothal had ever passed between us, but for years we had spoken

er impulsive way, "at what te

d say about one degree above its freezing poin

in the course of this voyage than for two long years. I trust you will not be offended when I say I hoped to find you changed. I have never spoken to you about this, even i

have disappointed you and I will make what amends I can. Tell me the nature of the change you hav

as only shyness then, and always hoped you would outgrow that and gradually become an ideal lover. You have such a multitude of other perfections, however, that it may be nature has denied you this so

to such an extent? Don't you see that I am aching to begin the im

ake an extreme comparison, frozen mercury is warm beside you, Walter. If you a

as understood that I

l that wonderful and beautiful world of romance that ought to come before marriage. Is this voyage to come to an end and mean no more to us than to these hundreds of passengers around us, who seem only intent to get back to

n I meet her in New York to-morrow or next day, if I should throw my arms around her nec

ret, laughing. "But I decline to accept the parallel. I have not given up m

never heard her speak one word on the subject, and, now that I think of it, I am not sur

never told her love. No, it is not so serious as t

there something that sp

ds are the daughters of earth and deeds are the sons of heaven.' That is true, but let us no

rgaret, that your words are o

that my impulsive and sometimes passionate speech would offend your taste, you who are outwardly so cold. Do you know, I h

can be free from observation, and then shall I seize your hand, fall on my knees, and, in vehement and extravagan

ine as the real scene. So you have a passio

on, let me tell you a little more ab

set phrase, I do not mind saying to you that I loved her dearly, or thought I did, which was the same thing for the time being. I loved her as well as I was capable of loving anybody. What I

he had taken the full classical course at Harvard, carrying off several of the high prizes, had then enjoyed two years of post-graduate work at Clark, and finally spent tw

ut extravagance of any kind to detract from her self-poise. In short, she was a symphony, a grand and harmonious composition, and still human enough to love a mortal like me. Such was the woman who was trying to instill into my wooing a little of the warmth and sympathy of her delightful nature. As for myself, it will be necessary to mention only a single characteristic. I had a remarkably good ear, as we say. Not only was my sense of hearing unusually acute, but I had an almost abnormal appreciation of musical sounds. Although without the ability to sing or play and without the habit of application necessary to learn these accomplishments, I was, from my earliest years, a great lover of music. People who are born w

correctly. This rudeness made such an impression on her girlish mind that, although she forgave the offense and continued to love the offender, she could never be induced again to try her vocal powers before me. All through her school and college days she devoted some attention to music, and while I heard from others much about her advancement and the extraordinary quality of her voice, she always declared she would never sing for me until she was sure she could put me to shame for my early indiscretion, so painfully present

and other acquaintances. She did this as part of my punishment, trying to make me realize how much pleasure I was losing. Each time I crossed the ocean to visit her I expected she would relent, but I was as often disappointed; and now this homeward

continued much longer before I acknowledged in plain language that I knew my fa

some violent sensation, some extraor

f my relations with you have all conspired to make me satisfied with an easy and rather indolent existence. I realize I need a shaking up. I

o oppose themselves. No more dark continents wait to be explored, neither is there novelty left in searching the ocean's depths nor in sailing the sky above us. Civilized warfare itself, the only field remaining where undying fame may b

line," said Margaret. "Now let us

amer when we are going up the bay, so that I c

ere not for the other people," she returned

ght of something which would be rather safer for you. How would yo

ing and clapping her hands, "if you can onl

I answered. "So you ap

this planet are exhausted, as you seem to think they are soon likely to be, you and I have other worlds to conquer? Perhaps in t

the same remark, only the word enthusiast did not fit my temperament at that time. But our tastes agreed perfectly in that matter, and we had always read with avidity everythin

ll as I could in an amateurish way, so that she might be able to retain me as an assistant. We were to be married at sunrise sharp, on the first day of the next century, and to lay the corner-sto

. The night passed, and it was just as I was rising that a thought flashed upon me which I determined to put into execution at the first opportunity. This came early the next evening. As we expec

heart and draw out in more passionate expression my too obscure affections. Your words haunted my sleeping and waking thoughts until it fortunately occurred to me that you yourself had the very means for accomplishing my reformation. You know how impressionable I am to every wave of sound. Who knows but your voice, which I am sure will be the sweetest in the wo

itself do? Perhaps it would drive you to the other extreme, and you would become gushing. Just think of that. But, seriously, I am afraid y

rnest in my life, and I am sorry you

urbed here. And now that you have made a start, perhaps you wi

orse than ever. Now is your t

argaret sprang up im

must go and get it, and put it into my bag. And I had better run down and see if auntie