Was It Right to Forgive? A Domestic RomanceBarr, Amelia E.
General
Was It Right to Forgive? A Domestic Romance
Barr, Amelia E.
Fiction
There was a fine sincerity, a sincerity like that of light, in
Antony's nature; his moral sense was definite, his words were
truthful; he was another Peter Van Hoosen transplanted into larger
atmospheres, and nourished in tropical warmth. Speaking physically,
he was not handsome; speaking morally, he was very attractive. His
fine soul erected his long spare form, gave the head its confident
poise, made the face luminous, and the step firm and elastic. It was
like breathing in a high atmosphere to be with him; for he shared
himself with his fellows, and poured his life freely into other lives.
Was it, then, any wonder that Peter and Yanna gave themselves
entirely, that first happy day of reunion, to a son and a brother, so
lovable and so attracting?
There was no wonder, either, that in the cool of the evening,
Yanna--with a conscious pride in her brother's appearance--asked him
to walk to the post-office with her. She wished to experience some of
that pleasant surprise which his reappearance in his native village
was likely to make. But the girls she hoped to meet thought Antony was
"one of the Yorkers from Filmer's place," and they kept on the other
side of the street. Not always do our ships go by in the night;
sometimes we see them pass in the daytime, and are too proud, or too
careless, to hail them. One of these girls had been a dream in
Antony's heart for years; he had really thought of wooing her for his
wife. But she was envious of Yanna, and passed on the other side, and
fortune did not follow, nor yet meet her, ever again.
Because the next day was the Sabbath, there was no visiting nor
receiving of visits in Peter's house; though the young man was
recognized at church, and welcomed by many of his old acquaintances.
And early Monday morning Yanna began to expect Rose. She looked
forward to her visit, and kept Antony by her side on many pretenses,
until the day became too warm to hope longer. Then she wrote to Rose
a letter, and, in the cool of the afternoon, Antony went with her to
post it. They were walking slowly down the locust-shaded street, and
talking of the girl whom Antony had thoughts of wooing, when Harry,
driving Rose, turned into the street a hundred yards behind them.
Instantly, both were aware of Yanna and her strange escort.
"Do you see that?" asked Rose, with a wondering intensity. "Now, who
can he be?"
"How should I know?" answered Harry--and he drew the reins, and made
the horses keep the distance. He had himself received a severe check;
he did not know whether he wished to proceed or to turn back.
"Yanna never told me about him."
"Girls never do tell _all_. Will you now call on Miss Van Hoosen?"
"Why not?"
"You might be the one not necessary."
"Indeed, I shall call. I told Yanna I would see her to-day. I shall
not break my word, for any man. I dare say he is one of her father's
builders, or architects, or--some one of that kind. I do wonder if
Yanna is deceitful!"
"All girls are deceitful."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account