Zula Part 54

"And perhaps not always friendly."

"Oh, no, my people are as varied as those in real life, and possess the warmest love and the most bitter hatred."

"But there is a charming feature about the surrounding objects. You have them completely under your control."

"Yes, for though they are extremely ill-disposed, they dare not be rebellious."

"Miss Elsworth, I have often thought that it must be a very happy life that you lead."

"Why?"

"You always look happy."

"Do you always judge from appearances?"

"No, for I know that there are those who can cover an aching heart with a smiling face."

"That is true, and I believe there is a skeleton in every closet, either great or small."

Ross looked at the lovely face, and wondered where there could be a skeleton for her. She had never appeared to have a heartache, but he noticed that at times there was a longing look in her beautiful eyes, as if she were not quite satisfied with life, though she had never uttered the word that said she was not entirely happy.

"There are those who can keep the skeleton so securely hidden that you would never know it existed, and I often think of what a vast amount of self-control it must require to bury the secrets of some heart-sorrow," said Ross.

"Yes," she answered, "self-control and patient endurance. I have known those whom I would give the world to be like, just because they possessed the fort.i.tude to crush down and bury their heartaches."

"I should judge that you possessed that faculty, if you had any to bury."

"I? No, I wish I did. There is a hungry feeling so often comes up in my heart that I almost cry out in despair, though my sorrows are nothing compared to many another."

"There are some sorrows that never can be crushed--that will exist while life lasts."

"Yes," she answered, looking up at the soft twilight sky, with a face full of tender emotion, "and G.o.d pity those who are helpless."

"There is a skeleton in our home that can never be removed, a disgrace which can never be blotted out, and I have sworn to have revenge on the villain who threw the dark shadow over our lives."

"Revenge can avail you nothing, and might bring still greater misery upon you," said Miss Elsworth.

"That is true, but you cannot realize how hard it is to crush down a bitter feeling toward one who has injured you."

"Perhaps not, but this I know, that the hardest battles are fought with our own hearts."

"That is true, and the man who ruleth his own spirit is mightier than the one who taketh a city. Had the enemy captured us in any other way, I might have been more easily reconciled, but Bessie was our idol, the pride of our home, and she was the baby, too, you know."

Blanche looked on the fine face of Ross with a heart full of pity, and the tears shone on her long, dark lashes, as she said:

"Mr. Graves, I sympathize with you, and I wish I might help to lift the dark shadow that is hanging over your life, and if there is any way that I can make Bessie, or any other member of your family happier, I am more than willing to do so, if you will only tell me how it may be done."

"Oh, Miss Elsworth, how much happier you could make my home if you would. Your presence would make bright the shadows which lie around my door. Your presence would make a paradise where otherwise would be the loneliest, most barren desert."

"Please, Mr. Graves, do not talk to me in that way. I am not capable of brightening any life any further than to do my duty to mankind by helping where I can."

"You may not quite understand me, my dear Miss Elsworth. I do not say that I dare hope for a return of love from you, but I do say that it would make my life brighter. I know that you can win a man far better than I am in every respect, but that does not make me love you less."

"Hush, Mr. Graves, I cannot listen to you."

"I do not blame you, but I have often wished that you were not as grand a woman as you are--that is, so far above me--there might be some hope for me."

"I am not above you in any respect, but I cannot listen to such words from you."

"Why not from me?"

"Because it is not right."

"What can be wrong about my telling you that I love you?"

"I cannot tell you all the secrets of my life, but let this satisfy you: that it would be wrong for me to tell you that I loved you, and such a thing can never be."

"I wonder why fate is so bitterly cruel to me," said Ross, in a sad voice.

"Perhaps, Mr. Graves, if the veil were lifted that hides the life secrets of some of us there would be heartaches revealed even greater than our own, though G.o.d knows I do pity you, and will acknowledge that your sorrow is a great one and almost too hard to bear. I can sympathize with you, for my own life has its waste places, but I try to look over them and keep my eyes as much as I can on the flowery hills beyond. There are few lives without clouds, and no cloud but that will at some time break and show the silver lining."

Ross shook his head and turned sadly away.

"I know," he said, looking toward the western sky, "I do not expect that you could love me or that you would stoop----"

"Stop," she said, in a firm, low voice. "It is not that I would need to stoop. I am not above you in any respect."

"But, tell me truly, Miss Elsworth," Ross said, as he turned and grasped her hand, holding it firmly in his own, "tell me, is it because I am disgraced?"

"No, for in my eyes you are as free from sin as any man I know."

"I thank you for those words," he said, releasing her hand. "It is a great comfort to know that you respect me."

"I have the greatest respect for you, and wish in my heart you might be happy."

"Do not send me away without answering me one question. Do you love another?"

"Have you a right to know the secrets of my heart?"

"Perhaps not, but if it is so I shall give you up without another word."

"Then be satisfied that it is so."

"G.o.d help me," said Ross, as he turned to leave her.

"Ross," she said, in a low, soft voice, "do not be offended; be a brother to me, for as such I shall always care for you."

"I will try," he said, with a smile, as he looked into her eyes, ere he left the spot.