well only upon
those passages which hint of other joys quite apart from your
interest in me. My desolation is that of a storm-tossed soul, seized
by every breath of fear and tortured by every agony known to the
forsaken. Have you no pity for me, Margaret? Drive no more shafts of
anguish through my bruised and shattered heart, but gently administer
in words of endearment the potency of your enthralling glances.

"'Forlorn, my love, no comfort near,
Far, far from thee, I wander here;
Far, far from thee, the fate severe,
At which I most repine, love.

"O, wert thou, love, but near me;
But near, near, near me;
How kindly thou wouldst cheer me,
And mingle sighs with mine, love!

"Around me scowls a wintry sky,
That blasts each bud of hope and joy,
And shelter, shade nor home have I,
Save in those arms of thine, love.'"

"Oh, my! How gushy!" exclaimed Gabrielle, as she laughed, and looked at
Jim to see if he were enjoying it as thoroughly.

"Yes, but how jolly it is to read," said Hygeia. "Listen to this:

"'There comes a faint ray of sunshine and hope when I read just a
word of your possible home-coming in a fortnight. Would that I might
keep that single thought in mind to illumine the dreary prospect!
There are times when it blazes brightly, and with the tripping
footsteps of joy I think of you as here at my side. How sweet the
fancy--

"'We'll gently walk, and sweetly talk,
Till the silent moon shine clearly;
I'll grasp thy waist, and, fondly prest,
Swear how I love thee dearly;
Not vernal showers to budding flow'rs,
Not autumn to the farmer,
So dear can be as thou to me,
My fair, my lovely charmer!'"

"My, but wouldn't it be fine to have such letters to treasure!" laughed
Gabrielle, teasingly. "Jim, don't you think it splendid?"

But Jim looked glum and tried to dodge under the quilts.

"'It is not every night I _can_ dream, believe me, darling,'"
continued Hygeia, her face in smiles, for she felt that her audience
was now in sympathy with the reading. "'Many and many a night I pace
the floor of my dark room or idly sit by the window gazing out at the
flickering stars and the pale moon until they fade away in the dawn,
and then I rush out into the turmoil of the unheeding, jostling
world, with nothing to live for but your return. On those night