Daybreak: A Romance of an Old World | Page 5

to keep pace with
Margaret in her studies as well 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-stone of our observatory at the exact moment of the
summer solstice of the same year. These were Margaret's suggestions, but even I was not
averse to letting my friends see I had a little sentiment.
That night I dreamed of almost everything we had been talking about, but lay awake at
intervals, wondering if I could, by force of will, work out the reform in my character
which Margaret desired. 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 expected to reach our wharf soon, we had finished
our packing, and were now sitting alone in a retired spot on deck on the starboard side.
As soon as we were comfortably arranged I said to my companion:
"Margaret, as this is the last evening of this voyage, it makes an epoch in our lives. Your
school days are now over, and henceforth we hope to be together. Would not this be a
most appropriate time for me to be introduced to a voice with which I propose to spend
the rest of my life? Last night you were anxious to think of something which would
arouse my dormant 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 world to me, may be the instrument destined
to stir my drowsy soul, to loose my halting tongue, and even to force my proud knees to

bend before you? In short, why not adopt my suggestion, break your long-kept resolution,
and sing for me this moment? Is the possible result not worth the trial?" To this long
address, which was a great effort for me, Margaret answered:
"You surprise me already, Walter. If the mere thought of hearing me sing can prompt
such a sentimental speech as that, what would the song 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 you would laugh at my voice and send me back to Germany. When
you were talking I thought I could detect an undercurrent of fun in your words."
"I assure you I was never more in earnest in my life, and I am sorry you will not sing. Is
your answer final?"
"I think I will wait a little longer. We are liable to be disturbed here. And now that you
have made a start, perhaps you will improve in manners becoming a lover without any
more help."
"No, I shall relapse and be worse than ever. Now is your time to help me find my heart."
Without answering, Margaret sprang up impulsively, exclaiming:
"There! I have forgotten that book the professor borrowed. Men never return anything. I
must go and get it, and put it into my bag. And I had better run down and see if auntie
wants anything. You stay right here; don't move, and I'll be back in just three minutes."

CHAPTER II.
A FALLEN SATELLITE.
I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer chair to await
Margaret's return. The three minutes passed, and she did not come. Evidently it was hard
to find the professor, or perhaps he was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of
the book. At any rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining position,
and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining square in my face, if that
could be said of an object that looked so round.
I fell into a deep reverie. My mind was filled with contending emotions, and such
opposing objects as rolling worlds and lovely maidens flitted in dim images across my
mental vision. I loved the best woman on the earth, and I wondered if any of those other
globes contained her equal. If so, then perhaps some other man was as fortunate as
myself. I was drowsy, but determined to keep awake and pursue this fancy. I remember
feeling confident that I could not sleep if I only kept my eyes open, and so I