The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-10-19

wonder il all this will seem liSe dream
then 2"
"It will not seem ike dream to me"
she answered, sofly. Itu will have
other things to DO; you will be at home
tuen, with the people that you love
about you; but lshall have nothing to
do, monsieur, but to sit still and think
Of all this time. "
She always called him monsieur" "
even still. lie asked her long ago to
call him by his name, but she had new
Ell done it.
81 have never been so happy in all my
lie" he said presently; he had thrown
himself down Oh the brass, and laid
his head upon her knees; he was looking
at the cd Town, not at her. "lf | lived
for hundred years | never should for
get these weeks. If ever | have a hol-
lday again, shall l come back, Christi
ueE"
~ should he glad if you come back"
She was bending down little, not
touching him us he lay, but only locking
at him with the lashes low over her eyes.
If | come back next summer-I
doo't think | could, bnt supposing that
| did--should we have all our old walks
over again? Do you know, Christine,
say we never enjoy the same thing twice
in the same way. But | don't believe
that If | were to come back again
next year, why should we not be just
the same again as we are now ?"
" Perhaps we change when We do not
know it, " she said.
" We need never change in some
things, he answered, hastily. II don't
know whether you mean to forget me,
Christine but shall remember you to
the last hour live"
" Monsieur, | shall not forget you, :"
she answered, softly, after mo,leut's
silence. "What shall, | have to do,
when you are gone, but to remember =?
" hen | come back here, can ] forget
how we walked and sat together? When
90 home to my mother, can I forget
how your coming used to make her face
bright? 1t is not those who remain be-
hind that forget. | do not think yoU
will forget us when you go away per-
haps you will think Of uS often but you
will think of us-you said it truly-as
if we were parts Of dream while lcc'
with a passionate gesture that he did
not see, she clasped her hands, and ut.
tered the last words with broken sob
Monsieur, when me lose you, we lose
our daily bread.
He turned his face around, and look
ed up, aud saw her checks wet with
sudden tears. Then, at that sight, half
awed and wholly touchod. the youth
reached up his hands and clasped hers in
it,and drew herarm down round his neck
Christine, owe you more than |
have given you, a thousand times" he
cried. Aud holding her hand still, he
raised it to his lips, and reverently and
and almost pas ieaatcly k ssed it.
His last night in old liouen Long
after he parted from Christine he was
still wondering about the dark Old streets
all lying quiet under the solemn summer
sky, and going from church to church
that he had loved to take his last fare
well Of every noble front and kingIy
porch. And long after even that final
walk was ended, he stood at his own
window, leaning on his balcony, aud
iooki:g down up2n the river that flow
ed silently beneath The stars; dreaming
some dreams, the memory Of which-all
Cologad b. the glorious illusions Of his
youth-rcmajncd with him through al
ter Years, till both boyhood and youth
had fed
lie went away very early in the morn,
ing. The diligence in which he was to
leave began its journey at six o'clock
and by quarter TO six Christine and he
we're standing in the court yard whence
1t was to Start. they stood apart from
the other passengers, away from the CON
fusion and the jostling of the people,
very quiet, hand in hand.
They Wee together for about ten min
uteS, but there was something during
those minutes in the throats Of both OF
them that almost choked their words
Christine, | will come back again, ,"
he said to her, two or three lines.
Once he looked in her face, and said
" Don't forget me " \ nd the poor girls
lips quvercd as he spoke, with a look
that he Eeyer afterwards forgot.
lie stood clasping her hand in his un.
I'll he heard his name called, and the
summons given him to take lis place.
Then he turned round and looked into
her face, and said half audibIy.-
Christine Z"
" Monsieur she answered, with a
wild, sudden sob.
She threw her arms about his neck.
BY one passionate impulse they kissed
each other; aud with that first and last
embrace they parted and never met more
The old mau has told this story, stand.
ing in the shadow OF the church.
Aud did you never see her again,
graudtather?"
Never, my boy. 1t was a dozen
| Of Va.rs kat,,o -. L 1