The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-07-05

The slanting beams of the summer
sun found us strolling along the cliff,
at whose feet the white.capped pillows
came tumbling in in endless success
sion, awaiting his going down amid
the tossing waters of the lake. The
bright disc sunk lower and lower, un.
til it kissed the watery horizon, dip
ped below it, slowly, majestically
passing from view. The pathway of
gold, which stretched across the wa
ter, gradually becoming narrower and
less brilliant, until with the disappear
ance of the orb, it faded entirely from
the wave.
With a sigh of relief, Halcyon turn
ed from the spectacle whose grandeur
had held her appreciative soul en-
tranced, and thoughttully we resumed
our walk along the cliff.
a little further on we came to an
old gnarled tree, which hung far out
over the water, so that its trunk was
nearly horizontal.
What cozy little nookr' exclaim
ed my companion, as her eyes fell up
on place among It's branches where
the limbs grew SO as TO form sort of
rustic seat; and spriuging from my
side, she ran and placed her foot upon
the trunk, extending her arms, as if TO
balance herself while she walked out
10 the seat.
"Halcyon Halcyon r l cried warn
inglv, as l fastened forward 10 pre-
vent her from attempting what MAS
imprudent if not actually dangerous.
She turned round with light
laugh.
I'm not afraid" she said, and took
a step on the trunk.
Don't don't! Haalcyon," expos.
tulated several OF the ladies, turning
pale with apprehension.
But disregarding them, she took
hold of limb, walked along the
trunk, and was soon seated in the
fork, calling upon us to do homage TO
our queen.
As she let go the branch with
which she had steadied her steps, 1t
few back, brushing across her throat
and breast with some violence.
"Oh, my brooch" she exclaimed,
placing her hand where the jewel had
been. The branch brushed it OFF,
and it has fallen upon the ledge be-
low. Who will recover it for me-"
Your own true Knight l replied,
springing forward, aud swinging nay
self TO the ledge, with the aid OF some
saplings which grew on the spot.
l looked under her direction for
some time. without success; and she
called upon me 10 assist her down
that she might join ME. But our
search proved fruitless, and was final
ly postponed until the morrow, when
there would be more light.
We now turned and looked out
over the lake. The sgitsted waters
were of purple hue, save where the
breaking crest of wave tossed its
wreath Of foam in vivid contrast with
the surroundings. The billows fol-
lowed in tireless chzse, TO tumble
over and over one another on the
beach
"A hundred feet belew!" said Hal
cyoa, as she gsxed down the sheer de-
scent.
Then, in the growing shadows, we
returned 10 the house. which an old
time hospitality had filed from floor
to gsrret with 4 throng of guests, in
honor of Halcyon's eighteenth birth
day.
The festivities of the day were
done, as all things will have an end
I had returned TO the cliff for quiet
stroll, alone with my thoughts. And
pleasant ones they were-of her who,
Of late, was seldom long out of my
mind.
| In fancy / lived over again all the
bright moments of that day. l re-
called feeting smiles. like flashes of
sunlight, gone ere their presence is
fully realized-sudden glances-little
ripples Of laughter; and memory in
vested them with sweet significance.
Only one shadow arose TO mar the
perfect serenity of my thoughts
Halcyon had felt more concern at the
loss of her brooch than she had ex-
pressed. But this in itself was fat
tering to my love, since the trinket
was my present TO her. Moreover,
I had no doubt of being able to find
it in the morning. and SO banished all
unpleasant thoughts from my happy
dream.
The wind had lulled to gentle
breeze, and the surface of the lake
looked, in the moonlight. Ike sheet
of frosted silver. l stood gazing out
upon it, wrapped in reverie, until a
distant bell tolled the hour Of mid
night. Then | smoked my cigar into
a bright glow, tossed it out into the
air, aud watched it descend until il
struck the water and went out.
Strangely enough, sort of chill
crept over me as the light became ex-
tinguished, and turned away with a
feeling as uncomfortable as it was un.
accountable. Smiling that / should
be SO affected by such trife, | leis
urely proceeded toward the house.
/ / had forgotten the transient de
preston that had fallen upon my spir
its, and was again rearing those airy
structures which find place only in a
lovers brain, when football sudden
ly aroused me from my meditations
paused in the shadow of a tree. and
the next moment white figure fitted
J before me in the moonlight.
| could hardly repress an exclama
ton of astonishment. It was Haley
on. She had evidently just ariser
from her bed, and come out, only tax