The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-09-17
to waste on love, if that's what you


"You' We hit my meaning exactly" he
answered. 1t seems to amuse you"
To tell the truth it does amuse me-
Ostrander is so handsome, and in love
with Lena, who is so prim, and thinks ei
nobody but the bed-ridden and poverty.
stricken; very good, of her, no doubt
but not half so natural as caring for Os.
trander would be.
Sunday-Ostrander overlook us com.
ing home from church, and wanted to
walk around by the haunted mill, but
Lena was going to hear the lessons of her
ragged schools at Poverty Point. Os.
trander said he hoped she would teach
them to love one another. He and
walked OH together over the crazy bridge
by the deserted mill, where the river
slides by, reaching an arm toward the
distant sea, and the trees bend over to
look at themselves on either bank till
their tops iAterlace. felt almost sinful
to be there enjoying myself in the Sun
day stiffness, with the perfumed fields
stretching away off in the sun, and the
river ripping at my feet, and Ostrander
repeating snatches from the poets that
painted the scene to perfection, while
Lena was doing good work at Poverty
Point believe confessed to the sem
sation, for Ostrander said:
81 suppose every one must do good in
his or her way"
"But it seems to me- I replied, "that
Lena's method is to do just the contrary
to what she would like to do"
"Do you think she would prefer walk
ing with us to teaching those ragged
urchinsg he asked, Frightening.
81 havn't doubt but she would prefer
walking with you," assured him "only
Lena is perpetually Notifying the
flesh"
Upon my word l could't help wonder
ing at her when he sighed and looked
away "across the rivers dim expanse,"
and forgot me for half an hour. If any
one loved me like that, / should be
ashamed to make no return, but-nobOdy
does.
Tuesday-"I suppose" said Ostrander
last night, I" that if l were an invalid, or
a fellow with cataract or hump, Lena
would be devoted to me-"
Cant you pretend to some misfor-
tuner" asked.
| "'Win, flooking well can't move her.
Looking Ill preval?"
| y
your regard, we'll call it it lacks piquan-
cy. If she were to grow jealous of you,
| now"
elena jealous" he laughed. Gone is
never jealous of that which is already
ones own, and which one does not great
ly prize" .,,, -, . .....
ing it. Blessings brighten as they take
their fight
81 doubt if she calls my regard bless
ing"
"Why don't you try the experiment
of proving whether it is or not :"
"That might be wise---to know the
worst--only haven't spirits for it,"
Faint heart never won fair lady,"
at would seem rather unfairly,
wouldn't it ITO the third party mean
if you'll pardon the conceit, unless---un-
less you'll consent to play proxy your
self?"
81 never thought of it," / returned !;
but it would be good fun; something
to laugh about when you and Lena have
married and settled into the Darby-and-
Joan style"
"It would be the only safe way" he
said. "There would be no danger of
mistake on either part we should both
know our role and if l should fail in
mine," he continued, with a gallantry
touched by melancholy, "and Overdo it,
Lena would lose nothing that she values,
and you would gain as little"
What would Lena say if she knew that
we were plotting against her peace of
mind?
Wednesday.--So the play begins, I was
helping Lena on some garments for
missionary box, when maid came up to
say that Mr.. Ostrander was waiting.
PLEASE excuse me to him." said Lena,
laying on the patterns and calculating
her cloth; 81 really can't see him to-
day"
at was the other young lady he was
after askin' for" corrected Bridget.
ooh! for you," looking up absently,
with suspended scissors. dts so dread
full to have an up and down to anything I!
Don't let me keep YOU"
"No, WON'T" saidI. "We are going
out boating floating, floating, like
dream M. Ostrander and 1"
"You and Ostrander," she repeated,
mechanically. "Well, ask Bridget to
put you up luncn.
She won't take my usurpation so calm
ly by-and-by, or Pm no prophet.
Monday. Rain, nothing but rain since
Wednesday-and Ostrander. Lena goes
out all the same to ragged schools and
committees on charities Ostrander of
fers to carry her umbrella, but she OBJ
jects that his presence would be embar-
RAISING in sick-chamber or school-room.
He watches her out of sight, and returns
to me. We play solemn game of crib
bage, and then, before / am aware, Pm
telling him everything ! know and don't
know, and really making him laugh at
my nonsense, as If the weather and Lena
were kind. To-day he has an idea; he
is going to paint my portrait. Of course
it will be daub. What will Lena think.
We have been singing psalms and spirit
ual hymns all the afternoon. Lena came
in on us, and stood listening in her drip
ping clothes. They are to have a volun-
tary choir at church, and she thinks we
might offer our services. Ostrander is
afraid we should quarrel, choirs are 30
touchy.
Thursday.-I have sat for my portrait
several times. 1t is 10 odd to see my
OWL eyes anu nosc BfoWlnB upon Tie CALI
vas, and the unreal semblance of myself
a sort of wrath. He-is painting me as
the Lady of Shalott. l don't half like it.
The towers of Camelot, and Lancelot
riding down, are to be family limned in
the dreamy distance.
"T am half sick Of shadows says
The Lady Of Shalott."
August-Lena for some days made no
sign, but the charm, or counter-charm,
begins to work. For a while Ostrander
and rowed alone on the river, cantered
through the green roads of Newbury, to
Crane-neck Hill to cool ourselves with
the filmy vision of Mount Washington
against the far horizon; together ex-
plored every inviting path through the
woods, and scared the partridge from its
covert. The neighbors began to look
askance at me. They think am steal
ing my cousins love before her eyes. But