Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-04-14

almost hidden IN the darkness OF tar
corner. Suddenly this couple came
swiftly down to the centre of the group,
and stood almost directly before me.
1t is with these we have to do, gen
tlemen. One of them-the lady, if [
may call her thus-was the most beauti-
full creature I ever saw. So young she
seemed to nue., I involuntarily smiled
upon her as I would upon child. She
wore simple bodice ever blue pet
ticoat. Her arms and neck were COW
cred by chemise pulled and starched.
and white as the snow it was bleached
upon. Her hair only bound by chain
and silver arrow, fell far below her
waist. It's color was hard to define, but
seemed in the smoky glare OF the can
| dies, yelloWlsh. creamy white.
"'Her feet, beneath her petticoat,
| Like little mice, stole in and out.
| And oh. she danced in such way,
| No sun upon an Easter day
| Was half 80 fine q sight"
eyes, gentlemen, she was a theme
for poesy. I watch ed her with mute
but expressive admiration, SO tina
when her eyes met mine I fancied there
grew gentle recognition in them. She
looked up to her Titanic partner, and
smilingly drew his attention to me. I
can not describe to you the benevolent
patronage of his manner when, as if
taking pity on my loneliness, and appa-
rently pleased with my evident app eel
alton of tie lovely being that seemed in
some way to belong to him, he brought
her to my side, and with noble hospi-
tally left her, as he said, to begrlile the
time of the stranger. Good fellow that
he was, hope this kindly trust betray-
ed did not impair his simple faith in
humanity.
"'Her name is Lulu, he said, and
mine Jean.
And while [ cast about for some
thing to say to this little maiden in the
patois of her country. she began herself,
in voice sweet, low, and sonorous :
cit is, then, your sleigh in the stable
shaped like wild-g goose, and so light I
can lift it, even [ And the skins they
heightened me, they were so like pretty
crouching animals; one of them had
eyes, in truth, and Knocked me as [ peep
ed into the sleigh. And the horses they
are like deer, so small are their heads
and so slim their legs. Jean laughed
at them. He said they were good for
naught but to take In ones arms and
pat like a kitten. %
"There your Jean is wrong," I said
| quickly, not overpleased at this simple
irony. "They are good to get over
| these dreary wastes of yours, and I wish
you could just once enjoy ride behind
them, and know what swiftness means. :"
':I wish l COULD" she said, "under
the pretty skins, and all the silver bells
jingling.'
"Why can't we?" [ pleaded, coaxing-
~ pressing the little ungloved fingers
in my own. eve could get back again
before our friends would find out we
were gone. and then you could tell Jean
how wrong he was.
&c An arch smile moved her beautiful
lips and frightened the depths of her
soft black eyes; her foot tapped upon
the sanded floor, and her white hand
futtered in mine. It was the sweetest
moment Of uncertainty with which had
ever aught to do.
"Come, Lulu" whispered. :" You
don't know how happy it would make
fme." .-. -.......-,. -.
and too,'' she said, looking up in
my face with innocent candor. /" Ialso
would be happy IT,
sit was probably the first temptation
offered to this child of nature. She
yielded to it with guileless enthusiasm.
"Shortly after we were bounding over
the snow with speed of the wind. My
gallant grays, rested and refreshed, and
seemingly conscious of the lovely bur-
den they bore, so swiftly flew along that
at times we were lifted from the surface
of the earth and drawn in d-air, while
[ tugged at the reins and endeavored to
restrain their ardor.
Lulu's eyes shone like lambent
stars; her hair foated out on the night
wind
care you happy, LULU I said
But yes" she replied, quickly.
''And your
'sAh, Lulu I began, hundred de-
lights pleading for utterance; but in
that sumpreme moment of Joy I was
checked by group of fr-trees that
rose before me, Immediately barring
our further progress. They were
strangely unfamiliar. r ar IN the distance
[ saw the shadowy outline of forest.
I reined in the painting animals. My
heart grew cold within me. An icy
dread paralyzed for moment even
thought and feeling. I had mistaken
the way. We were lost! And to be
lost in this Canadian waste was simply
death in slow, tortur1ng, terrible form.
To turn back and traverse the way
that it seemed we had come was my first
effort.
"Yes, we will return" said Lulu, be-
ginning already to tremDle with vague
fear. "Jean will become anxious"
Alas for poor Jean! he was at that
moment securing the white desert in
search of us, the prey of bitter fear.
I watched every object that lifted it.
self above the surface Of the slow, but
could recognize none, and became pain
e