Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-05
JAMES LONG DAY.
BY RICHARD BOWLING.

Above the plain fronting OF the glen
hung the tranquil autumn moon. The
air was filed with a silver haze that
floated like curtain at the remoter
limits of the plain. The pines and
beeches of the glen stood mute, their
voices hushed in heavy moisture. Far
down the plain Jagged blur of light
showed where the city slept, and from
either edge of this jagged blur of light
the river stretched like a silver belt
with the city for golden clasp.
In the glen no sound stirred the
silence, save when dew drop fell from
a spray or bough and shuddered
through the sleeping leaves to the
ground. The shadows of the trees
filed the place with unexpected dark
ness. Here and there shining walls of
moonlight stood between the trunks of
the trees and rested upon huge lush
ferns and tangled brambles clinging to
the precipitous sides. Half way down
the glen black parapet. reaching from
side to side, cutthe fieecy air. Agaunt
arch pierced the parapet, giving dull
steel-gray mill-pound lower still, and
where the moonlight shot UP through
the arch and struck the glen ragged
silver pool shone tangled among
the rocks and claws of the
pines and lush long ferns dropping low.
No water fell through the gaunt arch
into the moonlight beyond. The silver
pool was only seed of the torrent cast
into the hollow nook, there to lie until
the yellow foam sprang out Of the heart
of the mountain higher up and swept
through the pool, to fall in a roaring
cataract towards the river In the plain.
A furlong farther up than the bridge,
and high above the shadow. 1T cast,
stood large white cottage fronting the
moon. From the lower levels of the
glen it looked like cloud which had
wandered from the sky and foated
down the glen until it rested On the
ledge
The silence of the place at length was
broken, and footsteps approached by
the path along the dry bed of the tor
two figures emerged slowly. As they
drew near the cottage they looked
black against the light; but where the
arm Of the woman bent level with the
moon through the arm of the man, the
sleeve showed a sparkle of white fringe
to the moon. The head of the man in
clined so as almost to meet hers. Now
and then he raised her hand and touch
ed it with his lips. Lovers IN that rich
vaporous moonlight. Lovers wander
ing through that luxurious solitude, by
those tall nodding grasses and mellow
ferns.
They advanced until they were close
to the garden wall of the cottage. In
the pulseless stiffness of the hour their
voices foated wide and seemed to
clothe the glen with mystic life The
listening spirits of the verdurous ar
cades echoed their words in fine, faint
tones.
"The time won't be long coming
round, darling" He put his arm
about her and brushed the hair back
from her face.
No, Luke"
"And, Jane, when the day does come
you won't be sorry, will your"
He pressed her closer and drew her
adIdown upon his shoulder.
eYou won't be sorry, Jane," he re-
peated, "when the day comes and I
raise the veil and kiss my wife?"
She did not speak, but long tremu-
lous sigh foated into the night He con-
tinued to speak:
"And when you are my wife will
not only do all can to make you hap
Ply while am with you, but work hard
to assure your future when | am gone;
for, Jane, am ten years older than
you, and men are shorter lived than
women, and shall die long before my
darling"
"Husn Stop, Luke! What do you
mean? Why Go you talk Of dyingw
"1here Twill not again"
"But, Luke-my Luke, you are
strong, Why do you put such thoughts
into my head? 1t has always seemed
to me as if you could never die. Oh,
Luke, my love! you will not die; you