Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-18

utterly friendless, she wiped my tear
stained face with her white handker-
chief, and took me away. I had no
friends. I was no better than master
less dog, and worth far less. But she
took me TO a great, clean, bare and
quiet place-an institution, they called
it-where there we're many others as
homeless and wretched as l. And
there they washed me and made me so
clean and fresh, that I thought the
real me, the ragged red-eyed, unkempt
surplus atom of humanity that had
been me, was gone away over the seas
with Jim, and this rosy checked child
was another rue newly come into the
world.
Then one day there came grand
stately lady who took me away to live
with her, and be her own little girl
This lady wore shining silks, and lived
in q SPLENDID house, and had lad in
velvet jacket who was about as big as
Jim. 1t was al like strange bright
beam, if I could only have forgotten
jim. But could not.
Jim was surplus population no long
er; perhaps he was drowned; his ragged
jacket and crownless bat might be
buried now away down under the sea.
Nobody about me now wore patched
shoes, or trowsers out at the knees, and
nobody, it seemed to me, not even
Louis, was SO kind and good to me, not
even he, had an eye as bright and soft
as Jim's, or hand as warm. And SO
I never forgot jim, but always in my
heart of hearts [ seemed listening and
waiting for him.
Sometimes I used to lure Louis down
to the wharves, and always when I
walked by myself my steps turned
thitherward, and thus it was that new
er lost sight of the ships, and dimly,
family, unreasonably looked for the re-
turn of Jim.
But it began TO be years since dear
tall youth home from college, and l
was-well, folks called me young lady,
and said that | would marry Louis
some day. And perhaps they might
have been right; but how could I be
lady-a real lady, you know-with an
Old straw hat and ragged jacket stow
I'd away in my heart? Even after 1
grew up, had fits of silent fretting for
Jim that seemed as if they would eat
my life away. Mrs. Belden said it was
because was growing, and she took
me away one bright summer to the
sea shore. Oh, the sea-shore! I can
not tell you what | felt when first saw
the seattle real ea-stretching away
from the white line of shore, throbbing
and sounding as 1t brimmed to the hor-
ions edge. This was the sea, the glo-
rihed sea; the sea no longer grimy
and smoky and gray with getting its
living, but the sea translated, purified,
made holy as if after death. The days
went and came shining and beautiful;
and every day walked on the shore
with Louis, ran races with the breeze,
picked up shells, or gathered sea-weed,
or watched the sunset gliding the sails
of some far-hitting ship. Louis face
was sweet in those days, and kind
as sunlight: and his voice was
soft and low when he spoke to me, for
he said We were old friends now, and
had known each other so many
years that we ought to love each
other alzays. One afternoon we
strayed farther than usual, and the twi-
light deepening as we walked, I think
we both forgot everything save that we
were young and happy, and life was
glorious. Love- The word dropped
warm from his lips, and seemed to
color all my future with rose tints. All
my past seemed sinking out of sight.
The gates of paradise were open, and [
was free to walk therein if I would.
Not for me the barrenness, the disap-
pOintment, that blighted other lives. I
might make mine what / would with
wealth and love for my servants, and
luxury and JOY at NV command. All,
well | remember that afternoon bv the
sea the long line Of white beach, the
overhanging cliffs, the twilight touch
ing the water with a golden glow, and
giittering on the tall masts, and a ship
lying at anchor beyond. Oh, life was
SO beautiful oh, love was SO beauti-
fal A lightness of heart, a capricious,
intangible, elf-hke mood fell upon me,
born perhaps Of the very overflow of
bliss. [ remember clapping my hands
as [ skipped along, and challenging
Louis to race. Perhaps be had urged
me too persistently to respond to his
affection, to say when would be his
wife. Wife [ wanted to be no ones
wife just then, but only to love and to
live. Would | answer him? sighed
Louis.
When you catch me-" I responded,
mockingly,, fitting along the sand.
Away I went, with Louis, following,
breathless. We rounded the curve Of |
the shore, and was just about sinking
down upon the sand to wait for him,
when an Old boat with broken oar
caught my eye; it lay swinging in the
shadow just where a great rock over
hung the beach. Lightly, thought
lessly, I stepped into the tiny craft, and
waving my handkerchief laughingly to
Louis, caught up the oar, and set nv.
self afloat. | scarcely thought of what
| was doing; it was a mere ca price born
of Eghtness of heart and youthful
thoughtlessness. But single glance
at Louis's countenance reused me to
the folly was committing.
Come back come back p he cried;
:" the current will carry you out of
reach IN moment ~