Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-23

IucIc WIS SO1lo NSly llUeSSSllIIS
about this young girl; her entire APP
pearance was unique. Even the floating
hair-a something SO uncommon to the
high and ponderous .chignons worn now
a-days by the ladies-seemed SO careless
and yet SO beautiful, that | gazed upon
the wearer in silent admiration.
The June afternoon was wearing
away, and still / sat gazing upon the fair
form opposite, which sat with thoughtful
eyes looking out upon the scenes that we
were passing. [ endeavored to turn my
thoughts and eyes away, but they would
not.
After awhile one little hand reached
forward and gathered up the clusters of
dying buds and whitening leaves, which
rested upon the cushion next to her. A
culver passed over the coral-like lips, and
grieved look came into the red-brown
eyes, as she passed her fingers
caressingly over the dropping
buds. The sunshine came drifting
through the windows, and rested in arrowy
lines upon the golden-brown hair.
The sunshine faded, the gray twilight
crept into the train, and the dim rays of
the lamp shone feebly upon the pure,
sweet face. One small hand supported
the beautiful head; the other clasped the
wilted sweet-brier
Away and away through the darkness
we sped My thoughts were away upon
some Utopian dream; the fairy form of
Mabel was clasped to my heart. | called
her "pet'' and "darling," when-there
came a maddening plunge, a roar like
distant cannon, and [ knew no more.
When consciousness returned, [ found
[ held some object in my arms, and by
the light of the June moon, which looked
down mournfully upon the wreck, I
found that my little " sweet-brier' was
resting upon my bosom, her face as white
as the drifted snow, her long lashes veil
ing the beautiful eyes. | pressed the
slight form closely to my heart, and
wondered within myself as to how she
came there.
Presently lights fickered here and
there, borne in different directions by
those who had come to our relief. What
a scene of confusion was presented! Car
riage upon carriage, a crushed and
broken mass, lay heaped within a deep
ravine.
s'These are not deadp' exclaimed a
voice, and the speaker bent his kindly
face above us. Here, lend hand, my
boys; the gentleman is not dead. | am
not so sure about the LADY,"
Rough, but kind and willing hands,
raised us, and bore us gently to a small
house some distance from the wreck. My
wounds were not very severe-more
bruises than aught else, and a sprained
ankle.
For a long time our efforts seemed
vain with the fair and lovely being SO
strangely thrown upon our care. AT
length a slight CONFUSION passed over her
frame; CULVER played about the closed
eyelids and around the pale compressed
mouth, and, with long shuddering sigh
she opened her beautiful eyes. She
gazed round wonderingly upon the
strange faces bending over her, and
then, with a weary moan, pressed her
small hands convulsively together. As
she did so, her cherished sweet-brier
sprays fell from her clasp and rested upon
the counterpart. I gathered them up
with jealous care and placed them in the
breast-pocket Of my coat. | felt that,
somehow, we two were to be more than
strangers to each other.
ALI night T sat in a large chair at her
bedside. In vain the physician urged
me to retire. My little Mabel should
not be deserted, [ thought within my
self; and [ watched at her side gently
caressing the frail little hands or bathing
the fair brow.
At length the bright beams of new
day began to find their way through the
curtains and to press loving kisses upon
the golden head on the pillow. The dark
eyes opened, gazed into mine gratefully;
and raising my hand, which was holding
hers, she carried it to her lips, while tears
gathered in the great sparkling eyes.
What was it? What tie bound our
hearts? Unable to resist the power
which held me captive to its will, | bent
forward and pressed my lips to the lily
brow. A beautiful blush for a moment
suffused the sweet face; then with sigh
she turned upon the pillow. AS she did
SO, the beautiful waves Of hair were
brushed aside, exposing q neck as pure
and white as marble, and something
more-a large scar reaching from behind
the left ear to the back Of her beautiful
neck. The mystery of the floating hair
was explained; and I tormented myself
with a thousand questions, as to how that
Jagged scar found a place upon one so
fair and lovely.
No word was exchanged between us.
Holding my hand tightly clasped in her
delicate fingers, she again slept. [ sat
in the great {. sleepy hollow Of chair,
and pondered over the events, the
strange events of the past twenty -four
hours. Whowas she? And why was it
that | felt such a resistless, overpowering
interest in being [ had never spoken
to-had never met before? The day
wore on; it was passed at her bedside.
She slumbered ftfully, and [ sat there
and dreamed. The physician came in
several times, and said if she remained
perfectly quiet she would be able to
travel in a lew days. The shock had de-
ranged her nervous system, and she must
have time to recover. He asked me if [
was friend Of the lady? | told him I
was.
AS the twilight came on, felt must