Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-06

longed-for of his heart. They wandered
on for few moments in silence unbro-
ken, save by their own light footballs on
the green turf. Elvie was was the first
to speak.
81 want to introduce you to my moth
er. You do not even know her by sight
yet, I believe, Mr. de Brusle, do your
Ono, but wait while; it is far better
here away from all that glow and noise
of people. Stay little longer, won't
your
The voice was very pleading, but
Elvie was hostess, and she had been
absent from her guests quite long enough !;
SO they hurried back, and after little
search found Mrs Keller standing in the
centre of crowd Of people, to whom she
was pointing out the chief beauties of
the conservatory; but she could not have
found a finer flower than herself, lily of
fragile loneliness in her floating azure
draperies.
Mr. de Brusle, my mother, Mrs. Kel-
ler."
Black eyes met black in glance Of
half-wondering surprise. They neither
of them spoke, and Elvie and her COM
panion passed on, as some one else
stepped up to greet the mistress of the
mansion.
"Is not my mother beautiful?" ques-
toned Elvie, glancing up into her
escorts face. His expression was per-
fectly wrapt as he replied, Beautiful?
she is [ know not what, like nothing
earthly; spirit descended from above!
Beautiful ?-she is divineV
Elvina did not answer, and very soon
after, her presence being required in
another quarter, she left De Brusle to his
own reflections. To these somewhat
silent companions he did not long de-
vote himself; and taking an opportunity
when Mrs Keller was disengaged, he
made his way up to her, and they were
soon engrossed in conversation.
Elvina Keller was very happy that
night, so happy that she might have
known it would not last; she believed he
loved her-he had almost said he did :;
and Elvina loved him, Louis de Brusle,
with all the rich, luscious sweetness of
her august nature. She had not known
him long; but the soft-voiced, passionate
foreigner had won her love-her delicate,
pure, first love-and Elvina's first would
be her only.
So as she brushed out her long waving
hair early that summer morning after
the .tete, Elvie Keller was very happy;
as she gazed into the mirror, she fairly
revelled in her loveliness.
"For his sake-ah, for his sake" she
murmured, 60 am so glad that I am
beautiful, for he loves beauty, and all
things sweet and fair!'
So she lay down on her white bed, to
dream and wake in a happy-forever.
Days, weeks, months, slowly passed
away; and surely, step by step, the
young Frenchman had made himself one
with the Kellers. The husband looked
upon him as his daughters sutton, and as
such welcomed him upon all occasions.
Elvie lived along, happy as free-winged
bird; only now and then frail shadow
would sweep over her joy, and cause her
to wonder why Louis did not ask her
outright to be his wife, for this he had
never done. Never had he gone further
than those few words on the night of her
.fete. 1t was true, he came constantly,
he rode, walked, danced with her; but
never shade closer did he venture than
months berore. 1t was as though he
were content to have simply won her
love, and cared not for the wearing. He
brought her choice flowers, but he also
brought them to her mother. They
scarce ever were alone together, for Mrs
Keller did not approve of ELVES going
: out with any gentleman unaccompanied
!, by either her father or herself; and as
!, Mr.. Keller found no pleasure in the ways
of the world, his fair wife generally made
a third with her daughter and Mr.. de
Brusle. Still Elvie thought nothing of
it all, only that fain little wonder as to
why Louis did not ask her; but she never
doubted his love, not for an instant, any
more than she would have doubted her
own.
81 suppose he has some good reason"
she would whisper to herself, "and to
wait for the simple speaking is not so
very hard when [ know he loves me so
WE'LL"
Not many nights after Elvie was
sauntering along the shadowy paths Of
the old-fashioned garden, her graceful
head bowed down, her dark lashed eyes
dropped upon the ground, very lovely
woman, sweet and happy, as the little
flush and the faint little smile betokened.
Ou SIlO "dlhCO, ICSdIO1Coo VI oIIO 1doo-
falling dew, and Of the fact that she had
passed the garden boundary, and was in
the orchard, with it's blossom-laden trees
and the tiny babbling brook twining its
way through the long meadow grass. On
and on till the sound of familiar voices
smote upon her ear-Louis de Brusle's
!, voice, and her mothers in answer.
"Alice, Alice, my darling! will it
never be any different? am weary of
: waiting. If it is much longer, I shall
, carry you off [ cannot stand it. [ am
nearly mad! "
Elvie stood still now; she did not
, faint, or fall; she just stood still, with
the new plucked roses pressed tightly
against her heart, and listened to their
talking.
Oh, Louis, you cannot be more
weary than [ am, but you must not
speak sor never would consent to leave
him-never, never!"
"But," he cried, pressing her golden
head to his breast, cit is so long and very
tedious. this waiting for death.'