Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-05-23


All day long Lily fitted about the
the window to see if she could catch a
glimpse of the returning carriage, even
when she could not expect them for
hours.
At last the long day drew to close,
and just as the sun was setting she saw
them coming. With the speed of a
fawn she flew down the path to the
gate, and stood there breathless await
ing his arrival. Yes, he held some
thing white in his hand, and held it up
for her to see it; then it must be let
ter from Arthur, for no one else wrote
to her.
"Give it to me-quick, grandpa
she exclaimed. "It is fer me-, isn't
it 2"
Eyes, it's for you, at last"
With cry of Joy she took it. and
Rugged it close to her bosom. Then,
darting away, she ran until she came
to the orchard, and at last, sinking
down under the apple tree where Ar
thur had asked her to he his bride, she
took the long-looked-for letter and
kissed the writing and the seal: then
carefully opening it, she read the fol-
lowing:
FRIEND LILY: My long silence l feel, demands
an explanation, and so will give it to you in
this short letter In alluding to our little firta-
ton of last summer, which we were foolish
enough to end by an engagement, should like
to say few words. ] hope the matter was not
more serious to you than ii was to me- and so
Has1r fhnfv
to you. Lily; it was only passing fancy. Since
meeting beautiful Jesse Earle, know what real
love is. l do not think that your feeling for me
will be more enduring than mine for You has
been. Doubtless ere this you have outlved it.
for l remember you were always rather shy and
cool in your expressions of affection toward me-
Hoping that we shall always be friends / am
yours, truly, ARTHUR II. MELVILLE.
The young girl read this cruel letter
through, and then she turned, and,
burying her face in the long grass,
burst into storm of passionate, tear
less sobs, which shook her slender
form as the fierce winds bend some
tender flower.
She lay there until at last the pale
moon rose slowly, slowly over the tree
tops, and then her grandfather, who,
alarmed at her long absence, had come
to seek her, found her lying cold and
still, with the letter on the ground by
her side. 9Ja9lM ANA aN4
Tender arms raised her, and bore
her away to the farmhouse. Here for
weeks she was confined to her room,
and when. at last, she left it, she
looked like crushed and broken lily,
so white and delicate and fragile was
she. From the hour Of her receiving
Arthur's letter, his name never passed
her lips.
The sun was shining bright and
beautiful.
"A lovely morning, indeed" thought
Jessie Earle, as she drew back the cur
tain of her luxurious room. 1T is an
old saying: Blest is the bride that the
sun shines on ought to be blest,
for there is plenty of sunshine on my
wedding day."
Arthur Melville sat toying with his
cup of chocolate on the same summer
morning. the day on which he was to
wed Jessie Earle, when the footman
entered and handed him a letter AS
he glanced at the handwriting, a
woman's delicate chirography, he
started back as if he had seen an APP
partition. At last, regaining hi COM
posture, he tore it open and read us fol-
lows:
ARrHUR-Ere you receive this letter, the heart
which loved and trusted you so fully will be at
rest and you will be free to wed the beautiful
girl who has won your heart away from me. 30
you thought did not love you! Well perhaps
not, Arthur Melville; but l cared for you no
much that your smile made all the sunlight of
the world for me. Your voice WAS sweeter than
the sweetest music to my ears. | loved you so
beneath the shy exterior which hid the depth of
my devotion, that cannot live in the black
darkness which has fallen upon my life with the
withdrawal of your love. / should have
swered your letter ere this, but have been very,
very i'll ever since | received it. ] do not think
am entirely well yet for my poor little head
burns and throbs so all the time. Last night,
when they were all asleep, | rose very softly and
went down into the orchard; the moon was shin
ing. o. 80 soft and clear Just as il did that
night when You told me that You loved me. |
went ana stood under the same tree, and then |
walked over 10 the little lake by the north
woods; it is all covered with the lilies now, Just
it WAS the day when went rowing there,
and you gathered many for your Lily, you
SAID Inc lilies kept whispering 10 me last
night to come there and find rest: but had to
write to you first, and you must tell grandfather
and grandmother where I've gone. O. the water
is so blue and soft / must go now while the
moon shines so brightly. So good-by Arthur;
don't forget me; think, sometimes, of poor little
Lily, sleeping underneath tine calm, still waters
With deep groan. Arthur Melville
sank back in his chair. and just then
the door was suddenly opened, and
the form of old Mr.. Frazier entered.
Have you seen anything of my
granddaughter. Arthur Melville?"
he exclaimed. Three days ago she
suddenly disappeared; we have
searched everywhere, but can find no
clue to her whereabouts. She sent a
letter 70 the post, By the boy. directed