River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-12
LILIA,S TOMORROW.

them quickly away. as she heard Lila
open the door anu come up the stairs
with light, quick steps.
Liiia-with the summer sunshine in
her hair like waves of gold-with her
soft eyes shining like the tender bios
SONS half hidden under the green leaves
of the voilets with the pink bushes
kissing her cheek in loneliness, and
laughter waiting ON her red lip. What
wonder That the mothers tired eyes grew
bright again as she watched her darling's
bright young facet
What has happened To y1u, my lovef
Your face is as glad os a rose"
at ought to be glad, since such good
fortune has comet she said. smiling
Poor mamma, you've grown tired wait
ing for it, ! know"
'Tell me all about it, or | shall fear
you have dreamed it, Mrs. Rubens re
piled, softly.
lila quickly Invested herself of hon
net aud shawl, ard, drawing low stool
to her mothers side, sat down and leaned
her head against her knee.
II shouldn't wonder if you had forgot
ten that it is the first day of May to-day,
she began, looking up in her mothers
face but | never forget il when it comes,
for | think it is the sweetest day in the
year!' So. when lessons were ovei, took
my box Of colors and those bits of pins
board that | painted white last week, aud
went up the hill to Fairys Hollow.
And Lila stopped TO take one long
breath Of delight, while her mother stoop
ed to kiss her glowing checks.
Everything was beginning to bright
| en-. mamma. The softest of south winds
cropt through the grass with murmnrina
caresses the flowers were coming up II
beautiful clusters all over the hoilo"; and
overhead-in the eln-trees-I do believe
hundred happy birds were singing.
shall paint it some day, mamma"
"And shall look at 1t and enjoy It,
said Mrs. Rubeus; "only you must pu
yourself into the picture, Lila"
tYes, suppose so, said Lila, doubt
fully; "bui think it would be nicer with
OUT me. But am coming TO the bes
part of also listen, mamma. had lin
ished hazy, blue sky had sketehed
distant hill lying softly against it, and 4
lake in the foreground, half bordered witt
willows. when shadow fell upon my
picture, and looking up, saw funny
] little old man leaning on stick ano
looking at my work He laughed, and
then siohed, aud said, just as ii he'd
been talking to himself.
| az used to do II, too, when | was
young and foolish like you
"Now you know, mamma, dear, nobody
likes to be called foolish, and | suppose
| | did look a little cross, for he sighed
again, and said, so mournlul:
81 wouldn't hart your tender heart fol
the world, child! But don't you see you
have left out the shadOws2'
81 don't see any shadows to put in,
said. Its May day, and shadows dom
fall in my world on May day
"'That's just it, my child. You are
Young and gay hearted, and all the world
looks bright to you; but the brightness
faded for me before you were born
"When l came to look at him, he didat
look so very old, either, not more thar
forty years old, but he did look as il he
had had some great sorrow to bear"
''Dut who is he, Lila? hope you dom
often have such adventures, or | shall be
afraid to let you rambIe about alone. Fl,
may have been crazy"
Lila laughed joyously.
No. no, mammal He is as sane as
am. He is the gentleman who has
bought the beautiful house on the bill
and he is an artist; and when | am mo-
giving lessons to those tiresome little
Do'lys. and Mirlams, and Christabels, ht
is to give me lessons; and he says he car
cell my pictures for me--all that ! vii
paint"
"But, Lila, lessons from great artist
viii cost something; and how can you
pay himl
"Oh that is the best of it. lie cont
want any pay until he has sold my pic.
lures, and he says | shall soon he rich
Mrs. Rubens hesitated little while,
but could not long resist the pretty plead
ing face lifted to her own; ara SO the
next week FOUND Lila taking lessons o
the stranger artist, and making rapid
progress Even her mother, who best
knew her enthusiastic temperament, was
surprised Ia see what she accomplished.
The weeks went by more rapidly than
wees had everyone by before and Lila
had finished four rlctuTes-charming lit
tie landscapes IN summer and autumn
colors She had been at home week
helping her mother. who had not been as
well as usual, and had not touched her
pencils though she did look longingly up
the bright hill-path almost every day
when one day servant from the house
on the hill came to the cottage with let
ter for Miss Lila Rubens.
letters were not with Lila everyday
occurrences; and she pulled open the en-
velope with sparkling eye and glowing
cheek, The color dld not fade il her
beautiful cheeks when four rustling bank
notes dropped out from the folds of thick,
satiny paper.
Her mother picked them up in silent
astonishm Mt, while Lila read the letter.
When she had finished the last line,
she tossed it into her mothers lap with
little cry Of delight.
"One hundred dollars, mamms, for my
pictures! What happy tomorrows we
will have some day We viii have a
home of our own, where you shall pre-
side in all your own sweet dig
nifty, and nover be tired or careworn any
more And we will make little summer
excursions cut into the world and see the
beautiful places that | have dreamed Of.
Tomorrow won't be dream then, mo-
Their, but happy reality
She did not tire of talking of ner to-
morrow, which already glimmered in the
horizon with a rosy light, until her mo-
lher kissed her. and told her she must
not sit up to seeit.
at will come all the same, darling. |
whether you wake Or sleep; and you
must be up early so as to go up and |
thank your artist friend. See, he does |
not sign his name," she continued, |
out the cream-hued paper |
land it is strange that no one seems to
know it,"
"I'll ask tomorrow. said Lila, laugh /
ing, land your curiosity shall be salts
Hed."
But when Lila, after thanking him,
in her own sweet, impulsive fashion. for |
taking so much trouble 10 find a pur
chaser for her pictures. did ask him, he
was mute, and yexed frown crossed his
features. He1 own face was co9ered I
with crimson bushes in a moment, and I
at that sight le smiled again.
" ] have been your friend. more ior
-FOUR mothers sake more than your own.
,hild and you may tell her that will
call TO morrow and see if she remembers
Hugh Murray
Lila Gould scarcely wait until she
reached home TO find out the mystery,
but she did not discover it then.
Perhaps Mrs. Ruhen's dreams had
1een haunted by pair of brown eyes