Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-03
NORMA LEMAN'S LOVE.
BY WILLIAM W. LONG.


most ues0late hearts; grlefs too deep
for tears; lives whose brightest dreams
have gone Que in darkness; whose fiji,
ture looms up as bleak and barren as
rainy sea-" There are many green
graves in the hearts of those that sur
round us, who daily walk life's paths
side by side with us and give no out
ward sign; little silver streams in the
land of the 'might have been," bound
ed by an ''if'' Methinks it is we'll that
there is veil thrown over our thoughts
for if We had the mysterious power TO
read the human heart, would we not
shudder at the dark thoughts and pas
sions that so often lie sleeping there,
and turn away from the picture in hor-
ror, choosing rather to live on III bliss
full ignorance? But we have promised
you story, and must not so on moral
ling in that strain, lest the drowsy god
overtakes you ere you commence it
Perhaps it will lie somewhat sad, yet it
is true history from the book Of love
ANA life.
A long reach Of sea beach stretching
away on either hand, with the music Of
old oceans waves dashiug their white
spray upon its Shell-Strewn sand, 1t was
near the death of midsummer day,
Sud calm glory lay like spirit Of
prayer, upon hill, vale, beach and sea,
sway od in the west, crimson clouds,
niugling gold and amber, lay piled up
magnificent beauty; zephyrs, fresh
Eom the bosom of the great waters, blew
gently upon the land white sca-gulls
sailed round aud round in the blue eth
er above, and taking 1t all in all, it was
Just the time and place tor youth and
beauty to build lis choteduG en- eSpdqne.
So thought the two standing in the
rays ofthe declining god Of day-Norma
Leman and Leslie De We're.
SIS not this beautiful world, Norma,
dear?' said Leslie, caring lovingly upon
her. "For my part, | cannot see why
people will persist in calling il cold
healtless, unfriendly abiding place.
Say you so, proud son Of wealth and
opulenoe? Change places with yonder
poor fisherman; earn your bread by the
sweat of your brow; know the heart
aches, trials, miscries, want and suffer-
ing Of the poor, and how soon you
would change your tune.
Everything is so beautiful, and you
queen beauty of all, went on De We're,
that hardly know whether | am in
fairyland or upon this mundane sphere
Of ours
"Why, Leslie, how you do talk, re-
piled Norma. 'One would think to
hear you, that you had been educated
in the school of tlattery."
ooh, no, returned Leslie, mot flat
terry, by any means, but truth, every
word Of it. But, honestly, | am SO glad
your school days are over and that YOU
have come home forgood. Beachwold
has seemed such a lonesome place with
out you; the days so long and dreary,
and the nights ten times longer. I'll
wager there have been at least four
hundred days in the years that you have
been away at school.
"Then | don't believe there will be
more than two hundred DAYS in all the
years | stay at home" she replied,
laughingly; then she added in more
serious tone, but it is blessed thing
to come back home again-and there il
the supper bell, which reminds me that
| am hungry" and lightly thrilling an air
from the opera Of the Bohemian Girl"
she tripped up the shell-hned path
which led to the proud mansion of
Beachwold, followed more slowly by De
We're, and disappeared round turn
from sight.
The Beachwold estate was perfect
paradise Of beauty. The grand old
mansion stood upon gentle eminence
overlooking the blue waters Of the At
lantic, embowered in trees and embrace
ed by Towering vines, that held IN their
variegated hearts thousand delicious
odors, which caused the traveller to long
TO stop and rest within the spacious hall
of the mansion, where sumptuous cush-
ions invited repose from the glare and
heat Of the hot Southern sun. There
were groups of acacias and magnolias
in fragrant bloom; thickets of orange
trees, wove together by network Of
grape-yines, heavily laden with their
rich, purple fruit; clusters of shrubbery
and rare flowers, that grew in shady
hooks by the murmuring rivnlets and
clustered around the llmpid spring.
Immediately surrounding the mansion,
were gardens Of all that is beautiful,
useful and rare, interpreted with mar
bic fountains, statuary, hedges of roses,
bright winged butterflies and sweet sing
ing birds. Every arrangement displayed
the wealth, liberal spirit and refined
taste of the owner, VINO from his broad,
cool verandah, could look out upon the
waves OF the majestic Atlantic, dotted
with the white winged messengers OF
commerce. Truly Beachwold was q
paradise 81 beauty, If any place on
earth can be call d such.
How beautiful Norma looked, stand
ing. upon the marble steps Of the vcr-
andah, health and happiness resting
upon her brow, her form clothed IN
dainty velvet bodice, fastened with gold
buttons; crimson skirt trailing ike
royal robes around her; velvet cap,
with silken plume, resting upon her
head, and her long dark hair cleaning
ike ebony in the dying glory Of the set
ting sun. Casket and gem were alike
matchless,