The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-08-12
"No; I think I fully understand what

'No; I think I fully understand what
IennysOn meant when he wrote those
lines i'll Locksley HALL
knowledge comes but wisdom fingers and ling
er on the shore.
And the individual withe,s. and the world is
more and more:
knowledge comes but wisdom lingors and he
bears laden breast.
Full OF sad experience moving toward the still
ness Of his rest.
IL do not love her as | once did, but
forget her never cam
''But, Elmer, why will you not marry
some woman who can by her loving
kindness help you to forget her?'
He pointed far off in the western sky
where one star alone sent out its rays
DER the Earth, and said in low voice:
Nina, Go YOU see yonder star? 1t
is bright and beautiful brighter
than any of the smaller ones that will
soon Spangle the azure vault above
but 1t Is alone. When the others come
forth it will slowly disappear, as if
dreading their companionship. So it
has done in ages past. so it will con-
tlnuc to 90 in all time to come. Like
that star my life must be lone and
cherries onc-for me there is no COM
partnership. 1t is my destiny; to fight
against it is folly. Yet if / thoug ht
there was one person in all this cold,
unsynpathizing world who feels suf1i-
Gent interest in my being to offer an
encouraging word. l would struggle
against fate: and strive to, if possible,
accomplish something during the re-
naming years Of my life. But, no,
there is no one, and have only to drift
with the tide until finally launched into
the broad ocean Of eternity and be for
gotten. or. if remembered at all by
those who once claimed to be my
friends, it will be to have my peccadil-
los unearthed and discussed.''
Nina came close to him now. and
laying her hand on his arm. spoke hur-
riedly, as though fearful that her coul-
age would fail ere she had finished what
she wished to say:
ELMER, YOU are wrong when you
say no one cares for you. l care for
you'll love you. Elmer-I have loved
YOU in secret for years: and YOU can
never know how vainly have striven
against this love. Oh, Elmer, ] never
intended you should know this. [
thought to carry my secret to the grave,
but, when [ heard you speak SO bitter
10y of all the world, | could not keep
silent longer; And, burying her face,
now crimson with bushes, in her
hands, she burst into a passion Of tears
For a moment Elmer Royston stood
irresolute. but it was only for mo-
ment. Drawing the weeping girl to
! him, he said:
'Mina, if ever there was an angel in
human form YOU arc certainly one. |
never dreamed until this moment that
you cared for me. I will not pretend
to say that l love you, Nina, and ]
know I can nevcr love you with that
blind, passionate love with which T wor-
shipped Shelah Fortosquc-men do not
love as | loved her but once in life.
But, if some time in the future 1 can
come and offer You a lifetime Of devo-
ton, will you be my wife p
She looked up into his face with q
happy light in her eyes as she said
IF ever you ask me to be your wife
[ will not refuse, Elmer
| Those words were not spoken 50 very
long ago, bat already Elmer Royston is
learning to love this girl, and often,
when he compares her with Shcloh
! Fortesque he 1nurmurs to himself:
| Yes, it Was all for the best