The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-31
AN EVERYDAY STORY.

1.-TWO lovers walking under the evening sky
is the most commonplace picture possible; yet
must draw it if am to tell my story. First
in the gardens Of the primal Eden, always
since in the ruined paradise we call the Earth
have wandered these pairs OF beautiful, happy
creatures, in the world, but not Of it-littcd
above is common joys beyond ITS vulgar
cares by the cngrossing dclirium that has
seized upon them and made IA tairyand OF
homeliest scenes The bright sun shines, the
soft moonbeams for them alone; for them the
flowers bloom, the winds blow gently, the road
side grasses grow, the woodlands hold their
light and their shade, and the meadows smile
all TO make an Arcadia as evanescent as their
vows And then--and then-thc fever cools,
the beauty dies, the glory fades, and then
comes the awaking.
Two lovely, happy children they WERE for
what could they be called else but children
the one twenty-five other sixteen? and they
l0itered in the lanes and walks that skirted
Hayford Parsonage, of which the Rev. Arthur
Halcrolt was incumbent. The girl was his
motherless daughter, Resale; the young man
was one of whom he did not know much, but
whom he would not have chosen as the com
panion of her walks, had he been consulted IN
the matter.
But the Rev. Mr.. Halcroft was not consulted.
He sat in ms shaded study pOrlng over his
sermon for tomorrow, amending its cruditics
and referring to the various books that Uttered
his tables or lying back in his easy char in a
long revery, as was his frequent custom, with
his eyes fixed on his dead wife's portrait.
Quite forgetful was he of the flight of time
TIL sharp knock at the door announced a
visitor he especially dreaded-a gossiplng
widow who, as all the parish knew, was set
ting her cap" for him.
Mr. Dola tha widow tDpk hpr gpat in fhp
clergyman study, and consulted HIM on some
parish business for which she had osenslbly
come. That over, she passed to other matters.
She was not an illnatured woman; but she
did consider that the parsonage children need
ed a stepmother, very especially the parsons
daughter and she would like to have filed
that post
Resale, meanwhile, reached the gate, ling
ering there when she had passed through it,
TO watch the recedlng figure Of her lover, and
dream over il in the favoring darkness. Her
hand was still thrilling with his parting clasp
her eyes were still burning with the reflected
light of hls--thOse great, wonderful luStrOus
eyes that had rarely their compeers-her
ears listening still to the last melody of his
voice, and few voices were so melodious as
Bertram Rays. Few men had been gifted
with beauty such rs hls-beauty of face and
form-handsome, slender, graceful, lis fea
lures a perfect type; she thought he was fit to
win princess, and proud enough TO be the
peer Of anything earthly-of herself who had
once been naughty, even to him, rs it was
Rosaie IIalcroft's disposition to be; but she
was humble enough at heart now in the deep
love she bore HIM.
She regretted that she had not shown Sit
more tonight, this love; that she had not
broken through the bounds OF her reserve and
...l., ,,..l -.
who WAS surely worthy of the trust she felt
but could not speak. Tonight he appeared
more than ever dear, more than usually fond
and tender, for he had been absent several long
weeks, and had changed for the better even in
that little time-grOwn more manly and more
energetic more determined and more hopeful !;
and that unspokcn passion which sOftcned his
eyes and mellowed his voice, would, she IN
stinctively felt, have found words tonight but
for her GOODNESS
She did not yet go in; her breath still came
quickly, her cheeks burned, her hands trem-
bled, and her heart throbbed audiDly. She
could not meet the inquiries and greetings of
the four noisy boys, her brothers, whom she
heard coming their lessons beyond the open
door, and ready to be disturbed from their I'M
welcome task by her entrance; 50 she fingered
at the gate, and dreamed.
Resale found material for her thoughts in
the sweet remembrance of the short past since
che had known Bcrtram Ray. She recalled
the incidents of their first acquaintance the
preeXtS upon which he had met her, the triil
lng tokens that betrayed his love, the secret,
gradual growth Of the potent power that
drew their hearts together, making them near
or and dear to each other than all the world
beside, till at last they stood, as they had for
many weeks now, lingering on the borders of
the enchanted land, trembling with delightful
awe, yet unable 10 pass those barriers OF silence
and reserve which in true love always attends
youth and lnexperlence. But this silence was
weakening with every sweet embarrassed
meeting, and ready to fall before one impul.
siye word-a word which neither had spoken
tonight.
But tonight the confession had trembled on
his lips, which she half feared, half wished to
hear, and her GOODNESS had driven 1t back but
not for long. A new light Of hope and cour.
age WAS shining in his splendid eyes-a new
determination curved those beautiful lips
lines of thought and care marked his young
face and made 1t more admirable in her sight,
IL 1t was more strong and manly.
She, herself, was no longer child; she felt
older in these few eventful months, than years
had made her. The hearts awakening lad
brought TO her wider and graver experience
than she had learned in all the moiherly and
housekeeping cares that lad been hers since
her mother died
Calm now, she went in out Of the darkness,
passing by the study door, where she heard
sharp voice she knew, preterring rather to
JOIN her brothers than to encounter its owner.
But she caught word Of tie tale il was tell
ing that arrested her Presently Mrs. Dale
took her leave and went out, ignorant of the
pale, dropping figure in the passage. Then
she rose up and entered the room where her
motherless boys were wrangllng over their
lessons, soothel them with her quiet authority,
and sat down by the open window, cold and
white, 10 wait for the blow TO come.
She heard her fathers uncertain step IN the
hal, his gentle voice calling her name and
size went To him without n word, and followed
h IN into his study; but the air of the room
cf-url "a chill ia ler heart sc bcr feat crnsaaI