Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-06-23

1t was familiar to my ears, and as L lis
tened, it's sound woke within me chords
of forgotten music. Before many Sec
onds had gone, I knew it was Ems voice
I heard. But I did not move, nor did I
turn to see. I lay as in q tower of
strength, and it was comfortable feel
ing to know that had but to turn upon
my elbow, and there before me would be
the little lady who once was my little
sweetheart. But at last moved. I rose
upon my elbow quietly, SO as to make no
noise, and looked over the side of
the summer-house on to the gar
den below. And there saw her. She
was on the seat under the trees. About
her were four children, two boys and two
girls. They stood at her knees close to-
gether, watching her make chain of
daisy flowers. She had grown, but not
much; she was still little maiden, and
it was plain she never would rank among
big women. She was dressed in blue-a
little blue cloth cap perched daintily
upon her dainty head, still poised Like o
queens upon her shoulders, and blue
serge dress, which fitted better, I no.
ticed, than her dresses used to do. Even
from where was I could see her blue
eyes flashing, and that wonderful smile
upon her face. She was certainly pref
tier than of old, and she still looked like
maiden stepped down from fairydon.
I lay still and watched, content to be
near her. 1 knew I had but to open my
lips, and she would be with me on the
instant But I did not choose. 1 pre-
ferred, like child, to play with pleasure
spinning it out to it's full length. It was
a summers ecstasy, and for a while I
would not break the charm. But then
the thought came to me, what would she
do if she knew that I was there?
Wondering what the answer might be,
softly, hardly above whisper, gently
called "Em!" But she, engaged with
her daisy-chain and with her little ones,
did not hear, and paid no heed. So,
smiling as I watched her, a second time
I called little louder" EN-" But she
did not hear. The daisy-chain and little
ones seemed to engross all her thoughts,
and my voice blew past her with the
wind. How would it do, I thought, to
rouse her by confronting her? If she
would not hear, she should see, and her
eyes, if not her ears, be opened. With
some such fancy, was just about to rise
and intrude myself upon her presence,
when I noticed the figure of man
coming down the path.
I had no objection to children witness
ing our meeting, though I could have
spared even them; but third party, and
he a stranger, I did not want So I
waited till he should have gone. He
was young man, gentleman beyond
doubt, good looking, dressed in gray
suit of Scotch tweed, and bright red
necktie. His was fair young face.
He had a promising mustache, which he
tended with one hand; and he was smok-
ing mighty meerschaum. Instead of
passing as [ expected, when he reached
the wall he paused and looked at the
group within. There was I, peeping
over the outer edge of the summer-house,
wondering what kept him there. There
was he, leaning with one hand upon the
moss-green wall. There was she with
her daisy chain, and children at her
knees. Just as I thought he would be
moving on to my surprise he vaulted
lightly over the wall, hiding behind the
very summer-house on which I sat.
Then quickly and quietly, he passed
from tree to tree, as though he wished
to do so unobserved, until at last he was
behind where the unsuspecting maiden
sat.
While I watched with angry eyes, he
darted from his hiding-place, ran to her
from behind, drew her head back to him,
and kissed her twice or thrice upon the
lips. The blood boiled within my veins
r ~ 4lo4 L, oyI
outrage, and that my darling needed a
defender. In minute vengeance would
have been done. and he or I would have
been lain low. But her answer showed
was mistaken. "Charlie cried she,
with that sweet smile [ knew so well;
show can you kiss me before the chill
dren!"
"Why not?" said he. "Don't I kiss
them before your" And to prove his
words, he snatched up little girl and
kissed her again and again, she laughing
at the fun. Then he sat down by her
side, and putting his arms about her,
drew her to him. The daisy-chain
dropped to her lap, and she looked at
him as though he was all the world to
her. "Darling," said he, not loudly,
OlAU 1Otiu CHOUS III IOI uuO w hOtSIs hUNS
spoken to my mother about yon and me
to-day; and she thinks am very foolish;
but since 1 always have been, and always
will be so, she thinks I may as well take
you to be my little wife-though you
will be very foolish for letting me-
Her answer was to lay her head upon
his shoulder and flash her blue eyes with
still softer blue upon his face. "Char-
lie said she, care you sure you love
me?"
Glove you?" he returned, and he
meant it-''my darling, more than I car
tell!''
"And you are sure, she continued,
'tyour mother will not be angry? ]
could not bear to anger her."
"Angry?" said he, closing her lips
with kisses. '.Why in all the world
could she be angry with my Little Sweet.
heart ?"
And so on. The children looked on,
at what was new experience to them.
What mattered? They would have tc
learn themselves some day, though per-
hans thew were beginning early. And T.