Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-09-15

ing. Are you very fond of music?"
eyes, very. | care for nothing in the
world SO much
"And who are your favorite compos-
ers ?" u
"Mendelssohn and Schubert" 'i.'
edo you play much? %
"Not nearly so much as I used.
Why have you given up playing so
much pr
"Ah, she sighed and shook her head,
81 dare say because I am getting old and
lazy" 49,,
night?''
81 will play with great pleasure, only
not too long
She played for half an hour, and Colt
hurst listened enchanted. He knew
nothing of music himself, but he loved
it dearly. He had never before heard
anything so weird, 80 soft, SO tender, SO
spirituelle. 1t was like the signing of
forlorn winds in mystic groves. He
could not play the simplest air, but he
could interpret the most intricate, or, at
all events, all airs had meanings for him;
right or wrong, he did not pause, he did
not care to inquire.
At the end of half an hour the aunt
came and said: "That is enough for to-
night, child"
Colthurst rose to go, and in taking
leave, said: "You have given me only
an appetite for your music. MayI Miss
Gay, turning to the elder lady, "come
another night ?"
Certainly. Weshan be very glad to
see you if you will not mind our being
rude, and turning you out early. We
live by rule, you know, and we must take
no liberties"
He went out for a stroll round the
square, it being then only 10 o'clock.
AS he walked round and round the square
he could think of nothing but the lovely
stranger. Every movement of hers had
been grace, every word melody. Light
seemed to gather round her as she sat.
One after the other he recapitulated all
she had said or done, with the intention
of finding if anything had been out of
harmony, if there had been any SAVIOR of
bad taste. Time after time he had fin
ished the list with the reflection, '' mo,
it was as perfect as the most fastidious
could dream of-all had been interpene-
trated with the essence of grace and
spirituality"
Then, after rehearsing the things
which had taken place, he rehearsed them
merely for the delight of keeping her
image before his eyes, her voice about
his ears.
Four delicious evenings passed away
IN the same manner, and then came bad
news; they were leaving tomorrow for
Torquay. She told him, with smile,
the doctors had said no time should be
lost. They were to go, and at once, the
east wind now blowing being most in
furious. He was greatly grieved they
were going SO soon. When were they
likely to be back again in London?
"We do not know. We cannot say.
Perhaps never"
"You must not say that. Surely you
will come back again"
"That will depend in a great measure
on how we get on in Torquay."
'sBut you-yeu will surely come back
to see us again? I am sure Mrs. Brooks
would do anything she could for you.
She is the most kind-bearted woman in
the world"
For an instant the habitual faint smile
left the face of the girl and her eyes
half filed with tears. Her lips tremb1ed,
and she said In a low, unsteady voice:
''I am sure she would be kind to me.
Every one is so kind to me. [ am sorry
have to go away"
s'But you will come back, won't you %
he pleaded.
She looked up suddenly, with the
11.. oro4 oo 10 hn hol ho,, e.
saying: 'Perhaps may; I'll try. Now
good-by.''
Life went back to its old course at
Manville square. Some other people
came and occupied the rooms where she
had been. Day after day Edwin Colt
hurst watched the summer ripen and the
green deepen in the foliage of the square.
Day by day he dreamed of her return
and of delicious evenings spent within
her presence. AS he drove in and out of
town, he conjured with her image until
all the recesses of his memory were filed
up with pictures of her. He would have
given anything he possessed to write to
her; but although the period of their ac-
quaintance had been long enough for
him to fall la love, it had not been long
enough to warrant him in asking to.be
allowed to write. The summer waned
and autumn was at hand. Still no word
came from the guests of June. The
rich green of the foliage was here and
there touched by the first foreboding
finger of decay.
Morning found hoar-frost on the
ground, and evening brought chilly
dew. Old people avoided the Enclosure
after shutdown, and the delicate chose the
sunny side of the square. The buxom
housemaid had married the bakers man.
and stood no longer at the head of the
area steps with arms akimbo. The birds
we're getting ready for winter and saving
up their songs to keep the cold out.
In was in November of last year when
the first sitting of snow fell out of the
sullen sky, that letter came to Mrs.
Brooks. It had black border, was not
in the same handwriting as the former
one, and ran as follows: @
DEAR Mrs. BRooKs:-As you will gather from
the edge of this sheet. the worst has come. ]
| of fo, do ord he