The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-09


"No, dear; l called there last night, a"
l said; and l drew long breath at the
idea Of quiet afternoon. Bardie safe,
and Harry away-away for the long
evening, my heart whispered. Sophy
Temple and croquet, tea mt the hotel,
and long evening walk, and who can
tell what else And with a jealous pang
for Susie, l thought, if only might
have Bardie, wouldn't care"
So, after Aunt Urania had settled her.
self for an afternoon nap, l changed
my dress and rested awhile, watching
from my window until l saw Harry and
Bardie walking across the fields; Cor
allie followed, and / said to myself, 81
thought so, he will be untrammelled !"
and / carried my water-color box and
sketching stool out to beautiful spot
at the end of the rambling old garden,
where low stone wall divided the
struggling flower borders from the pas
ture beyond. There were shady trees
and soft overgrowr clumps. Of bushes
and underground, SO that the retreat,
though not very far from the house, was
entirely secluded, and it commanded n
lovely little glimpse of wood and river,
with soft, blue hills beyond, and in the
foreground the white spire of the village
church shooting up through the green
cry.
Such n quiet afternoon to sketch and
paint No little tormenting fingers to
NEEDLE and ";oggle," no perpetual
little tongue to ask unceasing questions;
only the silence, and the summer mu-
ct,. oil of x-l,.
pers in the trees, the droning bees, the
chirp of bird; even the spring of the
grasshopper in the grass at my feet was
distinct in the golden hush. Yes, that
hazy light was beautiful, the opportuni-
ty perfect. Why could not make use
Of it? why could 1 not paint instead of
sinking back, after few istless efforts,
with heavy heart and clasped hands
and let the full weight of my lonely
life fall ON my spirit? My father, al
ways away, glad to he free from any
charge Of me; Aunt Urania-well. she
meant kindly, and was good to me,
but what bore ! Susie, my chosen
friend, my hearts sister, who had led
and loved me from childhood, gone into
the land of shadows, and none to take
her place i'll my life forever. Even her
sweet little boy would be taken from me
no doubt before long, and given to
some other woman-somc Sophy Tenn
pie ! And Harry But Just at that
stage of my revere, when L felt the
choking in my throat, and the hot tears
in my eyes, l heard the some well
known step close beside me, and Harry
Bent, flushed and breathless, threw
himself on the ground at my feet.
81 thought / should find you in this
lovely spot. May not come too?" he
entreated.
81 thought you had gone with Bar,lie."
eyes, l left him there playing with
the little Temples. i made brief call
on the ladies, and then gave Bardie the
slip. l wanted to get back, and only
hope he will not discover my retreat.
Everybody is lazy to-day except you,
Nora. You have your work laid out in
n very notable way, though, after all, l
do not see that you have done much"
"Somc days are unlucky," answered.
81 did not feel in the mood. But | will
sketch now," and l began to work in
earnest, partly to get rid of the search
ing eyes that seemed to read my troubled
thoughts
"Rest instead, Ellinor, and let us talk
awhile"
"Yes, talk; but l can work, too. /
want to make this picture, the view is 80
lovely, it haunts mt"
"Ah!" said Harry, "there is a picture
which haunts me-a picture l lately
saw, and can think of nothing else; II
woman, young, fair, and with the sweet
est mother face; aud little child"
"A Madonna 2"
Perhaps 30. The child was asleep.
Such repOse, such confidence i'll his
whole attitude and expression! Evident
ly the one right spot on earth to him was
his place in her arms. And she looked
like brooding dove. Nora, can never
tell you what felt when came upon
You so suddenly to-day with my little
sleeping boy, nor what a revelation from
heaven came to my heart That thus it
might bet must be. l said we were
fellow-mourners; can we not he fellow
comforters
could not speak; the sobs 1 had sup
pressed, the trouble / had been fighting,
had their own way now.
He looked ut me in doubt and distress.
"What is it, dear Ellinor? Do hurt
you? do / shock you? Have you no
heart to give me? No, will not ask
anything new. Calm yourself, sweet
child; rely upon me. will not say an
other word if it distresses you like this. I"
81 must speak" crie1, with des-
perate effort. Harry, Harry, how can
you can you ask such things Of me, when
you know that you can never care for
anybody again as you did for Susie?"
~ know" he answered.
"When you know that l am no more
to be be compared to her than this little
common flower ut my feet IL to be COM
pared to an exquisite half blown rose,
petal after petal laden with sweetness
down to its secret golden hearth"
EYES," he answered, picking the little
common flower, and holding it to his lips.
cit is not the rose. But it Is hearts
ease. 1t has its own mission, its own
perfume"
"And do not speak of Bardie, l cried,
more passionately than ever. DO not
tempt me with him. / wish he and !
could 60 away together to some secret
place, and could have him always"
"Dear, you may have him always.
No other woman ever shall"
A long pause ensued. determined to
grow callner before speaking again. 1t
was 80 hushed that we could hear the
stirring of some little rabbit in the bushes
behind. He looked mt me entreatingly;
1 shook my head.
"No, no, Harry; do not ask me, do
not tempt me. / am not much.of girl,
II IAttf II ~ hot
! ought to be just in the mans heart who
marries me. No, do not speak. You
know l cannot be first with you, and so
cannot marry you. Oh, dear, sighed,
''there is nobody Oh earth with whom L
am first, nobody who loves me best of
ALL"
The stirring of the rabbit became vio-
lently excited, and with great crushing
of leaves, and parting of branches, aud
rending of little blouse, Bardie tore him
self from his lair, and flung himself upon
me. eyes, yes, my darling Nora" he
cried, with tears, kissing my head and
face and hands, 81 love you the best of
all, my own Moral want you. Go
away, papa. Marry me-marry Bardie,
Nora dear!" and he threw his arms
around me and buried his head in my
neck.
eyes, Norn," cried Harry, clasping
his arms round us both, "marry Bardie;
marry us both. We do want you; we
can't possibly live without you. There
is nobody ON earth, there never will be,
whom we love half so well. Sweet Nora,
say yes, and make Bardie and me per-
fectly happy"
They had conquered. My heart
yielded to both father and child, and I