The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-27

ever called me BERTHE; it had always
been plain Mister before, and the name
rang in my ears-"Bertie, I'll not forget
you in week."
almost pushed her from me. | knew
this dalliance was worse than fOlly--I
knew her 90 well-and rose to my feet.
"No," said /, with bitter mirth; "not in
a week, but in eight days" ...
i She made no answer, but still knelt at
my feet. And so We parted; tor the fare
well on the morrow was but formal
one. .... ....s.. ..... .....-.s
y
| Two years passed by. Occasionally I
sent her little notes, pictures of noted
places, foolish curiosities. But never
gave her my address. / knew letter-writ-
ing was not her strong point, and for
some reason l did not think that she
would not write, although she could.
Through it all bore her memory with
me, and wherever might be, at times
would come the shadow OF her sweet
face. | would not own it to myself; but
now and again Ihungered for sight of
her, and because knew it was 80, and
that it was such foolishness, l stopped
away longer than had intended. But
at last came back. One of my first
visits was to B.; for, try how l
would, I could not deny the longing for
another sight Of her. / found
t hat the position Of the parents of
EN- had little improved; and her mother
told me that she had gone into the world
as a governess. Such had always been
the intention; but I wondered what sort
of governess she would make.
Her mother told me her situation was
in the neighborhood Of Ryde. Happen
ing to have friends in the town, made
them an excuse for visit there. Yet,
on my arrival, was in no hurry to find
them out; and taking up my quarters in
quiet inn, prepared to have day or
two alone. 1t was Saturday afternoon;
lovely weather, and Get out for walk
} we'll known In years gone by, to Fish
house, nesting by the waters side. It
was so warm, and the country was SO
alive with beauty, that it took my time
and fingered, noting spots that memory
} once held dear. Reaching some woods,
I wandered through the brushwood to
the waters edge. Along the shore there
runs or ran wall, an old moss ss.grown
} wall; and within this wall an ancient
garden--so ancient it deserved no better
name than wilderness. The weeds grew
, rank and thick, ,and no hand but Nature
had much to answer for in it. There was
an old green gate at the bottom, which
moved on rusty hinges; under the trees
was garden-seat, much the worse for
weather and wear; and on the left was all
old summerhouse, damp and mildewy,
with steps up to the roof, and seats upon
it. ....-,
Now once upon time when I was a
tutor at Ryde, l was wont to inger with
my young charges in this garden. They
would play upon the shore or among the
woods; while would lie upon the roof
Of the old summer-houe, sheltered by
the trees, looking out upon the summer
sea, smoking, reading, or in a waking
dream. So, partly because of old times,
partly because 1t was 50 fine a day, |
entered the garden and climbed up to
the old roof-seat. My pipe, in sympathy
with the weather, was soothing to my
nerves. Gradually substance became
, shadow; the soft wind sang sweet music
to my languid ears, and gentle charm
came over me. l fancy it was sleep.
Utopian to lie there, the wavelets rip.
pling softly upon the shore; dim sus
picion Of unclouded skies pervadine my
dreams.
Something woke me-a sound.
opened my eyes, dreamily conscious thai
voices we're somewhere near. lay listen
ing with sort Of curiosity, and became
aware that I was listening to the prattls
Of children; little voices were borne
!, upon the breeze; children's laughter
] mingling with the ripping waves. Blu
every now and then there was anothe
-; voice. not a childs, yet childlike. L
was familiar To my ears, and as I listened
T its sound woke within me chords Of for
i gotten music. Before many seconds haG
gone, knew it was Ems voice heard
But 1 did not move, nor turn to see
r I lay as in q tower of strength; ant
a it was a comfortable feeling to know
/; that I had but to turn upon my elbow
, and there before me would be the littl
d lady who once was "My Little Sweet
r heart" But at last moved. I rose upol
: my elbow quietly, so as to make no noise
y and looked over the side of the summer
house on to the garden below. And Their
l / saw her. She was on the seat unde
9 the trees. About her we're four children
two boys and two girls. They stood a
f her knees close together watching he
s make chain of daisy flowers. She ha'
P grown. but not much; she was still lii
tie maiden, and it was plain she neve
h would rank among big women. She wa
r dressed in blue-a little blue cloth ca
perched archly upon her dainty head
y still poised like queens upon her shou1
k ders, and blue serge dress, which ftte
d better, noticed, than her dresses use
d to do. Even from where l was 1 coul'
= see her blue eyes flashing, and that Won
= derful smile upon her face. She wa
b certainly prettier than Of old, and sh
e still looked like maiden stepped dow
from fairydom.
I a = q