The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-17
THE DAILY STAR
SHADOW THROUGH SUNBEAM.

uO huo tioSh
heavens; still Mary Norton and Edmund
Summers sat in their secluded retreat,
quite unconscious of the passing hours.
Nothing could be seen but the hill
tops and trees, and ever and anon the
pale moon above reflected on Them, as it
struggled through the clouds.
At last Edmund spoke, ..
"Mary, do you not know what ami
versary this isT ......
"Do you refer to your mothers death,
EdmundT t,. &
"Yes, Mary; mean that it is just one
year ago tonight since my poor mother
died 1t was Just such night as this
clear, bright and beautiful"
ut does not seem a year"
''No, it seems but yesterday since she
smiled on me and called me her own
dear boy. She always treated me as IT l
we're but a child, and admired her for
her simplicity"
"What beautiful moonlight night"
poke the girl, endeavoring to cheer the
man before her. ,
eyes" he answered, in a mournful
tone of voice, "it was just such a night
H this, one year ago, and when l think
Of her 1 can not help but weep. Yet,
often, when l am about to despair, a
little form comes to me, and, stretching
forth her hand, softly murmurs, you
may be happy yet Can you not guess
whose that little form is, Mary~
II am very poor hand at guessing"
eyes, but this is SO very easy; !
thought you could guess"
"But can not, you see," answered
Mary, plucking rose from the bush
near where they sat.
"Ahp exclaimed Edmund. "You are
turning scarlet-you know mean you
Mary, do you love me? Will you be my
wifeF
The look she gave him was sufficient
answer, and he sealed their engagement
with kiss.
After short time he placed upon
her finger a ring, and as the moonlight
shone upon the little band of gold, Mary
felt that she was indeed happy.
As the night air was becoming chilly
they both arose to CO., when the rose
which Mary plucked when Edmund was
speaking to her fell crumbled at her
feet. .e ss-t .t .
"Why did you destroy that pretty
rose~ asked Edmund, half playfully,
half earnestly.
"It was but a rose" exclaimed the
girl. in surprise, "a simple flower; be-
sides there are many more on the bush" ;"
eyes, but that looked so pretty as you
held it in your hand, that l could not
help admiring it,"
ut might have appeared blooming
but it would be faded and dead to-mor
row." ~
"Tis true. And so it is with human
hopes. Tonight they are the brightest
o-morrow-Heaven knows what they
may be tomorrow. But come, it is get
ting late; let us return home."
They were about to leave when the
sound of footsteps fell upon their ears.
Edmund looked surprised, but said
nothing. .,
Again they listened, and, as before,
the retreating steps were heard, this time
somewhat fainter.
"Who could it bew asked Mary,
clinging to Edmund.
81 am sure I do not know" he
answered. "But calm yourself" he con-
tinued, noticing that she appeared
nervous. "No harm shall befall you
while am here"
"Come away, Edmund" leapded
Mary, still pale and trembling. at is SC
ve1y lonely here. See, the moon is OBJ
scured by the clouds, and everything
now is wrapped in inkf darkness. Come
Edmund; come-comeP
And she fairly dragged him along.
He obeyed her eqtest, and as they
walked along in ths darkness, all ap
peared quiet.
They little dreamed that dark cloud
was hanging over them.
They were only aware that their con
versation was overheard; only awar,
that stranger had been beside them
but they little thought who that strange
was, or what was his design.
After a few days the young lovers for
got the incident which startled then
both, 50 happy were they. in their en-
gagement.
The dream which they had so Otter
wished for was soon to be realized.
Happily the time flew by, until on
day in the latter part Of Septembe,
three weeks after her engagement witt
Edmund Summers, Mary received th