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

not be grave. That was one of her rarest
gift of sympathy. Only
let some one whom she knew and cared
for be in sorrow, and En- would not be
far away. Dark indeed would be that
sorrow which did not change to light
when her sun was shining. Her voice,
her eyes, her arms, all joined to drive
the shadows away, and soothe the suffer-
er with the presence of her love.
Time sped. / had now known her
more than two years. I was going on a
rambling expedition to foreign parts,
and though I knew was a fool for my
pains, to me it was bitter parting. And
so for the time, / think it was to her; for
in some way links had been joined be-
tween us without our ever knowing they
were being forged.
"Well," said to her, the day before
Invent, we being alone together, blue
Eyes, how long shall I be missed?"
The only answer was to throw herself
upon the hearth-rug, place her hands
upon my knees, and turn her eyes up
towards my face.
"Ah, Blue Eyes," said I trifing with
her sunny hair, "you'n have another
sweetheart in week."
SIN week." said she, in that curl
ously clear voice of hers. EDO you
think SOP" She looked up and watched
me for moment. Then she turned and
got upon her knees, kneeling in front of
me. "Perhaps So" she said. But
Leaning forward, SO that her breath
mingled with mine" hell never be q
sweetheart like YOU.
What could [ do? [ knew her SO
well! I knew that this was just what
she would say to any one by way OF
comfort. I knew that her words were as
trihes, Light as air.
"Make no VOWS" said I, "only to be
broken. You and I have had happy
times; why should begrudge the same
to another?"
She was silent; she was now nearly Is;
but she was so small, that it never oc-
Cured to me to think of her as anything
but little girl. She put her hands out
and took mine, still in the same quiet
fashion. "Would you like me TOP"
said she" would you like me to-to
take another?"
"Em," said I, "what does it matter
what I like? Before the sun has gone
down upon my going, another day will
have dawned for you" L looked at her.
It came to me that this was very bitter,
and however great fool might be, I
could not entirely hide what was in my
heart. "Little Sweetheart" said I, "of
one thing be sure-I never shall forget
you"
She came to me and L kissed her
She still kept her face near mine.
"Bertie," said she-it was the first time
she had ever called me BERTHE; it had al
ways been plain Mister before, and the
name rang in my cars" BERTHE, I'll not
forget you in week"
I almost pushed her from me. knew
this daliance was worse than folly-I
knew her SO well-and rose to my feet.
"No," said I. with bitter mirth; "not
in a week, but in eight days."
She made no answer, but still knelt at
my feet. And SO we parted; for the fare
well on the morrow was but formal
one.
Two years passed by. Occasionally I
sent her little notes, pictures of noted
places, foolish curiosities. But I never
gave her my address. [ knew letter
writing was not her strong point, and for
some reason did not like to 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. I would not own it to myself; but
now and again hungered for a sight of
her, and because I knew it was so, and
that it was such foolishness, [ stopped
away longer than I had intended. But
at last I came back. One of my first
visits was to B; for, try how [
would, [ could not deny the longing for
another sight of her. I found that the
position of the parents of En- had little
improved; and her mother told me that
she had gone into the world as a COVER
ness. Such had always been the inten-
ton; but L wondered what sort of a
governess she would make. A staid
gwuvernante? with those blue eyes, and
that smile, that everlasting spirit OF
mischief which would be bubbling out ?
Fancy her sober preceptress! And
who were her sweethearts now? Was
there pupil cid enough to be made the
recipient of her favors? Or was there
some one who was not pupil, still more
capable? Well, what did it matter tc
me-? She and had each our way to go.
Her mother told me her situation was
in the neighborhood of Ryde. Happen
ing to have friends in That town, I made
them AN excuse for visit there. Yet.
on my arrival there, was in no hurry tc
find them out; and taking up my quar-
tiers in quiet inn, prepared to have g
day or two alone. It was Saturday
afternoon, love weather; and [ set out
for walk well known in years gone by
through the Lovers lane, past Quar-
abbey, to Fishhouse, Nesting by the
waters siae. 1t was so warm, and the
country was so alive with beauty, that ]
hook my time and fingered, noting spots
memory Gese held dear. Reaching
Quar- woods, I wandered through the
brushwood to the waters edge. Along
the shore theme runs or ran a wall, an ole
grown wall; and within this wall al
ancient garden-so ancient it deserved nc
better name than wilderness. The
weeds grew rank and thick, and no hand
Int 1nstI1re's had yn11ch tO ss,swer for in