Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-06-15

her. But she only felt that she was los
ing him For her there was no COM
pensation either in the present or the
future. Lionel was going away With
the bashfulness of a girls first love, she
never once thought of censuring him
ever SO slightly for not feeling this ap-
preaching separation painfully, as she
felt it. 1t was natural, she told herself,
that boys should long for and revel in
the commencement of their emancipation
from the trammels of their boyhood.
Especially was it natural that Lionel
should do SO. Light as her fathers rule
over the lad was, still it was rule, and
Lionel was born to be Stree" if ever
human being was so. Thus she reasoned
and argued against her regret at his 60
ing, and went on regretting it Just the
same. The positive difference which
would be necessitated in the household
arrangements by the loss of that sum
which Lionel represented to her mother
never occurred to her. She was too
young and loving and thoughtless to
cumber herself with domestic cares. or
take thought for the morrow of domestic
life.
1t did not occur to Lionel that he
ought to say something more definite
than he had said to the girl, whose whole
horizon was darkened by the thoughts
of his departure. He had meant Loyalty
and lovingly; and SO, when he kissed her
on the lips, and put little gold ring on
her finger, he thought he had done all
that was needful. When the time came
| for him to marry-fellows'o his " order %
married early-he should ask May, of
course. Meantime it was useless to talk
about it. And May relied unconsciously
upon the fidelity he did not plead; but
still thought far more impatiently about
that meanwhile than he did.
At last the day came for them to say
goodbye, and the boy went out into the
world, when a thousand fresh interests
sprang up like flowers in his path, max
ing it beautiful. And May went about
the old vicarage house and grounds as
of old, and found the days very long and
eventless now that there was no Lionel
to brighten them.
Lady Hastings wrote courteous let
ter to Mr.. Baron, thanking him for the
care and attention he had bestowed up
on her son. And Lionel himself wrote a
nice note to May during his first term
a note which May priced next to her
twisted gold ring; though there was lit
tie In it, save an account of his feats on
the river, and Of the proves of certain
well-pedigreed bull-pup. She answered
it with all the frank confidence of a
child-all the hearty, loving sympathy
of woman. And then it ended.
Gradually the old vicarage house and
all the occupants of it faded from his
mind. Life was full of bright promises
for him, and he had no time to look
back. He finished his college career
with more than credit. He was touch
more than clever, and his impetuosity
stood him in stead of perseverance, and
carried him we'll on the road he had
chosen. By the time he was fve-and
twenty he had done such good service tc
the government by the subtlety, skill
and energy with which he had carried
through a delicate negotiation abroad
that the government recognized his
claims munifcently, and gave him al
important, high-salaried home appoint
ment. In fact, Lionel Hastings haG
made his mark, and the mothers anc
daughters regarded him favorably.
The years had flown with him, the
eight years that had passed since he ha6
said goodbye to May Baron, and prom
ised never to forget her. But they hac
not flown with her.