River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-12-01

! Il think you are, SAID Kate, "DOt
/ to me that white water lily sleeping
in the sunshine, with the blue water fol
It's beo, is more beautiful than the finest
tree"
"Ah, here you are, Ernestine,
/ chimed in another voice. ~ have been
| looking everywhere for you; will you
come to the garden?"
There was nothing for it but to take
Lcrd Fitz Johns arm and go with him,
as he wished.
/ could not define my thoughts, but
| had vague feeling that there was
some terrible want in him. Like a
sharp knife, the contrast between my
promised husband and the man | had
just left struck me. / would not think
of it. Yet my mind was so full of what
Mr.. Vivian had said about trees in their
beauty and their mysterious lives, that
| could not forget it.
described my state truly when |
said that MY heart was asleep; waking
was gradual, sweet, and yet bitterly
painful. There among the quiet sum-
mer lakes, free from all artificial life,
surrounded by simple, clever and in
teIlectual people, | began to perceive
that there was a deeper meaning in
life than had yet learned.
During the hours that my lover was
absorbed in his sporting intelligence
/ entered new world. Eustace Vivi-
an read to my cousin and me and talk
ed with us. For the first time great
and noble thoughts were unrolled be-
fore me. / found that the things | had
valued most-beauty, wealth and fash
ion-were actually of the least account.
Virtue, genius, intel, ect, all before them.
| deemed that my life was useless and
selfish, without aim or object, a pleas
ure of which soon tired
One evening when / had been in the
garden for two long, dreary hours with
Lord Fitz-John, went back into the
drawipg-room, worn out and exhaust
ed, and, ike a dreadful fear looming
oven me, the question came into my
mind
eff | can hardly endure his society
for two hours now, how shall i bear 1t
for life p
| often saw Eustace Vivian's eyes
dwelling on my face with much mourn
full pity in them. [ felt tempted at
times TO ask him why he appeared sor-
ny for me. Was not rather a subject
for envy? Young, rich and about to
marry "peer of the realm" what
more, asked myself, could heart de-
sire?
One day it was proposed that we
should all go together to visit celc-
brated waterfall about three miles
from Duronmere. The road lay through
the cool green woodlands, where the
trees, meeting overhead, formed an
arch solemn and mysterious in the dim
light as cathedral aisle. At every
step we crushed the wild flowers under
our feet; their odor filled the sweet
summer air. | was enraptured with
this long green glade; | had never seen
anything like it in my life before. Mr..
Vivian proposed that we should rest
there before emerging again upon the
high road
l shall never forget the hour that fol-
lowed how we watched the checkered
sunlight falling through the leaves;
how we listeded to the music that rose
like one grand chant from tho happy
forest birds. Mr.. Vivian read to us
of Lancelot and Guinevere, and told
us how the knight had vowed to love
the queen in glades, such us we saw
before us. 1t was all new world to
me, world of magical beauty, where
poetry and nature combined to pro-
duce their most exquisite effect. l
did not know that the glamour which
l. r.f1 oh, 81
whole world for me was love. For all
| knew | loved the man had promised
to marry, although could not bear
his society for long together. But that
June m orning there came to me rele-
walton.
What was the feeling of that made
Queen Guinevere so devoted to Lance
lot? / wondered in my foolish mind
whether if | had known him | should
have loved him as she did. And then
my eyes fell upon the form of my
lover, Lord Fitz-John. He had with
drawn from us, and thrown himself
under an old tree, where he lay on
bank of moss fast asleep; that was all
the sunshine and the Queen Guinevere
had done for him. My face flushed
crimson as ! saw him, and raising my
eyes | saw Eustace Vivian gazing at
me with that look of pity which | knew
so well.
"Lord Fitz-John is tired" ne said, as
though apologizing to me for what he
must have felt was rude neglect; she
was up late last night, and the morning
is very warm"
what was he up for?" 1 asked
brusquely.
Mr.. Vivian looked embarrassed, and
muttered something about cigar. 1t
was not until long afterwards that |
heard how my lover had scandalized
himself that night to the disgust and
annoyance of the inhabitants of Duron-
mere.
"You had better arouse him, or we
shall never see the water fall to-day"
| said
"If he belonged to me-" said Kate,
decislvely, "he should sleep there until
he aroused himself. would not ask
him for the further honor of his es-
cort."
Mr.. Vivian looked amused at the
spirited manner in which she spoke.
In answer to my look he went to the
sleeper and tried to arouse him.
What is it?' said his lordship, with
a very bewildered air. ooh, the water
fall, EN-? Leave me alone, there's a
good fellow; upon my life, | am worn
out with fine scenery. Wake me up
as YOU come back. Miss Thornley, will
excuse me"
| had heard every word of this ele-
CANT speech quite distinctly. To say
that was angry and indignant would
but feebly express the state of my
mind. | walked on and left my COM
panions 20 follow at will. But present
w the sound of quick footsteps over
the soft grass showed me that | was
not forgotten.
Mr.. Vivian joined me. | read in his
kind face that he sympathized with me,
and was anxious TO charm me from my
gloomy thoughts. The treasures of his
beautiful mind, his ardent fancy, his
subtitle wit, and kindly noble heart,
were all poured out before me. for
got my sleeping lover, my coming mar
riage; / forgot that was beautiful and
an heiress. thought only Of my COM
panion and what he was saying.
1t was noontide when we entered the
large boat that was to take US to the
Folly. We all went, my uncle, aunt,
cousin, four or five guests who were
visiting at DurOnmere. Lord FitZ-John.