Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-09-07

very heart Seemed bursting with lis
gladness.
How fully he had realized her every
dream of him! WHAT wonder that, with
his image in her memory, all other
men were nothing? She thought for
the first time of her many triumphs
with glow of pleasure. If be but
might find her fair a. other men had
thought her--if she might but be wor-
Thy his splendid manhood
These were her last aching thoughts
rs at last she laid her tired head on her
pillow; but they staid with her even in
dreamland. and forbade the smile to
leave
Never, Dick Grenvi'le told himself
mad he seen greater loveliness than
when, waiting next morning at the hour
appointed, in her fathers drawing
room, Bel Stockton, entering it, came
forward to greet HIM.
She wore a morning dress OF white
flannel, utterly unrelevcd by any color,
save the matchless hue of her eyes,
and the crimson Of her cheek and lips.
a flush rose to his own face. He had
meant 10 give her the calm, cold greet
ing of a friend, of an elder brother; but
the thrill which the sight of her beauty
wakened left its token it his eyes as
they met hers.
"Bell-little Bell" he said; you are
glad to see me, them"
A t1irl, a coquet, the world called
this woman but all her soul was in the
glance with which she answered him
and he read it rightly-read it with
great, unspoken JOY.
The hours sped on wings as they
talked together, and when again be left
her, with a promise to see her on the
morrow, her heart cried ont in triumph
"He loves mel He has not forgotten
the little girl he used to love so well!
All, will he find in her the woman
whose hero he has ever been?"
The next day, and the next, they
were together, until one day, in the
twilight, holding her lards close clasp
ed in his, he whispered low the words
whose echo had rung through all these
years.
Il asked you 10 remember, Bell
They were light words, but something
tells me that the child, though grown
to womanhoOd, has not forgotten them.
My darling, have You waited for me all
this dreary waiting? No, do not an
swer me-" he said, quickly, AS bright,
lovely blush mounted to her face. 81
have not yet the right to put that ques-
ton, Tomorrow, Bell, | have story
tc tell you, and then, my love, | put
my fate into your hands"
He turned abruptly and left her, but
the world had new giadness in her
sight.
All the next day she waited for him,
and he did not come. The next, and
the next, until week had passed. and
then letter was brought her, bearing
a distant postmark:
Forgive me and forget me, Bell" it
read. blinded by the sunlight, / saw
not the thunderbolt forged for my de-
structon. The story | meant to tell
you can never be spoken. Vt were well
for you to think of me hardly. Think
what you will, my beloved-doubt all
save the love which makes my honor
strong to silence, and bids me leave YOU
| forever, that some other may take up
the thread of my darhng's waiting, and
link It to future of lifelong happi-
ness. For myself, have enlisted in
defense Of my country. She can have
no more willing blood split upon her
soil"
at is shameless - cried the world.
"Of course, Bell Stockton has Tilted
Dick Grenville, and he has gone into
the army. Never, they say, was such
reckless bravery seen as he has shown"
But the girl answered neither yea
nor nay when these rumors reached
| her. Other women of less faith, less
loyalty, would have doubted him. She
could not doubt. The years of the
waiting were lengthened--that was all.
She would hear the story yet for which
she had so long waited, though per-
haps not until her little barque had
stranded on the shores OF eternity.
at was remorse,' said the world,
(which made her give up all gaiety, to
devote her time to the soldiers. Doubt
less she would find new triumphs to
console her" it exclaimed, when she
went into the hospital wards
And perhaps she did. Certainly many
a poor fellow died blessing her, and the
sight of the pale, lovely face, was to
many as the vision of an angel.
But when the war was over she took
UP the old life. She was twenty eight
now, but still the debutdates murmured
at her power, and the debaantes of four
| years before, whose power had waned,
grew bitter when they spoke OF her.
Whether Dick Greenville we're dead
o, living, no one knew. He had sought
Geath, he had gained honor and dis,
tinction; but, after the last battle fought,
ne had been missing, and no
trace had since been found of him,
though six months had passed.
Once again she was sitting in the twi-
| light, alone with the fire and her
thoughts. 1t was to her an hour OF peace,
an hour she shut on the world. She
had given strict orders that always at
| this time she was not to he disturbed (;
| therefore she started almost Indignantly
as the door softly opened and closed
behind some one, who came straight to
| his side.
ii ~ 1