Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-08-02
A CASTLE IN THE AIR.
Castles in the air.

They were ehiioihS one, youth anu
maiden, as they stood side by side be-
4 meath the shade of n great elm, whose
+ deep green foliage was reflected in the
stream babbling at their feet. He held
1 a violin in his hand, bending his check
against it, as he played quaint
simple air, which blended with the
4 voice Of the stream, like the music of
eliand.
n The girl stood listening, a soft dreamy
& smile curving her lips, and, when the
music died away, looked into her lovers
face with sad sweet smile.
81 wonder how long it will be, Will
4 le," she said, "before shall hear you
play that tune again p and as she spoke
the tears welled to her eyes and rolled
slowly down her checks.
Don't be disheartened, darling" he
= whispered, drawing her closely to him,
"the time will soon come when we shall
meet to part no more; when / shall have
climbed the golden ladder of fortune
+ and fame, when the orld will know me,
not as Wilhelm Won Muller, the poor
musician, but as a master in my art.
"And when /, she said, Twill be no
longer an obscure actress. but great
star, as famous as Peg Wellington, and
ss rich as the Queen"
"Then we will marry" he continued,
" "and all our after lives will be so happy
that we shall deem the pain of this part.
ing but a small price to pay for SO much
bliss. Only promise to be loving and
= true, and l can so forth chcer!ul!y tony
S. work"
"Loying and true, dear Willie!
shall often sing the song you made fol
me; it will bring me thoughts Of ou'
certain reunion, for shall be loving ant
leal till DEATH"
And so with one long kiss they parted
one to journey east, the other west, II
fight their way to the calm haven the,
had pictured-their fair castles in the Al
alone.
There they go. young and foolish
thinking Of nothing but fortune ant
fame"
1t was an old, old woman who spoke
Is she stood broom and dustpan in ham
on the stage of q deserted theater, listen
ing to the retreating footsteps OF part.
Of actors who were departing from tn
morning rehearsal.
Fame Phew! / could tell ther
what it will all come to, but there's n
need-they will most of them find it on
Tor themselves.
Find out what, Mother Nilsson? ?
cried the scene-painter, who was stand
mg behind her, touching up . canva
with gaudy colors.
What life really is" she said, "an'
now few Of their fancies will ever com
'fue. Look at me. Perhaps You won
believe it, but I was once q LEADING
lady,"
The man stared at her in amazemen'
She was shabby old woman, clad il
arusty black gown, rusty black shaw
and coal-scuttle bonnet, battered an
Dent, from beneath which struggled tn
border Of an ancient nightcap and icy
,ocks Of scanty grey hair. She swept
ntie, sighed little, and finally pausin
N her labors came and stood besid
MN, looking wistfully in his face.
Maybe you're laughing at me- sh
@d, "but it's tho truth. I've bee
!oung and pretty in my time, and fv
Aad hne hopes, fine stage name, and
sweetheart as young and hopeful as my
~u, Wilhelm Won Muller-Willie use
oeall him--and We loved each othe
"ndly. l dare say that wasn't his nam
my more than mino was Wolverton, br
1ey were all We ever knew each othe
~ All, well.a-dayl"
And you got married ?" said th
"ene painter, with lazy interest
Married deary me, mol We wei
quo that when we had made our for
,nes' and-I never made mine. you se'
nsyears and years ago since Igave ov'
p'ng and trying, and put off my gran
~me Tor the only one I've right TO-