Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-17
A Long Branch Romance.

Long Branch letter A few days ago
quite "a romantic and pathetic incident
occurred ut n little evening party given
mt the cottage Of II well-known summer
resident. Several years ago in South
ern city, Harry c. became enamored
of the young and beautiful Miss S.,
and the affair soon ripened into II love-
match. Both parties 10y birth were en-.
dowed with sufficient supply Of world
~ dross, and the friends of each side
would not have been opposed TO nor
surprised by their marriage, For a
long time the course Of true love flow
ed smoothly along, and the young low
ers seemed every day to be drawn
closer by the silken cord of affection.
Time passed swiftly by, and the enter
prising lover was offered an interest in
the business of an old reliable house
| in n city nearly or quite 1000 miles
away from his native place. SO he
babe his brave little sweetheart good
| by and left the home of his childhood.
For a time sweet epistles flew thick
and fast between the severed hearts,
and them because Of some silly little
misunderstanding, cold feelings were
engendered and the engagement was
subsequently abandoned by mutual
consent. Several years passed by and the
parties heard nothing from each other
save through friends, and the affair
had long since heed supposed to be set
tied for ever. A few weeks ago Miss
s. came to this place to spend the seas
oE. She WAS az beautiful rs ever, and
shade of sadness which fingered in
her dark, lus,rous eyes, seemed to add
to her attractiveness. The young lady
has rich, mellow voice, and quite a
reputation as a vocalist, and ut
cottage party the other evening she
favored the guests with several songs.
Quite number ofinvitations had been
issued, and the spacious parlors were
filed with merry throng During the
evening note was presented request
ing her 10 sing her favorit9 ballad,
whatever that might be- There was no
signature to it, but ~ the lady glanced
at it she gave an involuntary start and
turned little pale AS she recognized
the aforementioned hand. With pal
lid features she took her place by the
piano, not even daring to glance about
her, for she knew that he who was once
her hearts king was an eager spectator
in the audience. The pianist murmur-
ed soft prelude, and with "A little
quaver like half.suppressed sob her
voice tloated out pathetlcally with the
words, "Must we then meet AZ strangers
after our dreams Of love-" The notes
rose on the air as clear and mellow rs
lutte, and instantly the whispering
and rustling of silks ceased, and
the audience hung esthralled upon
the sweet sad melody Of the song
stress She sang the pathetic words
with exquisit effect, and the moist eyes
Of the listeners were evident that the
audience was strangely moved. Her
voice trembled despairingly, as though
the words were the plain,ive meaning
OF disappointed soul and the melody
OF the death -knell Of hope. After the
first verse came mOurnful interlude.
Then, trembling in every limb, with
features AZ white and CHASTITY as the
face of the dead, and lustroas eyes,
upturned, as if mutely and pathetlcally
appealing to relentless fate, the dove
like voice mournfulIy warbled the first
lines Of the last verse of this musical
gem, when the great tears welled up in
the dark eyes and coursed slowly down
the pallid cheeks. AT this inopportune
moment she caught glimpse Of a
well.remembered face and unable
longer to restrain her pent-up feelings,
With last little halfsuppressed scream
Of despair. The sweet-voiced songstress
! swooned and fell like a poor iiieess
| bird into the arms Of her loug.lost
lover.
OF course q panic then ensued. and
the startled guests fled in dismay from
the room, and the couple were alone
with their intimate friends. The lady
soon returned to life, and then occur
red scene which can well remain un-
told Suffice it to add that the course
OF true love once more runs smoothly,
and there seems to have been COM