The Delaware ledger., 1883-09-01
Then and Now.

hcl olulp1t WIllit uItoS, lulS Wtn-Dt-
loved comrade of mine, with all her
riotous golden curls pushed in care
less, schoolgirl-fashion into con-
fining net, as she stands beside me
silent-a remarkably strange mood for
her. Ef
With an impulsive movement Of awk-
ward, boyish love, draw that dear head
to my broad shoulders with characteris-
tic shyness.
Then the tears. come into her eyes for
the first time. tt
Her cool, soft hands steal conhdingly
into mfie.
"Oh, you dear old Garry, what shall l
do without you ? How l shall long for
you l'
Then, with shy, upward glance of
softest feeling, she asks
"Shall you miss nee 2''
1 strive to recall some touching suit
able answer from the depths of my lore,
but it is failure.
And who is eloquent at such time
so / said only
''Yes.'
"When you are in Kamtchatka or in
the interior of Africa, and am in this
hateful school, will you sometimes
think of me Y''
''Oh, won't l, though p I say, in
solemn earnestness.
"I'l remember how we read Lucille,
in the apple tree, and padded around
the pond in the dear old punt, and were
lost in the woods I'll remember what
jolly little thing you are, and how
much we love each other, and then
-" 1 say, breaking off rather alb.
ruptly.
Sand then p she asks interrogatively
rubbing her soft, rosy cheeks against my
hands.
swell, then, when my trip to the end
of the earth is over, andyour schooldayl
aredone, why-I'll come back and marry
you."
Rhoda bushes, and L am not sur,
that did not blush myself-though
fortunately, my manliness did not suf
fer, since it was almost dark by thi
time-as fold her to my heart like al
affectionate bear and kiss her owe
and over again. Oh, how well loved
her then
Every feeling of my unclouded yount
heart was ruled by her.
She was frank, simple child
and an honest, rather lanky, youth
brimful of ferver and fidelity worth,
of the days of the Crusades, whel
we parted for five years on that summe
night.
''The time went by like tale that
told"
Years have bloomed and faded
and it is the evening of another sum
mer day.
1t is only three months back sine
I arrived home again, and after th
rapture of reunion with my numeI
GUS brothers and sisters had in
measure subsided, l came straight t.
my old sweetheart's home to awai
her return, which is daily expected
l have been here about month.
90 RhnAa r2rin Ia e
morrow" says the youngest daugh
ter of the house, with a laugh o
expectant happiness, coming to m
side.
My heart gave a passionate throb a
the sound of her dear name, and a
through the following hours the word
'Rhoda will be home tomorrow" keI
ringing in the happy measure throug
my brain.
Closing my eyes can see her agai
as she lives unfaded in my memor
with her fower-like face, and shinin
hair, dressed in that soft muslin dres!
and the twilight shadows falling aroun
her.
Though a man now, of sobere
thought and sterner heart, Rhoda is 9
dear as in my boyhood.
These last hours which must pas
until she is once again by my side seel
almost interminable.
In restless impatience saunter o,
for solitary walk.
The evening is soft, and rests like
blessing on the earth after the noonti(
heat has passed away.
High up in the heavens the full moo
is shining from pale background
fleecy cloud, and the fragrance fro
hyacinth bells steals refreshingly ON n
as i saunter on, until fence boundir
neighboring meadow is reached, al
find am not alone.
Standing against the low, white raj
ing, with her elbow resting on IL
upper bar looking thoughtfully out in
the lane, is Doris Harper, the children
goYerness.
Since the beginning of my visit v
have grown great friends.
She puzzles and charms me at Il
same time, this young girl, with SUI
lustrOus meditative eyes, dark, 50
hair, and independent manner.
l walk to her side.