Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-28
MYRTIE'S LOVER.

Donald Emerson had gone away. he
was her only boarder, and for five years
had occupied her best front chamber,
She had taken him after much per-
| sausion, for he fancied the location, the
quietness, the beautiful scenery! Just
the spot for literary man, and Donald
| Emerson had settled down to his books
and writing with no thought of change
ever coming to his quiet, lonely
life.
He was twenty-seven, though he
looked older; for sad expression rested
habitually upon his face. He was a
Scotchman by birth, though his life from
childhood had been spent in America,
and there was scarcely vestige of ac-
cent in his speech.
He had no living relatives, and meet
| ing Mrs Murray, an elderly lady, a for
| mer friend of his mother, and also of
Scotch descent, had become an inmate
of her house.
Mrs. Murray had lived alone, save
her servants, for many years. They
were two in number, a man and his
| wife who had been with her since her
| husbands death.
They were true and faithful to her in
| terests, and devotedly attached to their
| kind mistress.
For the last three years her niece,
Myrtle De Forest, had spent the sum
mers at her house. MyrtIe's own home
was in large city, and her Aunt Fan
MES rambling, old country house was
delightful retreat to the young school
girl during her vacations.
| A place where she could romp and
ramble through forests and meadows,
and throw off completely the restraints
of city life. Something of a hoyden was
Myrtle De Forest at fourteen and among
| her outdoor amusements We're number
ed riding horseback and rowing.
| Her Aunt Fannie had given her per-
mission to ride, for she felt sure of her
safety on steady. old Bess, but the row.
ing, when she first knew of it, gave her
| great uneasiness.
Myrtle had done her rowing on the
sly, and as there was a little grove be-
| tween Mrs. Murray's house and the pond,
she had become quite dexterous. with
| her oars before her aunt knew Of her
risky ventures; but one sultry afternoon
| Mrs. Murray walked down to the pond,
| hoping to find a cool retreat under the
old naples, and seating herself in rus
| tic chair leaned back contentedly to en-
| Joy the cool breeze that came off the
| water.
Suddenly she deserted her little boat,
| that she thought safely moored in its &C
customed place, way out on the pond,
while Myrtle seated in it her large sun
hat protecting her face, was rowing slow
| ly toward her.
Mrs. Murray was frighten ed, but dared
not call to the young adventures lest
some accident should befall her, while
| Myrtle thinking herself out of sight and
hearing, was caroling like a joyous bird
as she padded round among the lilies,
gathering great cluster of the fragrant
lowers as she neared the shore.
Reaching the little pier built out for
fastening the boat, she secured it with
lock and key, then came sauntering up
the path, with her head bent low over
the pure, golden-hearted lily cups, and
had nearly reached the rustic seat before
she saw her aunt, whose face was paliId
with fear and nervousness.
"Whv, Aunt Fanny" the girl exclaim-
ed, 81 did not know that you was here.
Are you ill?" she asked, tenderly, as she
ncted her aunt's pale face, and when Mrs.
Murray chided her from venturing alone
on the water, Myrtle threw her arms
about her aunt's neck Caressingly.
3Why, you dear, old auntie," she said,
''Pve been doing it all summer. How
did you think / got the beautiful lilies
we have all the time i'll the vases?"
Il supposed John got them for you,
Aunt Fannie replied.
81 did not want to hinder John, fo1
T 10 ,,,rca1fD MUrtin cold
quite proud of her achievement; and Ill
time, finding the Girl was really cautious,
Mrs. Murray forgot her nervous fears.
Myrtle De Forest did not know that.
had she been in peril, she would surely
have been rescued.
One window of Donald Emerson's
chamber commanded view of the little
pond, and after seeing her one morning,
N the tiny b at, way out from the shore,
he had got into the habit of looking from
his window toward the water, that
would have annoyed Myrtle exceedingly,
had she known that the keen eye OF
Aunt Fannie's boarder was upon her.
He seemed grave, courteous, digni-
fed man, whom she met rarely, save at
her Aunt's table, and she scarcely gave
him thought, school girl as she was,
into the quiet, old country house, and
nto Donald Emersons lonely life
Myrtle De Forest had brought light and
sunshine, and her merry caroling echo
ing through the passages and halls OF
Mrs. Murrav's house was sweet music to
his ears, and he would throw down his
pen and listen to the clear, Young voice
till it passed out of hearing.
Thrice Myrtle had come with the sum-
mer.
Each time the house lost its brightness
with her going. Aunt Fannie missed the
winning, gleeful way and affectionate ca
resses of her niece; but Donald Emerson
dared not think how much this bright,
young girl was becoming to him.
She was young lady, now, more shy
and dignifed, but quite as Charming In
the eyes of the grave, scholarly man
though more hopelessly unapproachable
She still loved her outdoor rambles
her iaunts with old Bess about the coun-
try roads, and her rowing on the little
pond. -----.-...-.---.-----------
Myrtle had become almost handsome
as she grew to womanhood.
She had still the same bewitching
smile; the pretty dimples in her cheeks
were not outgrown. Her hair of dark,
rich brown, thick and lustrous, was gath
cred into great coil low on her head,
and few sly. rings lay lovingly about the
low, wide forehead.
Scottish songs were her favorites, as
they were. too. with her aunt and Mr..
Emerson, who never wearIed listening
to their sweet, sad strains.
It was a sultry afternoon in August,
not breath of air was stirring. and the
fiery heat was intolerable.
Mrs. Murray was INDUCING in nap in
her own room. Mr.. Emerson was prob |
ably engaged with his writing, and Myr-
tie De Forest, putting on cool muslin |
dress, saunted down to the pond for |
She stepped into the boat, and unfast-
ening it, picked up the oars and rowed |
laziiy out from the shore. i
The heat was even more scorching on |
the water, and thinking she would go |
to the other side, where great, over
arcliing tree threw shade. she began to |
row more vigorously. IA Few strokes, and |
then by some careless or uncertain mo- |