Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-11-07

was wound carelessly about her head
/ and cluster Of white daisies shone ou1
like stars in the bronze coils. A grea
i bunch Of them was at her waist.
That was all CASTOR noted as he be-
! gan to talk to her. He saw d tide o,
crimson rush over her face, leaving il
pallid as it ebbed away, and he knew
that somehow he had told his tale. His
mother was at hand to help, but Claire
did not faint; she looked hurt, puzzled
as child might from whom cherished
plaything had been taken. Tears came
into her eyes, but no sudden storm o!
them. The grief did not shake her be
ing to its center. She was shocked
sorry, but there was still a world 81
sunshine, aud birds and flowers. This
blow did not darken all the Landscape
of her life :
"She never loved him." said CASTOR
to himself, as he stood in his room
alone that night.
And somehow strange to say, he did
not feel sorry! He awoke next morn
ing, still feeling low and miserable, and
with so little interest in life that bis
mother summoned physician. BY his
verdict he was dispatched to TrouvilIe,
and as soon as he was better he went
into active service again until the wal
was ended. He sought the seaport
once more to renew his strength, and
his mother wrote that she would meet
him there.
Il shall bring Claire" she said; "not
that she is dropping at oil, for she has
bloomed into newer and more glowing
beauty since you saw her. I knew she
WAS one who would not pine long. She
wears white now, and looks more like a
young bride than bereaved widow.
All, well, she was but IS when the blow
came, and life had not yet opened its
bright possibilities for her. Sometimes
I think that EIerle-But I won't Cos
sip"
CASTOR read this letter on the gay
Trouyille beach; but for moment the
white sand, the bathers in their bright
suits, the Japanese umbrellas that
looked so much like green exotics stuck
in the sand, all seemed to float away,
and he saw the dim green lane, the
pallid moonlight that fell on the face
OF the man who died for him,
with the carven image Of that other
Friend who died for all mankind CLEAN
in the white light above them!
! ooh, Rafe oh, my friend" he
moaned; lis the hour coming for the
sacrifice? Why did not warn her
tell her his dying words? Tt might
have influenced her. hope, I pray,
it may not be to late!"
For CASTOR had given the young
widow no hint Of her husbands dying
agony, nor the love that gave the keen
est sting to death. Merle, too! It
could not be possible that Claire's heart
was very deeply touched by that jacka-
napes. Surely, any feeling he had in
spired would be light and easily over
come. He took courage from the thought.
Perhaps Merle had been useful in keep
ing her safe from more serious pas
sion. Still, he grew more wretched, and
his mother looked at him with anxiety
as the days passed by.
'You must stay in the water too long"
she said, anxiously. II don't like your
| looks"
"Nor T." said CASTOR, with laugh ;
II never did"
Claire stood regarding him with a
puzzled air She was bewitching in black
lace and white roses.
II think he's in love-" said Merle, re-
moving his silver head for this sapient
remark. "Goes that way with some fell
lows. He looks off his feed"
CASTOR did not feel his old i'm
patience with his cousin. He had
an infinite pity for everybody
for Claire first, for the silly
moth who was smuggling his wings at
this new fame, but most of all for him
self, who had been sort Of fate for
them BOTH Claire watched him with
curiosity, and with an Unborn coquetry
triee her power on him. His indiffer-
ence baffled her, and she began to put
heart into her work. One afternoon
size happened upon him as he sat mood
lily in the shelter of rock. She was
alone, and with throbbing heart he
saw his opportunity.
''You look as gloomy as November
day." she cried gayly.
II am thinking of something very
sad, something that haunts me-" he
said gravely.
ooh, put it away; get away from it
somehow" she cried: II always do. :"
$50 I see," he answered, with a
shade of bitterness in his tone.
II know what you mean, she answer
ed, with mutinous air, "you are think
ing OF poor RATE! Do you expect me
to sit in dust and ashes all the rest of
my life? I am too young. He would
not have wished it."
II have never dared to tell you his
wishes" said CASTOR.
"You did not?" she cried with an an
cry flush; "then you were a false
friend!"
"Ihope it is not yet too late, answer
ed CASTOR, with an effort, "and have
not made them harder for you by this
delay" ..> .~.....
"Well," impatiently, II am waiting"
I He looked at her with somber eyes.
She was all in white-a charming picture
of youth and hope and life. Must he
dash this new cup of love from her
hand and darken all her future? Oh,
how gladly would he give her all the
good gifts that life and love could offer.
"Speak!" she cried. care you
afraid? 2" 81. 49,. = s.. r 49,
eyes; I am the veriest coward" he
said, in broken voice; butt promis-
ed Rafe. You know his love for you.
7 vowed / would give you his dying
words" ... H.. ~ .s# 4 . -. II
ut is too late now for dying words,
she said ;" but let me hear them"
| "He said that he could not be happy
in heaven if you should come to love
another. He would know it; the
knowledge would penetrate through all
the leagues Of space and reach his soul,