Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-06-11
MIRIAM DOUGLAS.
BY LAWRENCE BARRETT.

I'm sorry to interrupt you, sIr; but
the lock on your satchel is broken, MAX
ing the things unsafe, beside being a
very shabby old bag, sir, begging your
pardon"
So quoth Eliza, relict of Joseph
Minis, the sexton, to her ledger, the Rev.
Julius Byron.
what bore!" exclaimed this gen
tleman, 'Fwhen I really havne't the time
to attend to anything but these let
ters''
81 have an errand which takes me
past Piper and Tipson's. I could buy
you new satchel, if you would trust
me. Going among all those fine people
at the wedding with your lock tied up
with a bit of string wouldn't do at all,
sir"
"Thank you airs. Minis have great
trust In your Judgment, aud should be
obliged if you would attend to this
matter for me, and save my going into
town"
As the door closed after his landlady,
the Rev. julius Byron resumed his
writing with a sigh of relief. AS he
sat leaning his head on his disengaged
hand-a hand beautiful enough to
atone for plainess in all other features
had nature willed him to be plain
julius Byron was an ideal picture of a
student-brown eyes, with PARKWAY
dreamy look, hair long enough to show
a tendency TO wave back from the fore
head, and a pale, clear complexion set
off by golden brown velveteen coat,
which he wore when in his study.
Twenty nine years old, undeniably
handsome, gifted with winning man
ners, and shepherd of flock most will
ing to be guided, julius Byron, as if
by miracle, had escaped being spoiled
and petted into effeminacy. His safe
guard lay perhaps in pair of soft eyes
which had held him spellbound for a
few rapturous weeks, and the witchery
of which had lasted for almost three
years of total separation.
Miriam Douglas, dispensing tea and
gingerbread to horde of charity chill
dren in the park at Mount Edgecombe,
was one of the prettiest and daintiest
of women, in a muslin dress in color
matching forget-me-nots and her eyes
equally well, and with roses at her
waist and throat which stole their deli
cate tint from her cheeks.
Miriam was seventeen that day, and
the blue muslin was her first long dress !;
to this the little lassie paid far more
attention than to the admiring gaze of
two dreamy brown eyes. After the
feast there were offerings of flowers,
good wishes and rather too many kisses
and embraces from the charity children,
and, among other trophies, Miriam
Douglas carried away the heart of the
Reverend julius Byron. Had she
known this, it would have affected her
less than the consciousness that the
Barclay girls, her former playmates,
were enviously admiring the grown up
womanish arrangement of her bright
silky hair.
There were few tennis parties and
5 o'clock teas after this, during which
Mr.. Byron worshiped his divinity from
afar. She seemed little in awe of
him, and rarely spoke with him more
than five minutes at time What
delightful task it would be 20 chase
away the timidity from the soft fawn-
like eyes, and how pleasant to think
that the sea-shen pink stole to her
cheek from JOY at his approach.
EsFate, however, cruelty interfered with
Mr.. Byron's dream of awakening loving
confidence in the bosom of this bashful
maiden of seventeen. In three short
weeks, before he had made any percep-
tible Roadway, Miriam was summoned
to the bedside of dying relative, and
julius Byron was called to a parish in
a commercial town. tf
Three long years this idyl had been
in the past, and through all this time
the memory of Miriam Douglas ex-
cluded any other love from the young
clergyman's heart, though many were
the goddesses willing to be therein en-
shrined.
He wondered at himself; she had
slipped completely out of his material
existence; he knew not where she was,
or if she were dead or worse-married.
Still with all. this uncertainty, he could
not forget her, and voice within him
seemed to whisper that they would
meet again.
The rapid skimming Of his pen over
the white page was stayed for the Sec
ond time by heavy footstep at the
door outside; and Mrs. Minis, painting
and crimson from the ascent of the
steep stairs, exclaimed:
"There, sir, you could not have found
a better or cheaper satchel yourself, if
Won had searched the town from end to
end. Piper and Tipson say on their
oath that it is first-rate one, and that
Won needn't fear exchanging with any
one by mistake, for they had only one
of the kind. This decided me to take
it. for being rather an absent-minded
gentleman, you might easily pick up
he wrong bag"
:sThank you, Mrs, Minis, thank you;
ach time that you do anything for me,
YOU give me fresh cause to admire your
clever management and forethought."