Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-11
PASSING SHADOWS.

Several years ago was returning to
my western home after summer spent
in the east doing the watering-plaees.
A friend was accompanying me. and as
we were lounging in a sleeper we both
dropped off into reverie.
The train was slowing up at small
country resort. | raised my window
and looked out. On the platform at
the station saw three young girls ac-
companied by an escort; they were
laughing mirthfully over an attempt of
one of the girls to climb upon a barrel
standing on end under the cornice of
the station. The sun was shining glor-
iously, but little shower had driven
the party beneath the cornice for pro-
lection.
AT last the young girl gained her
footing and stood VIGOROUSLY on the
barrel; then glancing into the cars she
evidently saw the amusement she had
provoked, for slight shade of crimson
flushed into her cheeks. This young
lass, with her peach-bloom visage,
somehow drew my eager attention,
and, although looked on her for only
minute, at most, | thought her an
angel. She was clad in some white,
creamy substance which fell about her
graceful form. | grew enthusiastic,
and tried to find her eyes; they were
flashing here and there in their wild
mirth. seeming to Guido in brightness
the glistening shower which fell be-
tween us. But at-last in their rapid
course they met mine, and | fell des-
perately in love with their owner. But
the train was oft again and the vision
gone.
After we had passed out of view /
fell back into my seat and thought
again. My friend Duke aroused me by
saying: mot bad-looking girl-that
one on the BARREL"
| suppose | said no to this exclama-
ton, but if did it was mechanical, for
was not in this world then.
We reached my home. Duke re-
manned my guest for few days and
then returned to his post in the east,
for he was an officer in the navy. l
took up my routine duties of CONNER
cial life once more, and in short time
all remembrance of the maiden on the
barrel had passed away to memory's
graveyard.
Three years elapsed and again l was
going to try the east for month in
the winter to get change, which 1
needed after very close attention to
business, so wrote to my friend Duke,
at " Washington, that was coming on
to eat his salt for awhile.
During our various rounds in the
gay capital we were one evening at a
Mr.. SIS house at reception. |
moved through the assembled throng
of men and women. They were of all
nationalities brought together in that
cosmopolitan place.
After awhile | sought the conserva-
tory, where | whiled away the time eat
ing an ice and chatting with little
French lady. l had not been there
long before Duke came SCATTERING in
with a gentleman on his arm, whom he
presented to mademoiselle; he remain
ed moment and gave me look which
meant, Come with me!'' and with an
apology to mademoiselle I took his
arm and walked off.
"What do you mean, Duke" said,
"by rushing fellow away in this man.
ner from bewitching creature like
mademoiselle? Have you something
so very important on hand?"
Eyes. my boy" he replied. "Come
with me and l guarantee that what 1
give you in exchange will prove equal
ly as captivating to your susceptible
heart. I've got a settler for your
lie led me through several rooms and
finally stopped within a very dimly
lighted apartment. The object of his
search was at the farther end of this
room in a bay-window that was raised,
letting the moonbeams fall across the
rich carpet, and half within the shad-
ow | saw woman sitting; man was
leaning in the partial darkness al the
back OF her chair.
was presented. delicate hand was
extended into the light and a soft voice,
which seemed part of the moonlight,
babe me be seated. | sat down on a
divan near her. Before was aware of
1t Duke had quilted us and the gentle
man at Aer back had excused himself
and gone away.
When my companion spoke it was
with a voice like the tinkle of silver.
She was not stranger to me. Oh, no!
She was one of those beings we dream
of and learn to know and love long be-
fore we meet them in flesh.
She sat there as she talked, toying
with some roses on her corsage, when
one of the delicate buds fell from the
bunch resting there and rolled TO my
feet. As picked it up she leaned that
perfect head into the light, and, bend
ing over. asked for the truant rose.
did not give it to her. but sat there
gazing into that beautiful face, through
those eyes into her very soul, and in
that glance | knew that before me sat
the woman whom | had learned to
love the one other time our eyes had
met! Finally, l became more CON-
posed and stammered out something
about memories in which she had tax
en- part.
She answered that somewhere be-
fore, in dream or somewhere else,
she had seen my face-had known il
well.
Then told her the story of the
maiden on the barrel and the man or
the train. Her face lighted up; she
sighed, and l thought it was Sigh OF
love for that long time ago-that mo-
ment in the past
All sorts of fancies were running
through my brain, when from out the
darkness at her back stepped man
who said:
=. "Ah, my dear. do you not think il
time we were going to X-'s?"
She arose and presented me, in that
beautiful voice, that seemed part O
the moonlight, to her husband, anc
then, with an da re0oir, was gone
found the rose in my hand and kisseC
it. 1t was sacred in my eyes, for i
was all that was left of my romantic
but vain dream of love. Philadelphia
Cal.
In the town of Warwick. r. T.. there