The Wahpeton times., 1885-05-21
:,Pa sying Shadows ! !:

4 II sssing Shadows:
Several years ago 4 was returning tc
|!my Western home after . summer spent
lin the East doing the watering places.
"a friend was accompanying me-, and adj
we were lounging inassleeper We botli
dropped OF into reverie. The train
was slow1ngsup alta small country re.I
sort; I l7raised my window and looked
,out. On the platform at the station q
saw three young girls accompanied
by an escort; they were laugh
ing :mirtkfully over an attempt
of 'one ;of the girls to. climt
upon q barrel standing on end under
the cornice of the station. The sun
was shining glorlously, butt a. little
shower had driven the party beneath
the .cornice for protection. At last this
young girl gained her footing and stood
'victoriously on the barrel; then glanc-i
ing intotthe cars she evidently saw the
amusement she had provoked, for a.
slight shade of crimson flushed her
cheeks. This young lass with herpeach-
bloom visage somehow drew my y<eager
attention, and although ! looked on her
for only "a minute at most, thought
her an angel. She was clad in some
white creamy substance which fell
about her graceful form. I grew en-
thusiastic and tried to find her eyes;
they were flashing here and there in
their wild mirth, seeming to outdo IN
brightness the glistening shower which
fell between us. But at last in their
rapid course they met mine, and I fell
desperately in love with their owner.
But the train was off again and thevision
gone.
After we had passed out of view I fell
back into my seat and thought again.
My Duke aroused me by saying: "Not
a bad-looking girl-that one on the bars
rel"
suppose I said no to this exclama.
tion, but if did it was mechanical, fol
I was not in his world then.
We reached my home. Duke re-
mained my guest for a few days and
then returned to his post in the East,
for he was an officer in the navy. [
took up my routine duties of CONNER
cial life once more and in short time
ell remembrance of the maiden on the
barrel had passed away to memory's
graveyard.
Three years elapsed and again I was
going to try the East for a month in
the winter to get change which /
needed after very close attention tc
business. SO wrote to my friend Duke
at Washington that I was coming on to,
eat his salt for awhile.
During our various rounds in che CAV
capital we were one evening at Mr..
SIS house at reception. I moved
through tue assembled throng of mon
and women. They were of all nation.
alities, brought together in that COS
mopolitan place.
After awhile I sought the conserva-
tory, where I whiled away the time eat
ing an ice and chatting with little
French lady. I had not been there,
long before Duke came sauntering in
with gentleman on his arm, whom he
presented to Mademoiselle; he remain
eda moment and gave me a look which
meant "Come with mel" and with an
apology to Mademoiselle I took his arm
and walked off.
"What do you mean, Duke" I said,
"by rushing fellow away in this man
ner from a bewitching creature like
Mademoiselle? Have you something
so very important on hand?"
eyes, my boy" he replied. "Come
with me and I guarantee that what
give you in exchange will prove equally
as captivating to your susceptible heart.
"I've got settler for youp
He led me through several rooms
and finally stopped within very dim
ly-lghtea apartment. The object of
his search was at the further end of
this room in o bay window that was
raised, letting the moonbeams fall
across the rich carpet, ana half within
the shadow 1 saw woman sitting;
man was leaning in the partial dark
ness at the back of her chair.
l was presented, delicate hand was
extended into the light and q soft voice,
which seemed part of the moonlight,
bade me be seated. I sat down on
divan near her. Before I was aware oi
1T Duke had quilted us and the gentle
man at her back had excused himself
end gone away.
When my companion spoke it was
with voice like the tingle of silver.
She seemed some old and loved friend
speaking in that sweet, gentle voice.
She was not a 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 the flesh.
She sat there as she talked, towing
with some roses on her corsage, when
one of the delicate buds fell from the
bunch resting there and rolled to my
feet. As I picked it up she leaned that
perfect head into the light, and bend
ing over, asked for the truant rose. #
I 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 I knew before me sat the
woman whom I had learned to love the
other time our eyes had met Finally,
I became more composed and stam.5
mered out something about memories
in which she had taken part s
She ans Wered that somehow before.
in dream or somewhere else, she, had
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