Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-17

queer stories of his college days, un-
til we fairly grew tired of jolllty,
and trudged along for awhile IN 81
lence.
Suddenly he declared himself tired,
and laid down under tree to rest.
He must have sleep or he couldn't
walk another step. ! was anxious to
walk on, fearing to lose the train,
knowing that the morning one would
land us at B. too late; but Lorimer
was too masterful for me and soon
Overruled my weaker will. It was
growing dusk, but the moon would
soon be up, and then it would be pleas
anter going on; there was plenty of
time, and, If we didn't catch one
trere was always another, and life was
too short to hurry, etc.
Well, naturally. gave in, and in
five minutes my companion was fast
asleep. 4 very impudent thing to do
10 lie on the damp ground with the
dew falling SIS it does fall in wooded
places at sunset, but I never thought
of that. We were young, and things
90 not seem to matter SO very much
then.
l sat Waiting HIM long while and
was surprised to see what q change
came over his features in sleep. The
gay, careless expression died out from
his face and he looked years and
years older. You could see that it
was mask OF gayety he wore habit
ually, and that the real man BEND 1t
had known sorrow and trouble and
sadness. The sadness infected me IN
consciously, and as looked sighed,
What was that?
My sigh was echoed by another
close at haRd, and as [ started and
| looked round I became aware that we
were not alone.
From out Of the gloom formed by
the mass Of foliage beside me a figure
came quietly on until it reached Lori
mer, when it stood looking down on
his recumbent form, without speaking
@ word. How she startled me! Where
had she come from, as quietly and
stealthily as a shadow?
1t was getting late and far from any
house or village, and it seemed strange
for a young girl to be wandering
alone in such place.
Ali this passed quickly through my
mind, but was lost in the interest
felt as | scrutinized her more closely.
The light was not very good, but she
was near enough for me to see that
she was very young and very pretty.
Such a sweet, pale, wistful lilly face,
with dark, curling hair and soft, SAD
eyes, that could not take mine away.
1t fascinated me. and yet it awed me
somehow, like face seen IN a dream,
which the dreamer dares not approach
too closely lest it fade out and be seen
no more.
And still she stood there motionless
and still gazed spellbound, for how
long [ know not
At last she raised her head and
looked at me. Then she pointed to
Lorimer, and I understood that she
wished to spek to him.
"Do you want me to awaken him?'
| asked at once, laying my hand on
her arm. She shook her head.
''You cannot; he sleeps too sound
ly," she answered In q low voice,
which sounded sweet but faint, like
the wind as one hears it from below
sweeping over the tops of the tall pine
trees. And, sure enough, I found il
impossible to rouse my companion
from the deep sleep into Which he had
fallen. When spoke close to his ear
he merel y turned uneasily and buried
his face IN his arms on the ground.
[ looked from him TO the silent flo
ure at his side with wonder. Again
she shook her head.
4 can only speak to him through
you," she went ON ia that same low
tone; ':but you must give him my
message for the sake of the love you
bear him. Tell him there is danger
before him, and have come to warn
to entreat him to delay his Journey,
He must not go to c.. There is
danger-horrible danger"
''But we are on our way there
now" [ said"
''Turn back then; oh, make him
turn back!'' she entreated, stretching
out her small, white hands imploring
ly
What could it mean9 All sorts OF
romantic ideas fitted through my
brain. This beautiful creature was
some girl who loved him and who
was mixed up with his true life, and
he was about to be discovered by his
family-or who knows what his fam
lily? | wished to get little peep
into the secret.
But what is the danger9 CAM
you tell me about it, so that can i'm.
press it more on him?" I asked, per,
suasively.
''No, no; may not say. cannot
tell you more"
But he won't believe me. Why
not rouse him and warn him your.
self, MADAME"
''Would that it were possible" she
replied sadly, with sort of wall; he
has prevented that by the life he has
led since we parted. Oh, Sydney
why were you not true to the raem
DRY of our love, that l might have
guarded and saved you?"
"Tell him." she went on, after a
moment-''tell him not to doubt the
truth Of what say to you-what Hell
en-, the Helen he loved, says. IF he is