New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-10-21
MY FRIEND FELIX.


The hot August sun was pouring It's
red beams on the world that day, but
they did not penetrate to where my
friend and lay prone among the.
grasses, smoking our cigars and review
ing the glad days Of our college life.
This beloved friend alone had come
to me from that glad past, but only
when five years had taught both OF us
that the world pours but aloes into
open hands; we must wrest from her
clasp whatsoever manhood holds
worthy.
Hooked at him as he lay full length
in the tall grasses, shadows lying soft
ly on his handsome Saxon face; and
the love 1 had felt for this man, who
was no kin to me, rose full in my
heart, fond and true as the love Of
brother for brother.
"Wingar' said he, suddenly, cold
fellow, you don't know how much
good it does me, after my tramp over
half the world, and my many strug-
giles, to rest here in your green coun-
try with you; trust me, my boy, you
have chosen the better part in set
fling down on your broad acres and
leadingth calm existence. Youwant
but a sweet woman beside you, at the
head Of your table, to make this life OF
yours a very Lotus dream"
Such thoughts had come to me be-
fore, and there was one face in the
world, fair enough in my sight to
make all the world about it fair for
me.
"When bring that woman to my
home-having found her you will be
my best man, will you not, Felix?' I
asked; and for an answer he held out
his hand.
II believe we made that compact
years ago." went on; "and now tell
me of yourself I have a sister, you
know, SO the head Of my table is not
empty; but there is no woman's face
in your old home, my friend. Have
you not chosen one who will presently
become mistress there?"
He turned restlessly and blew forth
a cloud Of vapor before replying.
III have been too busy to look close
ly at fair faces, and my heart is my
own yet, Wingar," hesaid. perhaps
/ have come here to lose it. Who
knows?"
Who knew, indeed? l smiled again,
putting my cigar with enjoyment and
thinking of Leonore, my sweet-faced
sister, who was so true and tender
woman. They were the two dearest
to me save one other, in all the world;
and who knew?
He told me all concerning those five
years during which we had not met,
and [ opened my heart to him-all,
save one sacred chamber, where Vala
Lee was shrined. Oh, how bitterly /
have since regretted that I said no
word Of my hopes then! One little
word-on tiny hint, and my cherished
friend had surely not coveted what
he knew was the treasure Of my life!
But the red sur sank languidly to-
ward the West, the shadows slanted,
and, rising, we walked back to my
home, and in the sunset warmth we
found my sister and her friend, my
sbrown-eyed Vala, wandering among
Leonore's flowers; and I, unconscious
that by SO doing / struck to death my
last and dearest hope, led my friend
forward and presented him.
1 saw his eyes light gloriously as
she gave him her hand; saw her own
droop, but fancied, oh, blind fool that
was! they dropped because they had
coar, NV Iowa not h;c, n
1t was only week later, when with
a wild cry of desolation and loss
in my heart, | listened to my friends
hopes and fears, and the confession of
his love for Vala-Vala, whom I had
thought would one day be my own.
He opened his heart to me when a
great love came to it. Oh, had I but
opened mine to him that day, when
he had not yet seen her, and my doing
so might have left me-Vala.
Stunned and cold, 1 stood silent
there while he told me how, at first
sight OF her lovely face, his whole
heart went out to her.
II spoke in jest that day, when l
told you | might have come here to
lose my heart" he said, "but have
just lost it here, and I am no boy. /
know this love will be a blessing or
curse to my whole future. My dear
old friend, I want your good wishes;
bid me God speed in my wooing'
tried to say it, tried to say more
to cry out that by winning Vala he
would wreck and shatter my existence,
but could not speak; only when he
put out his hand to me in the old
friendly way, and 1 met his frank,
honest eyes, felt somehow as though
Vala lost to me I could not lose my
friend and I wrung his firm fingers in
silence.
Perhaps I yet hoped that the girl
whose girlhood I had hesitated to
startle by a word of love might not be
won from me by him; now I know I
might as soon expect a daisy to turn
its white face from the sun as expect
woman who had not been won to
resist the wooing of Felix Glenn and
I had not won Vala?
r corooho1, fo14 ~ +l,o,,. r l.x,o, ~