Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-01-28

IA AAS 4 llgOAlEIlA
,"f n moment that my soul wo,Id
cave the body to fly free and LIGHT
through space. From the mountain
top TO which had climbed measured
the horizon with a conquerer's eve;
the earth had been created forme, and
4 was her master.
l was not yet thirty when she came
to me for the second time. II was mn
october evening, had left the city,
n was wandering aimlcssly through
h fields. gloomy and downcast, with.
put knowing why. For a long time
this had been my mood, and I soucht
solitude without finding pleasure IN
1t.
The sky was lowering and clouded.
An icy wind was shaking the last
ieaVrS icomthe t lees. The melancholy
howllng OF Il dog from a distant farm.
house, a thread OF blush smoke rising
through the branches we're all that re-
veaied lie IN these desolate plains. A
lew bewlldered birds were fitting from
branch TO branch, and some bands OF
cranes were filing slowly through the
grey evening air,
walked on, sharing in my soul the
mourning OF nature. For some time I
a been a prey to that chilly sadness
that comes with the end Of the bright
days. Seating myself at the foot OF a
'cailess tree, saw walk past me two
Old women, each bending under a bun
die OF sticks, provision for winter,
which they were carrying home.
\ 81 p1t yr1. ,,Ap,nr,t' A fn+4., -.
nection of thought From the very
spot | was then sitting, | had seen
pass long ago, one May evening, a
band OF young girls, holding each 9TH
er's hands and singing. | was sixteen
then, and the hedges we're in bloom.
| hid my face in my hands, and re-
viewingthe days which had passed be-
tween that evening in May and this
October night, | fell into a deep and
bitter gloom.
When, at length, arose, | saw be-
lore me a pale COuntCnance which
looked sadly at me. 1t was so changed
that hardly dared to think it the
same. There was no longer about
her that luminous atmosphere which
enveloped her when she first appeared.
Her tattered tuniC could not cover
the bruises on her fair breast. Her
feet were blood-stained; her arms fell
lifelessiy by her wasted sides, The
blue Of her eyes were notified with
black, tears had followed their traces
on her wan c checks. The unfortunate
creature could hardly stand, and, like
a faded lily on its broken stem, she
seemed to bend toward the earth.
What do you want with me?" !
asked her.
"My friend, the hour has come when
We must part; before leaving you for
ever / have come TO bid youfarewell,"
she murmured with q plaintive voice,
sadder than the wintry wind.
"Begone!" | cried; "false spirit,
what have you done for me? Where
are those gifts you foretold to me2 |
have sought them in vain on my way.
Where are the treasures you were to
shower on my path? | have found
nothing but poverty. What has be-
come OF the crown you were TO set on
my BROW My head has worn only a
crown OF thorns. Whittier has gone
that brilliant retinue you promised to
make up for me? My sole escort has
been composed ofdispair and solitude.
You speak of your parting; but unless
you are the Genius OF Sorrow, what
has there ever been in common be-
tween us? Ali If il is true that you
have followed me wherever | went, and
that ] have been always under your
influence, BECOME with my curses, for
you must be the Spirit of Evil!'
II am neither the Spirit Of Evil nor
the Genius of Sorrow" she replied;
"but it is a mans destity to recognize
me only after losing me, to learn the
worth OF my gifts only when the time
for enjoying them is gone by. My
friend, you were u~ngratetul like your
brothers. You blame me, and | pity
you. In a moment you will know me,
and you will wish then, at the price Of
the years that God still holds in store
for you, to see me again for n day
such as you saw me for the first time.
You ask bitterly where are the benefits
| promised you. | have kept all my
promises; but you, you havedisdained
the treasures | lavished c~easelessly or
you, from a hand that was always
full. For a crown, Ihad on your brow
the freshness, brightness, and serenity
of a morning in Spring. For a retinue
| gave you love, faith, hope, and illu-
sion. Your poverty | made so light
and fair that many n rich and mighty
man would gladly have given for it
his palace and his wealth. Your soli'
tude | have peopled with enchanted
dreams. When you walked, |
awoke around you sympathy and
kindness; you met none but
friendly g~lances and none but
friendly hands; heaven smiled up
on you, ana earth herself blossomed
beneath your feet. In your turn
answer, what you have done with the
gifts OF my munificence? What OF my
bounty have YOU retained? What Is
still YOURS OF all the joys Ihave strewn
along your path? II you have known
how to enjoy nothing, should l be &C.
cused?"
At her words a slow light began to
dawn on my being, A veil fell from
my eyes, and / stood in terror Mt what
was revealed to me in my heart.
"Remain, ah! remain; do not CO." l
cried with tears. "Giye me back the
treasures / did not prize; my eyes are
open to the true light. Give me back
love and illusion; give me back faith
and hope. Grant me to love for one
day only, to believe for one hour, and
whoever you may be, | will bless you
with my last breath"
"Alasl" said she, lit is ! who must
die. Can you not see it? Look at me;
have suffered deeply; | am but the
shadow of myself. An unknown dis
ease has long been consuming me; a
devouring breath has dried my bones
and drunk from my bosom the .oun-
tain of life. The bloodno longer flows
through my heart; touch my hand
and Q will feel the cold moisture OF
dea.h. And yet, if it had been your
will | might still have had long days
of life before me. 1t is you who have
slain me before my timel lhave vast
ed my strength and bruised my feet
in following you. You did not leave
me time to bind my girdle afresh and
TO reyivethe already dropping flowers