Little Falls transcript., 1886-04-09

softly.
....No, no; leave me!' 5s...* I.
Instead Of his replying, he pressed 3
second kiss upon her. cheek. l5=
Violently she tore herself away, and
escaping from his arms, slid into the
water at their feet. s I'll ! f. III
"There is no harm done," she cried.
She was laughing and trembling at
once, half from emotion, half from the
sudden shock of cold. rG.>7 @..rs. /.
She stepped out of the water, and her
eyes fell on willow not far off. -.
There are our wreaths," she said,
as Royal stood beside her. . j. 80, q b
Her dress, dripping with water, clung
to her round young form. Careless o!
the fact, she was stepping innocently
away, even raising it and throwing il
over her arm that it might not impede
! the freedom of her movements.
But Royal seemed no longer to see
the charm and alllring grace of this
young creature. The brusque ending
| which his love-dream had met had put
a vague disgust in his heart, and a sort
of haunting anxiety.
| "Where are you going?' he said, as
she turned in direction he had never
before seen her take.
''Home, to dry my clothes,'' she re-
piled.
| ''Let me go with you?''
No, no., she said hastily. "MJ
father must not see you. Go, nowr'
''Do you want me to go?' he sale
sadly.
They had both grown very grave.
"To-morrow, then," he said looking
at her and daring to ask nothing.
He was waiting. She held out th'
ivy wreaths.
Take them.''
And, mechanically, he obeyed her.
MAY l say good-night?" he asked,
flush rising to his cheek.
She turned her head toward him, an,
the kiss he laid upon her cheek wa
that of a brother.
Forgive me-" he murmured. u
was my fault
The girls eyes dropped, and the,
stood silent, facing each other.
"You are not angry?" he asked.
mo"
"Quite surely?"
Instead Of replying she leaned to
ward him and gave him back q kiss a
sisterly and chaste as his had bee
brotherly and pure.
'To-morrow, then" he repeated.
"Good night" came the answer
long drawn and musical.
Slowly Royal turned homeward. Th
sun set just as he entered,
The next day he waited long for Sy1
via, but in vain. The day after that h
sought her at the spring; then again &
the old trysting place, but she was nc
to be found at either spot.
Then he turned into the path tha
led 60 the forester's> He came to littl
house after a time. A man whose surl
aspect did not invite advances sat o
a bench before the door. It was Sylvia
4 father.
(Which way TO the nanor?" aske
: Royal.
''In directly the opposite direction i
) the one you're going" said the ma1
| then dropped his arm with a sigh.
: Royal hesitatcd and their eyes me
''What else do you want?" the una
said brusquely.
"Nothing,'' and Royal retraeed h
steps.
, The following day it rained. Towa1
evening, however, a yellow hurnid II
! pierced the clouds. Royal once MOI
sought the clearing on the border Of tt
< woods and the pathway he had see
but twice, but which haunted his men
= ory.
AS he was passing near the ssprin
= two men came out of the wood carryir
a bier. Behind them walked the TO
ester alene. Seized with sudden te
, Tor Royal looked at the aslan. Tv
l great tears were rolling 'down h
cheeks.
v The gravedigger, his shovel on h
shoulder, came slowly after the grou
. ''Who is that?" SAID Royal hoarse
e lv to him.
"Svlvia, the forester's daughter. 81
= took hen death OF pneumonia. runnil
: about the woods. It was short wor
carrying her off: A good girl she wa
but always half savage! Those pc
L [ple, they speak to none," lhefconclud'
e Struggling his shoulders and looking
G. the silent man who followed his daug
0 ters bier.
. Royaa dared not foilow, too. He S
Il down supon the rock, but there 50 de
e perate a despair seized him that
started up again.
n On going back to the Village he paE
4 ed the cemetery.
- 1t dces not take long Ao conduct t.
Il last rites of the poor dead, especially
n those rvho have not beon seen, VIII
:, alive, f2aixing with the living.
AS Royal reached the enclosure t
n last trace of gold was fading from t
D sky, and the gravedigger was smoot
: ing his last shovelful Of earth. T
3 forester, also still in silence, turn
j. back slowly to his lenely home, a
Royal also pursued his way
l. Not seeing him appear, his fathe
ordinarily SO calm, became anxious al
O. sought shim in his room.
Z "What is the matter?9'' he asked,
i his eyestrested on his sons face.
II have Suffered was the reply, a,
o. Royal turned away.
Tears? Then, do not weep,' Sc
y the older man.
n And yet on that day Royal had VIC
the first tears of his manhGod.
II nidu,% JNosJr