New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-21
A TALE THAT is TOLD.

faithfully recorded? The outward
pleasures and troubles, the visible sue
cesses> and failures, these may be duly
chronlcled; but was ever pen found
capable OF tracing the throbbings of
the heart, the longings OF the soul,
the inner conflict, with it's secret vic
tories and defeats, the pleasures of
hope, the terror of fear, or the agoniz-
ing anguish of despair.
Sitting tonight by my lonely fire.
side, all the hot ardor OF youth de-
parted and gone with the friends of
that time, I fold my ringless hands
on my lap and dream of the days that
are no more.
Forty years have glided by since
that bright summer evening, but / can
still see myself as if it were some other
person, standing in the rose-covered
door, anxiously watching the bend in
the road; for my father has gone to
the station to meet my only sister,
who has for the last two years been in
school at Paris.
| had not once seen her during that
time, and am totally unprepared for
the marvel OF beauty who, lightly step
ping from the chaise, greets me enthu-
siastically as ''dear old NELL"
Ivy was always a pretty child, but
now she is a lovely maiden, fair as a
lily, 1.-the as 81 sylph, sweet and fascin-
ating as a siren. Lively and bright
she is, too, chatting gaily all the way
to her room, and arrived there,
placing me in chair, she kneels
down before me and placing her little
hands, one ON either side of my face,
she says: "Papa whispered me Sc
cret about you, Nellie; is it true?"
eyes, Ivy, 1T is true 1 answer,
thankful that herhsnds partially hide
my bushes, for nuy engagement to
Arthur Grey, though six months OLE
isstill too precious athing to be spoken
OF lightly.
''Let me see," went on Ivy. in her
soft musical tones, smooth and flow
ing as a French woman's, "were net
those the Greys who took the hall
just before Ileft Dilbourne? All, whst
a petite Twas then-a mere baby. But
| have come back to you a grown wo-
man, Nellie, :anxiously eager for lover
OF my own"
The eyening was spent in talking
over old times, recounting changes
that had taken place, and looking fer
ward to new pleasures in the future.
and the next day Ivy saw my lover.
He walked from church with us, had
luncheon at rtihe vicarage, and when
the afternoon service was over insist
ed upon taksmg us up to the hall.
After dinner we three went into the
garden and lay upon the grassy banks
Of the river, Arthur reading to us the
while from Paradise Lost
Ivy rested hen golden head upon my
lap, and unseen 10y ;anyteyes, Arthur's
hand wandered until lit found mine,
which it at once covered lin it's strong.
protecting grasp.
When we reached |home I waited
anxiously for Ivy's opinion of my low
er, (which she gave nlnasked.
"He is charming she said. II
could find it in lay heart to.enyy you,
Nellie. He is the very ihandsomest
man IAlave ever seen
1,l,
lpered rs laid nay head down on my
pillow to continue i'm dreams the hap
lpiness of the day.
Before the next Sunday .theNicarage
was emE5y, and Ivy sand i were or
:phans.
When Arthur had asked my fathers
consent to our engagement ithad been
given on the express condition chat
we would mot be married until / had
completed nay 2lst year, for he SAID q
girl hardly knew her own lnlnd ,,.ntil
that age.
When, without a word OF warning
he was taken from us, resolved to
keep my promise and for theiinterveR-
ing wear went with Ivy to live Withia
sister of CUR father whom Me had new
er seen.
She was the wife of struggling so
licitor living on tke Clapham road, and
had five young children of her own.
She received US kindly, but AIS If she;
took "a great responsibility in taking
charge OF two growH-up young ladies,
whose previous lives in a pretty eoaafa-
try vicarage might hayeunitted them
for the dull, monotonens routine OF a.
in London suburb.
After few days Ivy &nd decided
that we must in some way, at least
partially, try to earn our own living,
for we saw only too plainly that our
stunt could ill afford the additional
expense which we must be to her.
Walking one day in Kensingt0n park
we came to this decision, and then
arose the question, what could we do?
just then well.known figure pass
ed across the end OF gravel path we
we're walking, and merely saying hnr-