Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-07-14

cups of poppies picked out in pale
olive; she was never SO pretty as then.
| used to drop in of an evening and
often. Hard evenings those-hard
both for me and for Lot
In about six weeks the manager re-
turned and wanted to be married at
once. Then Lots stock went up a
good many points. He offered her
gown OF white silk and things to GO
with it, but these she refused and went
down to Maine to be married. OF
course | went too.
On a June afternoon Lot was mar
ried. The sun sifted through fugitive
white clouds that afternoon; all was
golden, and fragrant. and drowsy;
without the murmur Of bees i'll the
blossoms; within-was Lot. A sun
beam parted the folds of a curtain
and flung itself across the arch Of the
pale blossoms beneath which Lot
stood 1t gilded her hair, and touched
the white roses she held in her hand,
and part of her gown-all the rest
seemed in shadow could see moth
ing but Lot! The sight was too daz-
cling!
When he put on the ring I looked
up. My heart had STOPPED beating
/ could feel the blood trickle down
drop by drop o God! How 1 suf-
fered But no one suspected it; |
had learned the art of covering my suf-
| ferings-from Lot.
Lot went away that same evening.
The next morning | started, but |
couldn't stay in the old place, and SO
| picked up my traps and left-for
luck.
The night of the ball was a glorious
one-every one of the stars were out
and the moon at it's full. I got q
ticket to the gallery and went early.
Have you been in Manchester? TITS g.
beautiful town; perhaps it's chief
charm is it's parks. A long, broad
avenue runs through the place, and
theshorter side streets are overarched
with trees, making vistas.
Uncanoomick is visible not many
miles distant, and the Merrimac, rush
ing and tumbling along over powders,
divides where it meets small island.
Above, all is peaceful and bordered by
meadows.
Though SO early, the galleries were
filled. The decorations were fine
nothing tawdry. AS the ball was on
Washington's birthday, | looked for
the Father of his Country on horse
back. Not finding him, I fell to
study of the people and to meditating
on life, as my wont is. In a daze of
thought I had forgotten the people,
the place, when the band struck up;
the grand march had formed, headed
by thegovernor and-Lot! Lot my
old Lot winding in and out. Her
gown of gold satin, the diamond star
IN her hair, her bouquet OF red roses.
She came opposite me in the dance,
and on lifting her eyes recognized me
she kissed me the down on her fan.
| sat there for hours, watching Lot
By some uncomfortable impulse | was
seized, a day or two after, to see Lot,
SO took a run over. At thedoor she
met me, as if she had OWNED my COM
Ing, with outstretched hands. She
didn't go back on her old friends?
Not much. Do you think if she had /
would have taken the trouble to tell
you her story? | stayed q full hour.
When rose to go she took my hands,
looked into my eyes and advised me
TO study. She said that of all pleas
ure, and she had found much, the
greater and more lasting was in study
and in thought.
So l bought Shakespeare, and Mil
ton, and Chaucer-thelast one I don't
like very well; can't get the hang of
his SIS! Am married? I married 2,
pantograph girl, who ran machine
next to Lot. My wife? Nice woman
enough; but | wish she was a little
more pushing Lot.