Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-02-11

S,ceet visions of the past seemed to be gently
rising up before him.
was seated In his library before an open
fire, indulging in a misty train of retro
spective thought.
servant had just brought him the
mail. and among his letters he had found
an illuminated Christmas card, sealed in
a cream-laid envelope, and addressed In
Miss de Venus graceful handwriting
Just like her! She always does the
conventional thing-does Miss Gertrude"
1t was singular to hear him speak in
that way, inasmuch as he had all but
made up his mind to ask Miss de Veau to
marry him. But then Warren Clyde was
different from most men of his age, and
the romance OF his life had died years ago.
The ghost OF 1t came back to him
though, as he drew this Christmas card
from its cover. For moment his cheek
slowed Ike Il girls q deep flush mounted
To his closc-cropped yellow hair and then
left him palo Cs death.
His eyes wandered from the beautiful
card before him 70 the bed Of glowing
Goals upon The hearth, out of which
sweet visions OF the past seemed to be
gently rising.
Once more no was simple sailor who
knew and loved tho fairest girl in Halli-
3ote-Sy5ll Whey. They had been play
aates together, but had been separated
iaring all the years that Warren had
pent nj the Naval Academy.
After his graduation they had met
gain, and Warren found his childish
love for Sybil fast changing into deeper
and stronger passion. But she was the
laughter OF Il great shlpowner, rich and
famous, while he was humble fellow,
poor and prospectless.
II had Loen ono G: his whims, more
over, TO Set aside the commission con-
fcrred upon him Is the Academy, and to
enlist with 4 body of marines, from whose
ranks he dctcr;ntncl to rise
After he met Syhil Whey he wished
that he had not been so rash, for, as a
naval officer, lie might hAyo made some
professions to her favor, But II WAS too
late TO repent tho step he Li.I t&kel. lie
felt that Sybil loved him. hut he would
not bind her evea by the slealef ties of n
confession, TO one whose future was
uncertain.
They had parted with friendly wor,,s-
nothing mere.
During the REBELLION lis gallant service.
would IN the end have secured him an
admiralty. hut i, had hardly +, cei,cl h.
commission Is licu;cna..t tra 49, vs.
wounded il an engagement, wuS
Obliged TO rot.go.
Happily for the disabled young officer
at this critical juncture. a distant relative
bequeathed to him a large fortune.
His thoughts at once reverted to Syb,l
whom he hoped now to win for his wife:
but she no longer lived in Hallicote
With joyous heart he learned that she
had never married; but concerning her
whereabouts he could find out nothing.
MIR. Vincy had lost heavily on several
government contracts for vessels, and
before the close OF the war every vestige
OF MS fortune had boon swept away. His
"eath had followed 1t shortly after.
SYPHILIS mother had been dead for ve,rs
and the young girl was thus left absoInteiv
alone. After her fathers death she had
gone away from Hallicote--no one knew
whittier.
1t then became Warren's sacred purnose
TO ind his lost love. and for two wears he
had devoted himself to searching for ber
But as he had not the slightest cline hs
was panied In every attempt, and had
gradually been forced to reiinouisb The
sweetest dream OF his life.
lie was thirty-five years old now and
was still 1.-THE young lieut. enant /" In soci.
ETY.. Sybil was to him as one of the dead
ana ms love was such a bootless passion
That he hoped to forget 1t In a brilliant
marriage-perhaps with Miss de Veau.
~ All these things came floating back TO
warren on the wings of memory as he
held the Christmas card before him.
IL mad been just at this time that he
mad parted last from Sybil How well he
remembered the day and circumstance
She had been In the little Hallicote
chapel where he had been sent to find her.
IL was bright winter day, and she was
busy preparing for the Christmas service,
she had told him that she was to super
INTEND the decorations, and when he went
to say goodbye to her, he had taken with
MIN wreath OF red-berried holly, wrought
With bis own hard.