The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-04-01
smiled back at him.

TO TURN again W GHo ItutClcu SlSlOu
Of her beauty,
Fascinated by his fixed gaze, a sud-
den new emotion springing up in her
own heart, the girl, as though yield
ing to the imploring eyes down there,
lifted her hand slowly to her lips
and threw a kiss to his mirrored
image.
The face she had been looking at
abruptly disappeared and Royal
seized her in his arms.
81 love you! I love you'll" he whis-
pered; and his hot lips pressed a kiss
upon her soft cheek.
Feebly, and trembling in every
limb, Sylvia disengaged herself. The
two ivy wreaths fell into the spring.
'Ah, they are floating away!" she
cried.
The ~circlets of intertwined ivy had
already drifted out of the hollow, aid
now touching, now separating, were
floating off with the stream.
A sudden sense of sadness seized the
girls heart when, at a turn OF the
brook, they were lost to sight.
':Already!I" she murmured.
Royal was not looking at the brook.
He had passed his arm around her
waist.
'.Come back into the wood" he said,
softly.
'No, no; leave mel"
Instead of his replying, he pressed a
second kiss upon her cheek.
Violently she tore herself away, and
escaping from his arms, slid into the
water at their feet.
"There is no harm DONE" she cried.
She was laughing and trembling at
once, half from emotion, half from the
sudden shock of cold.
She stepped out of the water, and her
eyes fell on a willow not far off.
''There are our wreaths," she said,
as Royal stood beside her.
Herdress, dripping with water, clung
to her round young form. Careless of
the fact, she was stepping innocently
J away, even raising it and throwing it
over her arm that it might not impede
the freedom of her movements.
But Royal seemed no longer to see
the charm and alluring 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 a direction he had never
before seen her take.
"Home, to dry my clothes,' she re-
piled.
Let me 60 with you?"
No, no." she said hastily. "Mly
father must not see you. Go, now!'
"Do you want me to go?" he said
sadly.
yes"
They had both grown very grave.
Tomorrow, then" he said looking
at her and daring to ask nothing.
He was waiting. She held out the
ivy wreaths.
''Take them"
And, mechanically, he obeyed her.
MAY [ say goodnight" he asked, a
flush rising to his cheek.
She turned her head toward him, and
the kiss he laid upon her cheek was
that of a brother.
forgive me-" he murmured. sit
was my fault"
The girls eyes dropped, and they
stood silent, facing each other.
you are not angry??" he asked.
s.No."
'sQuite s~urely?''
Instead of replying she leaned to-
ward him and gave him back Il kiss as
sisterly and chaste as his had been
brotherly and pure.
Tomorrow, then" he repeated.
"Good night" came the answer,
long drawn and musical.
Slowly Royal turned homeward. The
sun set just as he entered.
The next day he waited long for Svl-
via, but in vain. The day after that he
sought her at the spring; then again at
the old trysting place; but she was not
to be found at either spot.
Then he turned into the path that
led to the forester's. He came to a little
house after a time. Aman whose surlv
aspect did not invite advances sat on
a bench before the door. 1t was Svlvia's
father.
(Which way to the manor?" asked
''In directly the opposite direction to
the one you're going" said the man;
then dropped his arm with a sigh.
Royal hesitatcd and their eyes met.
"What else do you want?:" the man
said brusquely.
Nothing" and Royal retraced his
steps.
The following day it rained. Toward
evening, however, a yellow humid ray
pierced the clouds. Royal once more
the clearing on the border of the
woods and the pathway he had seen
but twice, but which haunted his mem
DRY.
AS he was passing near the spring
men came out of the wood CARRYING
bier. Behind them walked the for
ester alone. Seized with a sudden ter
ror Royal looked at the man. Two
great tears were rolling down his
The grayedigger, his shovel on his
shoulder, came slowly after the group.
"Who is that?" said Royal hoarseiy
" to him.
Sylvia, the forester's daughter. She
took her death of pneumonia running
the woods. 1t was short work
carrying her off: A good girl she was,
but always half a savage! Those peo-
4lo.,