Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-07

weeks alter all. I remember.
 Because mother was not well that evening only three weeks"
 "Only three weeks p echoed.
 "Yes," she nodded. "I have not seen the river for all that time. Is it changed ?"
 Sadly changed" How p
 Perhaps I have changed"
 "Well, hope so," she laughed, "after that wetting;" then seeing an indignant flash in my eyes she added quickly, "which you got by so kindly bringing back my boat" " You have not been rowing to-day?"
 "No; see, have been gathering the last of the May blossom" made half step forward.
 II must go now" and the little hand was held out in token of farewell
 "Why?"
 Ely voice came hard and unnatural. I still held ;ha fingers, and as I did so, felt the em- barr;issment of utter shyness pass over the bridge of our two hands and settle chokin-ly upon my heart. Why" repeated, more hoarsely yet.
 "Because-because I must not ncglecg mother again She is waiting" "Then let me go with you.'
 "Oh, moi Some day-if we meet-I will introduce you"
 ''Why not now?" because Sne IS not well.
 Even my lately-acquired knowledge of the Materia Nj edica scarcely warranted me in of fering to cure her. But did.
 She laughed shyly and said, How, sir; are you a doctor?" Tinker, tailor, soldier, gentleman apothe- cary" I said, lightly, neither one the other, but that curious compound of the two last-a medical student" "Then I will not trust you," she answered smiling.
 Better trust me?" said; and something in my words again made her look down. "You will trust me?' l pleaded, and the something in my words grew palmer. Still no answer. "Oh trust me- I The hand quivered in mine an instant, the eyes looked up and laughed once more. "I : will trust yo!l,' she said-''not to move from this spot until am out of sight"
 Then with a light "good-bye" she was gone, and l was left to vaguely comprehend my 1 loss.
 Before long had seen her third time and yet once again. I had learnt her name to be Luttrell-Claire LuttreI how often did not say the words over to myself? I had also con- | fided in Tom and received his hearty condo | fence, Tom being in that stage of youth which despises all of which it knows nothing-love especially, as thing contrary to natures uniformity So Tom was youthfully cynical, and therefore by strange inference put on the airs of superior age; was also sceptical of my description, especially a certain comparison of her eyes to stars, though very similar trope occurred somewhere in the tragedy. Indeed therein Francesca's eyes were likened to tho Pleads, being apparently (as l pointed out with some asperity) seven in number, and one of them lost.
 I had also seen Mrs. Luttrell, a worn and timid woman, with weak blue eyes and all the manner of the professional invalid. I say this now. but in those days she was in my eyes celestial being mysteriously clothed in earth's inflrmities- how should the mother of Claire be anything else? Some how I won the favor of this faded creature-chiehy, I suspect, because she liked SO well to be left alone. All day long she would sit contentedly watching the river and waiting for Claire, yet only anxions that Claire should be happy, All her heart centered on her child, and often, in spite of our friend liness. caught her glancing from Claire to me with jealous look, as though the mother guessed what the child suspected but dimly, if at all.
 So the summer slipped away, all to f1eetly- to me- as look back after these weary years in a day But nevertheless much happened :: not much that need be written down in bald and pitiless prose but much to me who counted and treasured every moment that held my darling to me. So the Loves through that golden season wound us round With their in- visible chains and hovered smiling and wait ing. The end was surely coming, and at last It came,
 !t W .~ a gorgeous Ail,us. ev.! .: week bafu", s,in lad told nle. thai S mi v orlld be d Aoiis..3E for her, and hal ,.lr. l. admi;;cl q design of S e d.M <
 river Need it be cOntcNs.4!
 me also in ny boat, exi.''.:.4t .4i2 .. she came and feigncd E,lrrt E., -Gh: meeting me, and sce,'tlciS..l - ..,.. .. any work throughout the wcekf need s;i''t!2t explanation took time ant seemed to me u,,-
 delivered ia 9 boat? At any rutc, so it was :: and somehow tho explanation took such & vast amount of time, that the sun was already plunging down the wcstorn slope of heaven when we stepped ashore almost tho very
 spot where first I had heard her voice.
 As the first film of evening came creeping 0psr earth, there fell hush between us, A blackbird-the same, I verify b3.icve-tooS
 the opportunity to welcome us. ills note was
 no longor full and unStudied us ill May Tn" summer was nearly over, and with it h.
 voice was failing; but he did his best, and something in the hospitality of his song prompted me to break the silence This is the very spot on which we met for the first time--do you remem ber2 , "Of course I remember" was tho simple answer.
 "You do?" I foolishly burned to hear the assurance again. , "Of course-it was such lovely day." "A blessed day" the most blessed of my , life
 | There was long pause here, and oven the blackbird could hardly fill it up.
 fDo you regret it. , CWhy does man on this occasion ask such a heap of questionsO ''WhY should I'" } CVhy does woman invariably answer his , query with anotherN , "I hope there is no reason" I answered ''and yet-oh, can you not see of what
 that day was the beginning? Can yos not } see whither these last four months have car F ried me?" 7 "They have carried you, it seems" she an swered, with eyes gently lowered, back to } the same place. 3 "They have carried me-" echoed, from
 spring to summer. If they have carried me back to this spot. it is because the place and f have changed-Clairei" . a called her Inv bar HhrrGfian mama ste