Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-29

''The people say2 Why, Terese,
whatsoever they may have found to
say about it can never tell you. They
did not trouble me with their opinions
on the subject. have no company,
you see, dear cousin-they know I am
too busy"
''Too -" but she checked the utter
ance of the thought she had just put
mentally into an ugly phrase. my
darling Rose," she went on, smiling
the while at this brave little adopter
no taller than herself, as she walked
beside her down the steep hill-road;
Rose, darling, you have sore need of
advice. Ny companionship may be of
service to you after ALL" And she
coolly laid before her cousin the gossip
she said she had CLEANED from the
little suburb where ''people will talk"
''You seem to have made many
friends hereabouts," said Rose, her
voice changed to that of an old, old
woman-all its sweet youthfulness-
it's fresh cadences-its gayety, its
purity gone.
mot so many, Rose; only the wash
woman at the corner of the lane and
the sexton up at the church," gazing
pitilessly at the braid-crowned head
that dropped now, where before it had
been carried as regally as that of
little Queen above the graceful throat.
tsAnd thew told YOU that?"
''They told me that others said So
indeed, almost every one on the hill"
land he must have known it-and
he kept coming, coming-Terese! How
base he must think me!''
''You should have hired some old
woman to live with you. Then 'twould
have been eminently respectable to
received young gentlemen callers. AS
it is
''Say no more about it, Terese-let
us go back,' and the uncaged bird car
ried home with her heart shot through
with the arrow of Islander.
After that Rose carrolled no more
gay songs of love and war, but sat
spirits, when pent up in the balance of
those of her cousin, grew high and light,
went roaming about-but ever taking
the downward track.
One night, when the pale young
moon hung silver saber against an
opal sky, there came a steady tramp of
footsteps toward Terese, who, as was
her wont of late, had gone roaming
down through the gray cleaning of
the grassy front yard. Swiftly she
turned and opening wide her out
stretched arms held them so in mute
entreaty until he came. With cry of
ecstacy he clasped her to his heart and
rained kisses upon her smooth, fair
brow.
':My clearinghouse again am with
you! Oh, the weary hours of absence
never send me away-never let me
90 again, dearestm
II never will, Philip" this in scarce
audible whisper.
1.-THE dews arc damp, little one; let
us 60 within;'' and capturing the slen-
der hands, Philip guides her to the
opened door. through which shines
diml light from solitary candle in the
inner room.
.'Here!" she says, softly, motioning
him to a seat upon the doorstep. He
obeys, happy at being SO commanded.
The tickle moon as hidden her face
behind a fast-coming storm-cloud, and
the miserable candle flickers and flares
in the weak draught between window
and door. He can not sec q
feature of the loved one; but her keen,
hungry eyes pierce through the dark
ening gloom and feast themselves upon
a face, handsome and masterful-a
face she has been searching for for
over year.
'.Oh, my little primrose, I could not
keep the secret of my love from you.
Will you accept it, dear, and let me
have the sunshine Of your presence
ever about me?'