Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-02-02

the thoughts of another person, and so per-
wade and alter his whole life, she might have
been thoroughly contented. For she was
never out of Wills mind for an instant. He
sat over the stream and watched the dust Of
the eddy, and the poised fish and straining
weeds; he wandered out alone into the purple
even, with all the blackbirds piping round
him in the wood; he rose early in the morn
ing, and saw the sky turn from gray to gold,
and the light leap upon the hilltops; and all
the while he kept wondering if he had never
seen such things before, or how it was that
they should look so different now The
sound of his own mill wheel, or of the wind
among the trees, COMPOUNDED and charmed
his heart. The most enchanting thoughts
presented themselves unbidden in his mind.
He was so happy that he could not sleep at
night, and SO restless that he could hardly sit
still out Of her company. And yet it seemed
as If he avoided her rather than sought her
out.
One day, as he was coming home from
ramble, viii found Marjory in the garden
picking flowers, and as he came up with her,
slackened his pace and continued walking by
her side.
"You like fiowersr' he said.
"Indeed love them dearly" she replied.
''Do your
"Why, no,n said he, mot 80 much. They
are very small affair, when all is done I
can fancy people caring for them greatly,
but not doing as you are just now"
"How9" she asked, pausing and looking up
at him.
"Plucking Them" said he ''They are
deal better off where they are, and look a
deal prettier. if you go to that"
II wish to have them for my own" she
answered, ito carry them near my heart,
and keep them in my room. They tempt me
when they grow here; they seem to say,
Come and do something with u.s. but once I
have cut them and put them by, the charm is
laid, and can look at them with quite an
easy heart"
You wish to possess them" replied viii,
Sin order to think no more about them It's
a bit like killing the goose with the golden
eggs It's bit like what wished to do
when was boy. Because had fancy
for looking out over the plain l wished to go
down there, where couldn't look out over it
any longer. Was not that fine reasoningl
Dear, deer, If they only thought of it, all the
world would do like me, and you would let
your flowers alone, just as I stay mp here in
the mountains Suddenly he broke OFF
sharp. "By the Lordm he cried And when
she asked him what was wrong he turned the
question of and walked away into the house
with rather humorous expression Of face.
He was silent at table, and after the night
had fallen and the stars had come out over
head he walked up and down for hours in
the courtyard and garden with an uneven
pace There was still light in the window
of Marjory's room-one little oblong patch of
orange in world of dark blue hills and sill
yer starlight. Wills mind ran O great deal
on the window, but his thoughts were not
very lover like. "There she is in her room,n
he thought, land there were the stars over
head-a blessing upon bothl" Both were
good influences in his life; both soothed and
braced him in his profound contentment with
the world. And what more should he desire
with eitheri The fat young man and his
councils were so present to his mind that he
threw back his head, and, putting his hands
before his mouth, shouted aloud to the popu-
lous heavens. Whether from the position of
his head or the sudden strain of his exertion,
he seemed to sec a momentary shock among
the stars, and diffusion of frosty light pass
from one to another along the sky. At the
same instant corner Of the blind was lifted
up and lowered again at once. He laughed
loud ho-hoi "One and anotherln thought
VIII. 'The stars tremble and the blind goes
up. Why, before Heaven, what great ma
gician must bel Now, if were only fool,
should not I be in pretty wayg" And he
went off to bed. chuchIing TO hinsem: "If L
were only a foolm
The next morning, pretty early, he saw her
once more in the garden, and sought her out.
81 have been thinking about getting mar
ried, )" he began abruptly; land after having
turned it al over, / have made up my mind
it's not worth whilen
She turned upon him for single moment;
but his radiant, kindly appearance would,
under the circumstances, have Disconnected
an angel, and she looked down again upon
the ground in silence. He could see her
tremble.
~ hope you don't mind" he went on, a lit
tie taken aback "You ought not / have
turned it all over, and upon my soul there's
nothing in it. We should never be one whit
nearer than VIC are just now, and if l am
wise man, nothing like so happy"
at is unnecessary to go round about with
me-" she said. II very well remember that
you refused to commit yourself; and now that
| see you were mistaken, and in reality never
cared for me, can only feel sad that have
been SO far misled."
II ask your pardon" said Will stoutly;
"you do not understand my meaning. As to
whether have ever loved you or not, must
leave that to others. But for one thing, my
feeling is not changed; and for another you
may make it your boast that you have made
my whole life and character something diff
ferent from what they were. mean what
say; no less. do not think getting married
is worth while l would rather you went on
living with your father, SO that could walk
IL N.,..1
week, as people go to church, and then we
should both be all the happier between
whites. That's my notion. But I'll marry
you if you will, !" he added.
"Do you know that you are insulting met"
she broke out.
''Not l, Marjory," said he; elf there is any
thing in a clear conscience, not /. l offer all
my hearts best affections; you can take it or
want it, though suspect it's beyond either
your power or mine to change what has once
been done, and set me fancy free. I'll marry
you, if you like; but ! tell you again and
again, it's not worth while, and we had best
stay friends. Though ! am q quiet man,
have noticed heap OF things in my life.
Trust in me, and take things as | propose; or,
| IL you don't like that, say tho word, and I'll
marry you out Of hand"
There was considerable pause, ard VIII,
who began to feel uneasy, began grow
angry in consequence.
sit seems you are too proud to say your
mind he said. "Believe me, that's a pity.
A clean shrift makes simple living. Can
| man DO more downright or honorable to a
woman than have beeni l have said my
say, and given you your choice. Do you
| want me to marry your or will you take my
friendship, as think best9 or have you had
enough of me for goodl Speak out for the
dear Gods sakel You know your father told
you girl should speak her mind in these
affairs
She seemed to recover herself at that,
| turned without a word walked rapidly
through the garden and disappeared into the
| house, leaving VIII in some confusion as to
| the res lit. He walked up and down the
| garden, whistling softly to himself. Some
times b, stopped and contemplated the sky
| and hilltops; sometimes he went down TO the
tail of the weir and sat there, looking foolishly
in the water. All this dubiety and perturba-
4. 4 a. e.