Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-22

lay in deep dark shadow Even my
mother kept her room, and dinner and
breakfast were lonely times. No more
duets. No more lively conversations and
discussions. Sir Wren failed to find COM
fort in playing whist. Annie seemed as
lonely as myself and only made short calls,
while Myrtle could not reconcile herself to
live without Stella. When I came home
she would come hurrying cut to meet me,
asking:
Have you found SteIla?' Then, with
measured steps she would return to her
mother.
One evening about a week after Stella's
departure, came home from long ride
more sad and lonely than ever After eat
ing a few mouthsful of supper I went to
my room, thinking I would form some
plan for leaving Waverland AS sat try
ing to decide what course to pursue, |
heard Stella's voice as plainly as 1 ever did
in my life, saying. IF l were you l would
not let my inheritance go to waste"
started from my chair and looked around
1t seemed to me that she was near. But it
was only a tempting dream. There was
no bright face with a welcoming smile.
Only empty space. But had been aroused
do. | made myself promise that I would
fulfill her wish and save my inheritance.
l would strive to be a man worthy Of her
love if we ever met again. Then came to
my mind the words we had often sung to-
gether:
when shall we meet again?
Dear heart, the time is long;
That brings this diScOrd strain,
Like minor in song.
''Some day the clouds will lift
From off my waiting heart;
And through the golden rift
Sun-llghted beams Will dart.
''For on that day you'll come;
Your hand will touch my own
My heart, now sadly dumb,
VIII speak for you alone
That seemed sweet promise for the fut-
ure, and [ was cOmforted. I believed that
Stella was safe and that sometime we
would meet again. What sense of rest
came to my mind bringing by the aid of
memory all her quiet ways and pleasant
words back again, until | seemed to feel
her very presence. I was anxious to do
some good deed to be worthy of her pure
love. Can mind take form and visit mind?
Yes [ believe that sympathy of love can
unite as though distance may intervene.
But would she believe what my mother
said, that Annie and were engaged? o,
mother, how could you tell her that! An
ME and 1 had been playmates, but what
was my love for her compared with this
strong, deep passion, that filed my waking
thoughts and visited my dreams? My
Stella was my queen, my life-star, and if I
failed to find her I felt that life would be
failure.
Moving some furniture one day in Stel-
las room little blank envelope fell to the
floor. picked it up and found it was not
sealed. Surely here was the message l had
longed for. l fastened to my room to ex-
anime the contents. l had not doubt
that it was for me, until 1 opened it. l
found a little square card divided into
thirty-siX equal parts. TWenty-seven were
closed and nine were open. Such card,
at college, the boys called a grating. 1t was
used to decipher messages when great Sc
crecy was desired. What was the mes
sage? Should l read? For a little while
debated with myself, then curiosity pre-
vailed, and | tried 1t was addressed ITO
my darling" and contained the following
words: