Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-07-30
WILMA'S ROMANCE.

ones self among the heavy sweetness
OF the blossoming syringa bushes and
the avenues OF pink wygelia that wound
here and there.
1t was July day. A girl lay idly
in a WIDE luxurious hammock, her
bright head on the soft-tinted cushions
her deep-brown eyes appraised to the
whispering leaves above.
Wilma Pierce, whose summers were
spent at her grandmother's quaint old
country home, had come here few
days since, tired out in body and
brains as only a young hard-working
teacher can be.
A silvery haired, sweet-faced old
lady came out of the wide hall door
with light wrap in her hand. She
approached the hammock with anxious
solicitude in her kind old face.
Child, it is cool for thee here; thee
must be moro prudent with myself"
She wrapped the soft, gray shawl
about the girls shoulders with loving,
motherly hands. Wilma looked up
and smiled protestingly.
lit isn't chilly, grandmamma, dear;
but submit"
She took the wrinkled old hand in
hers and held it gently against her
warm cheek.
The old quakeress bent her stately
form and left soft. swift kiss upon
the girls forehead.
She went in and the girl and her
dumb companion were again alone.
BY and by she fell asleep. The
roses at her white throat rose and fell
with gentle regularity as her breath
came and went. 1t was pretty pic
ture. Ronald Mitchell. coming quiet
ly across the garden. thought so as he
caught sight of it and paused involun-
tarily.
The dog raised his great shaggy
head and looked silent welcome from
his brown eyes. They were old
friends-Ronald, the young farmer,
aud Rebccca Northfield's dog Don.
The young man stood breathless n
moment looking Mt the sleeper then.
with softened light in his blue eyes
and n warmer tinge on his smooth
shaven cheek, he went on toward the
house. He entered with the familiar
ity of we'll known and welcome friend
! and sat down easily in a big, anti
quated rocking chair.
Rebecca Northtlcld came into the
room, her old face alight with well
come.
She came and laid her small hand
on his shoulder. "Ronald," she said
my grandchild, Wilma Pierce, is
come. Perhaps it is not news to thee?
She is good girl, Wilma is, but
fear she loves the world too well.
There is little OF the quaker about her.
| Ronald"
He smiled. II saw her when l came
through the garden just now. She is
unlike you in her dress, but her face
has n likeness to yours.
| They sat together in a quiet room
and talked little while. All at once
n shadow fell across the bare. white
floor. and they both looked up. Wilma
stood In wide doorway, her face
flushed with sleep, her eyes dewy like
q child's after refreshing slumber
She had a yellow rose in her hand.
| .Grandmamma, she said, all I'M
conscious of strangers presence az
she looked half-sleepily at the flower,
"grandmamma, what a lovely rose
Just see how"
wilma" the calm, sweet voice in
terrupted her, "come here. This Il
Ronald Mitchell, the son of my OLE
friend and schoolmate, Eunice Sand.
Wilma advanced little and held ou
her hand frankly, but when she me
the intense gaze of the clear blue eye:
above her a shy look came into he
own, and she withdrew her hand.
Ronald, watching her, wondered i
her grandmother's remark about he
had implied she was bit of u co
quette.
She leaned over the old lady's high
backed chair and fastened the rich ros'
in the silvery white waves OF he
beautiful hair. And then she wen
away with murmured word OF excuse
leaving behind her scent OF roses an
IL remembrance of fair, fresh youn!
face rising Aower-like above her pal
! blue gown.
That was their first meeting. Al
summer the young farmer came an
! went at his own will and helped t
make the old place pleasant.
They walked together in the grea
old-fashioned garden and along tn
murmuring creek. and sat idly on tn
rustic bridge, watching the rhythmi
, flow OF the water and the minnow
darling in the cool, dark depths below
1t was an idlyic summer Both wer
happy. One knew why it was; tn
!, other only half guessed 1t.
l Ronald Mitchell at thirty years ha
4 for the first time felt his inmost heal
. stirred and thrilled by woman's pre-
: ence He loved her with all the Il,
' wasted strength Of his perfect manhoo
with AL the tenderness Of trt
mans frrt love.
One evening he told her. They wei
n sitting together on a messy log besie
l the creek.
10 Wnmn had thrown of her wide ga
. den hat and the late rose in her dan
a hair cleaned Whitley like soft ST.