News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-11-26
RED POPPIES.

SVICb III CHC Fdlley, IIiOuSn UIle SUI
had disappeared behind the hilltops
some minutes before. Far off the great
mountain lifted it's dark crest against
the tender, crimsoning sky, like the
silhouette ofsome stern prophet, look
ing angrily down upon the little vii
lage which seemed dreaming upon the
banks of the Elbe.
A 1.-THE, slender girl tripped along
the river path, plucking wildpoppies,
which she cast into the stream. She
was trilling out the words of love
song, the sweet notes dropping from
her lips with the same lavish care
lessness that distinguishes a wild
birds singing. Coming upon a thick
clump of pOppies, she seated herself
in their midst and began breaking
them off in handfuls, which she plait-
ed into a loose wreath. Across her
mind fioated the vision of a picture
she had seen of sleep crowned with
poppies, and bearing an armful of the
same bright-hued flowers which she
scattered over the slumbPring world
She smiled, and lifted the wreath to
her head. Her arms, too, were filled
with pOppies, while all around her
they grew, waving their bright petals
till they looked like fluttering wings
of imprisoned butterflies. From the
mountain sides came the music of in
Vulnerable sheep bells, the sound soft
ened and sweetened by the distance
In front of her sang the Elbe as it rip
pied away to lose itself in a stronger
current. Her bright, laughing face
changed and grew almost sad in it's
stiffness, and the dark eyes cIhsed. A
fo0t-step sounded neuT, 4-Esf'sowoTs
brushed against her
" "Caspar!" she cried, sprinoing to
her feet
Lois, he said, softly, my beauti-
ful Lois. knew | should find you. !"
He reached his arms out TO her, but
she lightly eluded their clasp, and,
seating herself once more, motioned
him to a seat beside her. He caught
her hands and held them fast
'LOis, Lois tell me you will
marry mel" he said, with quick
earnestness. 81 cannot live without
you, Lois, you are the sunlight to
IlCs vi OllC CiIl DIcdllc!
She drew her hands away with ii
petulant gesture.
'Why will you always talk of it,
Caspar? lam too young to knowif-
oh, don't ask me! Be patient and
wait awhile!'
"Wait!" he exclaimed. ''Have
not waited, my Lois?"
She flung a bunch of Doppies from
her, saying entreatingly, "Then still
wait, Caspar!"
CAY, and | have still waited, Loisl"
He arose and walked a few PAGES
away. She looked after him with a
troubled gaze. He was tall and fair
and handsome, and nature had set a
crown of golden curls above his sun
kissed forehead. Yes; he was a hand
some man, though but shepherd.
She wondered, in speculative way,
if she really did love Caspar; then,
like the small web that floats across
our faces and comes from we know
not where, there fioated across her
mind the picture of another than the
shepherd-the picture of dark, no.
ble-lOoking face Her mind dwelt
! lovingly upon that face, and in her
heart was a vague, uneXpressedlo long
ing.
She was dreamily conscious that
the budding germ must not blossom
into anything further even in her
heart, if she would have peace OF
mind. She pressed her hand over her
eyes, as if thereby to shut out Wis
ion.
Looking at Caspar shenoted that
his face was quite pale. 1t touched
her as his entreating words could
not. Hers was a quick7y.sesponsive
nature, full of after regrets.
Caspar came toward her. He came
like one whose mind was made up.
Lois" he said, ''you tel me to be
patient and wait-you always put me
off sO-and have | not waited already
long? Why | have walled all my
life; I've known nothing Else since !
first saw you. You WERE almost a
babe then, Lois" His tone softened
perceptibly. Il carried you in my
arms. / did not complSin, though
the years seemed long and the work
hard, for always | kept saving, 81 an
waiting for Lois All through the
days the tinkling bells Of my herds
kept ringing, waiting, waiting, wait
ing and at night when | bent ovel
the books that taught ne to speak
the river in its flowing sang to me
for Lois, for Lois, and now, if yol
love me, you will not saywait." :"
"Caspar,' she asked, ''did YOU nev
err think of some one far above me
good, beautiful and wise, whom vol
could love better than yon love me?'
Never" he answered, simply.
She felt as though some stron,
power was sweeping her onward
against which it was useless TO battle
Two tears gathered andfolled dow
her face.
"Why, LOIS, you are crling! Wha
does this meant" he asked quickly
His breath was coming hard now an,
he almost crushed her hands, so tight
ly he held them, while he looked int,
her face.
His own had grown dul and STONY
looking, .She trembled, half fright
ened by his earnestness, then as h
waited Tor her 10 speak, She said soft
= ly, "'Caspar, | do love yn.''
His face grew bright, md then. n
. if moved by Il sudden hnulse. sb
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