The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-06-18

| had implied that she was bit of a
/ coquette.
5 .e leaned over the old lady's high
| backed chair and fastened the rich
! rose in the silver white waves of her
! beautiful hair. And then she went
away with 4 murmured word OF excuse,
/ leaving behind her a scent of roses and
1 remembrance of a fair. fresh Young
| face rising ilowcr-likc above her pale
| blue gown.
That was their first meeting. All
| summer the voting farmer came and
! went at his own will and helped lo
/ make the Old place pleasant.
They sanr together in The garden.
! There was no musical instrument in
/ the primitive Quaker household bat
| Wilma had brought her guitar with
| her. They read together III the old
! summcr-honSc through long. lovely
summer afternoons. while grand
! mamma sat near with her homely knit
| iing work
They walked together in the great
! oid-fasnioncd garden and along the
murmurng creek. and sat idly on the
rustic bridge. Watching the rhythmic
| flow of tie waters and the nlnnuws
| dartng in the cool. dark depths be-
low. It was an idyliic summer. Both
were happy. One knew why it was;
| the other only half guessed it.
Ronald Mitchell at b years had for
| the first time felt his inmost heart STIR
red and thrilled by woman's presence.
He loved her with all the unwasted
strength Of his perfect manhood with
ali the tenderness of Il true mans first
love.
One evening he told her. They
were sitting together on Il messy log
beside the creek.
Wilma had thrown off her wide gar
den hat. and the late rose in her dark
hair cleaned Whitley like Il soft star in
the dusk.
What caprice seized the girl?
She listened to his eager words with
averted face turned toward the dying
sunset light.
When he had finished she did not
answer.
He takes too much for granted"
she thought; "hc is too masterfuI; he
asks rs though my heart was some
light thing to which he had a right. |
will teach him it is not"
She rose and turned to 60. He
caught her hands and detained her.
Wilma, are you not going to say
word? Are you then the coquette al
most thought YOU that first day?'
His words stung her. She tried to
free herself and the rose fell from her
hair. He picked it up.
IF you won't say anything, Wilma.
give me this rose. Let it be a symbol
of hope to me-"
She snatched it from his hand.
When ! am ready to answer you"
she said, Il will send it to you" And
then she slipped away and hurried
toward the house. A spice of romance
had always been part of her nature.
Now as she fitted away she touched :
the scnsGless flower with lips that
trembci.
Il do love him-I do love him." she
whispered rs she sped along the
shadowy path through the garden.
But the girls willful heart was slow
tc yield A week passed.
Ronald Mitchell came not to the
farmhouse. Rebecca Northfield Won
dered at his absence and looked search
ingy at the quiet-faced girl. One eve
Mug she came into the quaint old
room. with its slipping roof and lattice
window. where Wilma sat reading.
Il thought I'd tell thee Wilma, that
Ronald is going away tomorrow. He
is tired lie said, when | met him to-
day, and needs change. He does
look worn. | wonder why he keeps
away from us?"
She looked keenly through her gold
trimmed glasses ut the girl.
Il don't know, grandmamma, I'm
sure: fe does act strangely of late.
Will he stay awav long. do YOU think?"
"A month, he said" she answered.
The girl drew Il quick breath. "A
month" she thought. In Il month |
shall be back in school,
Her heart beat quickly. After awhile
she took little box from her bureau
and went downstairs aud out into the
garden.
She called to Don and wandered
down to the messy log beside the creek.
She had been here every day since that
time Il week ago.
She sat down on the log, ani Don
sat down beside her. looking gravely
at the running stream.
She drew little folded note from
the box in her hand and opened it,
Come to me-" it said, and then in
delicate tracery her name. Wilma
That was all.
The girls eyes shone half mis-
chievousy as she fastened the tiny box
to Don's silver collar with bit of rib
bon and bright color glowed in her
checks.
Then she folded her small hands to-
@ether and looked seriously into the
dogs great noble eyes.
Good old Dom she said. take it
to Rouald-to Ronald-do you under
staud?'
He looked up inteligently into her
face and trotted off scdatelv.
Ronald Mitchell was in his room
alone. One by one such articles as
were necessary were being packed in
to his traveling-bag.
A sudden paJter on the stairs arrest
ed his attention, and the next mo-
ment familiar black head was thrust
| through the half-opened doorway.
why. Don. old fellow! Come to say
good-by? What's this?"
| He unfastened the little box and
| opened it. When he had unfolded the
| slip of paper and found the withered
white rose, he sprang TO his feet. Then,
to Don's amazement, he bounded down
the stairs aud out into the summer
twilight, the grave dog following at
his heels.
He found her on the mossy log be-
side The creek looking expectantly
toward him with the shy, sweet glow
of love in her dark eyes and on her
face.
Only Don was the witness of that
meeting. but when little later the
| happy lovers wandered mp the sweetly
secuted garden. cool and shadowy in
the cleaning. and grandmamma came
to meet them with Il glad surprise and
look of calm conteulment in her
serene face ali thoughts of the project
ell visit were bauishcd. and the half
packed traveling-bag lay forgotten on
the floor at ome-UdlTiet Frdnc6i1e