The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-12-23

your wet garments on" And press
ing his lips 10 the lips Of the girl,
carried her 10 her mothers door.
"Dear Eddie, what can / do for
you in return for saving my life?"
He did not tell her, as he might
have done, that her life was not in
danger. but answered carelessly;
Pooh, il Wa nothing, Claire; but
yes. I'll tell you what you can do
be my little wife"
Mother says ! shan't be married
till I'm %"
We'll, promise TO be my wife then,
as Tll-Ill-"
what Eddie"
"NO matter, only promise"
And the strange boy caught her
arm pa~ssionately.
"Oh, Eddie, you hurt me! or
course I'll he your wife, dear, when l
am Cd enough"
The lurking devil in the boys eye
vanished, and drawing her close 10
him, he said:
Remember, you have promised.
Good-by, little wife"
And springing owe the low fence,
he was soon out OF sight.
After the girl had changed her wet
clothes for dry ones, and was sitting
in her usual seal by her mothers
side, she sighed hea lily, and said:
III Eddie only wasn't SO passion
ate, mother. III have a hard time
when I'm his wife"
..l\but ln Won pnoan nhtllgp
"Why, I'm 10 be Eddie's wife, you
know"
"Pshaw, child, how you talk"
Indeed, l am, mother. ! prom
ised him, and | would not 20 ba k on
my word for worlds"
"Why, Claire, you are daft child,
talking about marriage at your age"
'Im twelve, mother, and you were
only fifteen when you were married;
besides, Eddie don't want me TO be
his wife for a long time yet-not till
I'm twenty-five"
The allusion 10 her own early
marriage Cuieted the mother, though
the unconscious child did not know
the happy hit she had made.
For the first time the mother re-
allied that her child was fast ap-
preaching that harmed season where
childhood and ~womanhood clasp
hands To her mothers eye she had
never looked so womanly as within
the last hour. her face seemer and
purer, and en- the broad. white brow,
seemed already written
Woman = lot ID on me.
Were some sage or seer present,
could he not have devincd the future
path she was 10 tread, the priceless
love she was TO give away, the sor-
row that was 10 refine the already
pure gold OF her nature, the genious
that was 20 sing such songs for the
multitude aud the laurel wreath that
genius was 10 bind about her brow?
But neither sage nor seer were
present and the mother law naught
OF all this. but she feared e ough to
make her wish she could gather her
darling 10 her breast and hold her
there forever-that she was once
more a little child in a long white
night dress and she were rocking her
10 sleepas OF I'd. All this the mother
thought, and thought she knew the
danger "a afar of. yet she shud.
dered 70 think what the future might
bring forth; OF her ever being the
wife OF the unpr.ncipled, passionate
Edward Logan.
1t was childish talk, she knew. and
yet IL was a great relief when, two
months subsequently, the ogan
family moved West, leaving Ter one
little ewe-lamb safe in the fold.
Five years have passed %away-Hvc
long years, during which the flowers
have blossomed and faded, moons
have waxed and waned and hearts
have broken.
A girl OF rare beauty stands at the
gate OF a white cottage stands flush
ing and paling beneath the impas.
stoned glaDces and passionate love
words OF "A young and handsome man.
II do love you, Eddie, and will be
your wife"
when, Claire?"
Just as o after | 90 home as pos
sible; very soon, IL father is willing"
anu JJc DIlRUJ Ucdu Wds DluucH Oh
his breast.
"My bird, ! will be tender and true
10 you. May God forsake me II |
ever fail you. darling Claire"
His voice was burdened with ten
derness-the man evidently believed
what he said. a few more words
were spoken, then they parted
Clarie 20 sleep and dream Of her idol
for such Edward Logan had grown
10 be, u bear through the coming
days a sweet, new happiness 70 carry
her young head almost regally, as
though the white brow, where his
kisses had been laid, was more pre-
cious than the brow Of yesterday.
oh, woman's love and wOman's faith,
Alas. and "A as.
Again before the dreamer's eve
there came another vision, and over
the fair face came an0thc. change-a
change that seemed 10 elcctrify her
entire being. As we have said, the