Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-05-17

the Old church ut Christmas time, I'M
der the stars. wish me God-speeG,
will you not?" he had asked her, and
her gentle voice had hidden him fare
well quietly and evenly, so that he
never knew how deep was the pain
in the loving heart, or how near the
tears were to the pretty eyes that strove
so bravely to smile on him for the last
time. And now he thought to himself
how he would tell her everything! He
would ask her to wait for him, to be
his wife when he came back again
with fame and fortune to lay at her
feet. And the stars shone down On
them as they went up the quiet lane,
as if to bless his plan.
But-rhomme propose! Some one
had joined them as they went-an I'M
welcome third. Ends little thoughtiess
cousin, who little guessed, poor child,
the sorrow that her presence brought
And there had only been time for
Goodbye" at the gate, for he would
not come in, he said-only Goodbye"
and a tremulOus hand-slake-and-h
was gone.
And Miss Ends love story had never
really begun-it had only been dream,
perhaps; who was to know?
So the long years had pass ID, taking
one by one Of her loved )nes away,
as the autumn takes the flowers that
arc wcaried with the long, long sum-
mer time, until she was left alone
alone in the pretty old house where the
swallows built under the caves IN the
spring, and where the garden WAS
ablaZe with roses and Syringa and Gle
mats all through the summer And
the children of the village were her
friends and the vicarage babies came
and grew up like flowers around her,
weaving themselves into her calm,
sweet life, so she had something to
love- and no one ever knew how some
times she yearned and longed until her
heart felt almost breaking-for What?
All. dear hearts, / cannot tell you.
You mrst picture for yourselves Lone
~ woman-One who could love Aeply,
truly, passiOnately, one to whom little
children turned as to 4 mothers pro-
tcCtinG care, to slumber peac fully unc n
her tender bosom or to smile up into
the sweet face above them. Picture
that TO yourselves, and then tell me
for what it was that my dear Miss
Enid longed for so much somati nes
She was very good and sweet and pa
ticnt, but she was very human after
all-but Il woman ut heart-and every
woman yCarns ut some time or other
of her life for love.
Christmas day broke white and calm
and beautiful. for snow had fallen in
the night and the whole world was
shining. And Miss Enid, as she sat
ut her solitary breakfast table, hearing
Il murmur of voices without. smiled ex-
pectantly. Were not the children COM
ing to give her Christmas presents, and
would they not be delighted with the
purchases that she had made for them?
And she glanced toward Il pile of neat
ly wrapped parcels with some pleasure
they were just the things that she
knew they wanted. AS the door burst
open the four children crashed in in
even wilder spirits than Christmas
day usually called forth.
Merry Kis-mas, Merry Kis-mas,"
shouted Bobby. holding up his rosy
mouth for Il kiss. We've got Il big
present for you. such beauty; mother
said you would like him"
Hush, Bobby" the little girls said
hastily; Miss Enid, dear, don't mind
what he says. Mothers love and all
of ours, and Oh"' forgetting all their
occurrences and flinging two pairs Of
arms around her neck at once, well
bring it this minute. Promise that
you'll be pleased"
But Miss Ends promise was never
made, for at that instant the door open
ed again, and some one, tired of wait
ing outside, came i'll!
There was shout from the children
and Il cry, il glad, startled, tender cry,
from Miss Enid and then everything
else was forgotten and the aStOniShed
BARNS saw their friends slender form
claSpcd closely in the arms of the
present who was usually called by
them Uncle Edward"
Darling, darling" they heard him
say, and just then Angela, with Won
derful tact, discovered the pile of par
GELS addressed to each of them and
suggested that they should carry them
into the kitchen to show to old Jennie,
which the children We're nothing 10th
to do, leaving the lovers alone to their
wonderful new-found bliss.
And I've fOrgOtted to give her my
Kisma card, after all, and beOtiful
mOney-bOx that l brought on purpose"
said Bobby. just as he was going to
bed on Christmas night, very much
aggrieved.
Give her the card tomorrow" sug-
gested Ronald, and Marjorie said: And
the money-boX would do for Il wedding
present, you know, R0bby. Mother
says it's to be very soOn.''
And then she added, what every one
said that happy day when they heard
of the wanderers return, Dear Miss
Enid"