Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-01-24

Or the swell Of the first lark's tune.
"All grew 50 bright, so gracious,
so full of mystery sweet,
Such deep and dear enchantment
Had bound me hands and feet.
"But when | finished to love YOU
Twas like the closing Of night,
When November's cleaning is
| sheeted
In raincouds falling light.
"Ah. when | finished to love you,
finished with all things bright,
And saw a dark grave yawning
10 hide my heart in its night"
Lillian knew that Cyril had written
! 1t at the time Of his cstrangemcnt
from Marion, who was listening to II
now with great enjoyment, uncon-
srious that she was the heroine Of it;
but she only said that poets were sup
posed to feel all the emotions of which
the human breast Is capable, and In
gram was about to make some re-
joinder. when the reiterated cry OF
"Bluc to play" at last aroused his at
tenton. and he reluctantly obeyed the
summons.
But when the game was at last
ended, and they found themselves go
! ing home in the moonlight across the
few fields, and through the dewy lane
which lay between the curate's dwell
ing and the roctor's, Ingram contrived
that Lillian should lipger behind with
him, so that there was no chance of
interruption. The words Of Cyiil's
song echoed In his ears
"Such IL deep and dear enchanment
Had bound me, hands and feet"
81 can not break the spell, Lillian"
he said, "and do not think 1t well to
try any more. My father sees 1t at
last, and, though at one time he wished
me to look for rank and fortune, he
now thinks ! can not do better than
follow my neart."
Dear Ingram" replied Lillian, paus
ing at u gate, over which they saw
the village sleeping in the moonlight,
II would have spared you this.
thought | had been explicit enough" y
"You were explicit enough; quite
understood that | was refused. But,
dearest Lillian, you can not imagine
how earnestly and truly | love YOU"
he continued, his face flushing be-
meath its brown with de"1 and serious
feeling. IL know we'll Law unworthy
| am OF you. I have not been good
man; | was not like Cyril. | did as
others do. But, dearest Lillian, ever
since the happy day, long ago now,
when | found that loved you, when
began to love you as Cyril's song
says. 1t was indeed like the beginning
up to loath all those things In my life
that were unworthy Of you; | set to
work to sweep them all away, and do
better. | am not good for much even
now, | know we'll; but If there Is any
good In me at all, II am not n mere
INSCRIPTIONS man of pleasure, II l
have any higher aspirations, If l try
to do my duty in my small way, 1t is
all owing to you"
mo, Ingram" returned Lillian, look
ing into the honest, manly face, W hich
was alight with unwonted fcrvor; you
are wrong, believe me. 1t is not due
to me, but to your own good and true
nature, which only needed the touch
OF love-which you must give one day,
not to me, but to some better, more
suitable woman-to show you the real
meaning OF life. Believe me, Ingram,
men are not so dependent on women.
DO not give In to the conventional
fiction of making your better self de-
pend on anything so uncertain as the
will and liking Of one weaker than
yourself. The moral nature of man
is stronger than that Of women. We
all want something to lean upon. Do
not make pillars of us. Do you think
any woman could love one she believed
her Inferior"
II hope and trust So" said Ingram,
with Il little smile. "Without that
there would be little chance of happi-
hess for me and many another poor
fcllov. Dear Lillian, try to love me.
How can | live without youY'
II thought we We're to be friends"
replied Lillian, with sigh and a re-
grrtful intonation of her beautiful
voice
1t was like the most exquisite music
to lngrams ear: 1t seemed to take his
soul captive and surround him with
the purcSt delight Merely to hear her
discoursing on everyday themes to
others. filed him with n sense of de
llcious perfection which no cares could
distract
1--WE must be something more than
Friends" he said, when the very
sound Of your voice stlrs every fiber
within me"
I'VE can never be more than friends;
1t IS not in my power" she replied,
quickly and with agitation.
Ingram looked at her pale. pure face
with 4 startled glance and saw that
tears were fast gathering in her eyes.
Was there some hidden trouble In her
serene and lovely life? He could not
think 1t. She had outlvcd the pain
and annoyance Of her old playmate's