Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-04-26

OF poetry and prose that enchanted her.
Such rending was the one thing wanted
to complete and perfect her.
The beautiful young face which bent
over the volumes was n poem in itself.
1t changed with every thought, some.
times glowing bright and radiant, again
sorrowful and half sad. From the fury
world OF poetry and rOmance she learned
something of the mysteries of life. the
mystery IF human love md human suf-
fering-never dreaming it would n day
reach her.
One beautiful morning in May, Hilda
rose earlier than usual. Elpsie had told
her on the previous evening that any LADY
who for nine mornings together bathed
her face in May dew would be beautiful
forever. Hilda resolved to try it, and on
this particular day rose almost with the
sun, While the dew still lay upon the flow
ers, little dreaming that on That day the
tragical story of her life would begin.
A golden glow seemed to have fallen
over the earth when Hilda stood on tho
hill near Brynmar woods; the air was full
OF an indescribable melody and fragrance;
the birds ang the flowers bloomed, the
hawthorn sllone white upon the hedges;
all was fresh, fair and beautiful. Heav-
en- seemed smiling upon the bright face
of the earth.
There was plenty of dew upon the
heather; it glistened on the long blades
of grass and shone upon the green leaves;
and before long the fair young face was
bathed in it.
An artist meeting Hlida then would
have skctched her and called his picture
THE May Morning." She looked Just as
fair and bright; the violet eyes were clear
and lustrous; the beautiful face tinged
with the ~loveliest color, and the golden
hair waving over her graceful neck aud
shoulders.
II will walk home through the woods"
thought Hilda.
The way was long and pleasant, and
she fingered in the deep shades watching
with loving eyes the wild flowers that
grew round the tall trees: watching the
bees, which could never decide whether
cowslips. blucbclls or primroses were the
most delicious and sweet: forgetting, us
the warm sunny hours rolled on, that
Lady Hutton would be waiting for her.
and that the time for breakfast had long
passed. While looking at the flowers
some pretty fantastic lines she had read
came into her mind:
My own bluebcll, my pretty bluebell,
I have come from the bower where the
roses dwell;
My wings you view of your own bright
hue.
And, oh! never doubt that my hearts
true blue"
"What words!" snid the young girl.
laughingly, as she bent over the bluebells,
what words to put on a buttcrfly's lips!!"
Then i'll her rich, musical voice, she began
to sing them. The sweet voice rose high
in the clear morning air, until one could
have fancicd the trees. and flowers, and
wind listened in hushed silence.
Hilda thought she was quite alone, sing
ing, as she gathered the pretty bluebells,
but down the broadwood path there came
a young and handsome man. He stool
for a few minutes silently watching the
beautiful golden-haired girl, doubtin,
whether the figure before him was real.
Turning suddenly, Hildn saw him. and a
rush of color dyed her fair face crimson.
lie advanced toward her, holding his hat
in his hand and bowling revcrcntially as
though she were a princess.
II beg you to forgive me if 1 have
alarmed you." he said. 81 Eavc lost my
way in the woods and cannot find the
path to the high-road. Will YOU have the
kindness to point it out to me:"
"The one to the right" replied Hilda.
raising her eyes to the handsomcst aud
noblest face she had ever seen.
Then he should have bowed and loft
her, and she should have walked away,
never once looking behind: but the sun
shone and the birds sang. They We're
both young. she beautiful and fair as the
morning; and instead of leaving her he
spoke again.
"These are bonny woods" he said. .I
AVE not seen fairer in all Scotland. They
belong to the Brynmar estate, l sup
pose?"
Hilda bowed. She had not recovered
her powers of speech. Who was this
handsome stranger? Where had he come
from?
You are losing your b%lucbells," he said,
gallantly. He stopped and. gathering
them together again, offered them to her.
"Those were pretty words I heard you
singing" he continued; they are quite
new to me May I ask whose they are!:"
Hilda forgot her shyness then, and told
him that she had read them the day be-
fore, and could not forget them. His
eyes were rivctcd upon her beautiful
face, his ears were charmed by the sound
Of her voice; he could have stood there,
he thought, forever. Was ever picture
so fair? In the soft light that fell through
the green foliage, her fair face and golden
hair shone brightly. He never forgot her
as she stood then. with shy, dropping
eyes. and the bluebells in her pretty white
hands. He fingered until lie knew he
ought to so.
"Will you give me one of those flow
ers?" he said, touching the bluebells:
"just us n little memento of the most
pleasant morning I ever spent, and the
most beautiful picture I ever saw-only
one; 1 beg you will not refuse"
Half-smiling, half-coyly, she drew out
n single flower, and offered it to him. His
face flushed as he took it from her. Other
words tremblcd upon his lips. He longei
to tell her how beautiful, how fair and
modest she was, and that he could never
forget her; he longed to ask her name,
where she dwclt. and why she was alone
in the shades of Brynmar woods. But lie
did none of these things-he bowed MS
lie would have done to a queen, and left
her.