The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-07-21

WvE0-btOOu NJ my hhtcf bho boy itpchtihk
the above rhyme proudly, the little girl
looking into his face lovingly, flied with
admiration of him. l smiled on them and
wondered II the age of knight errantry ever
produced a knight" more "bold' than
my Reginald would be, or maid with
hair of brighter gold than my wee Geral-
dimes. told my thoughts to the children,
and the young knights arm went about
his lady's waist as he made answer:
True enough, aunty;
Well be q bonny pair,
And will fight for my ladylove
With the sweet eyes and golden hair.
Tho little girls eyes were full Of love as
they looked into his, and when his loud
laugh rang out, half in pride OF himself
and her attachment TO him, half in boyish
ridicule of sentiment, she blushed shyly n
second, and tho next caught his mood and
the ripping music Of her laughter min
gled with his strong, clear tones. he
bounded away In pursuit OF sudden fan
cy-expecting her to follow think-but
she few to my arms and nestled her gold
en- head on my breast In the desire TO be
caressed, saying, II love you, aunty, oh,
SO dearly, so very dearlyV
I folded my arms about the tender, SEN
sitive little being, wondering how often
in the future her loving heart might be
wounded, and suddenly found my thoughts
SO fraught with strange forebodings OF
sorrow for her that i had to struggle
nightly against the tears that fought to
escape from my eyes and the terrible
weight that seemed to prevent my breath
ing. I started abruptly, determined to
drive away such foolish fears, and carried
her into the house, where the current Of
my thoughts did change abruptly, for
found messenger TO tell me that must
return to my own home Oh the morrow
my mother was dying.
All this seems so long ago-it really Is
long ago-yet so distinct now as l muse
here in the moonlight alone. Nature Is
splendidly serene tonight, beautiful and
sympathetic, aud the moons rays so soft.
yet So bright and penetrating. One of the
sirens of memory is telling me story OF
the past with stereopticon illustrations.
The pictures are SO lifelike and the story
so inthralling that / am powerless to
move.
There is change of scene-a ballroom.
The little boy and girl are grown up now,
but their faces betray tho same character
istics i discovered in their childhood.
From the noble brow and the flashing eyes
Of my dark haired youth speak haughti-
ness, pride to excess, determination OF
purpose. Dovelike gentleness, trustful az
fection, unselfish devotion look out from
the starlike eyes of my golden haired
maid She is the crown beauty of the sea-
son, tho adored one of many hearts, the
ideal loneliness Of tho artists soul, the en-
shrined saint Of the devotee.
am not surprised at tho number of her
conquests, all unsought as they arc Did
every one not love her should be amazed
There Is one among her lovers more hope
full than the rest. She wears his flowers
tonight, and his face beams with delight.
Geraldine has worn tho flowers because he
asked her TO as a token of friendship
nothing more-and on that ground she
consented She Is no coquette. She threw
| her arms about me, as was her childish
| habit. when sho came to mo before this
ball and said: ~ think / may wear the
| lilies, dear aunt, but l do not love him
| love you best Of all. I"
Now, Reginald has returned from
abroad, and as Geraldine with the radiant
sutton disappears in tho conservatory my
proud nephew draws my arm through his
and takes me out on tho lawn near the
great marble fountain and laves his brow
with the cool water.
| Aunt" no begins, ST think you are a
poet, though you don't write verses Your
heart Is a whole world of sympathy and
understanding, and I can freely tell you
| things that l would not dare to think in
| the presence of others '-here, seizing my
hands and speaking with feverish impa-
| tience he says, "Oh, tell me- am sure
YOU know, Geraldine-does she care for
that man with whom she has just dancedf"
'She does not love him." answer. II
am sure Of it-she told me so, and-both
my children lay bare their hearts to me. ="
| He smiles "That is why l asked you.
You would know. am glad she does not.
| It Is better for her and for me. During her
| first ball-you remember 1t wildly, OF
course-how lovely she was l stood here
awhile alone mt this fountain, and vowed
that would win her from 1000 suitors
IL need be-"
Seeing my look of dismay, he smiles de-
family and continues: "Yes, l stood here,
where as boy I've often stood and watch
cd these nymphs and cupids disporting,
and gazed upon that strong. godlike fell
low up there at tho top, with his arm
about that slender goddess. II has been q
fancy of mine since childhood to call that
couple Geraldine and myself She shall be
my WIFE aunt l only wanted to learn
from you how many I should have to sub
due before I could Garry off the lady IN
triumph-like knight Of old. Ha, ha,
hal Don't look so serious, you dear old
sibyl. Haven't you often called us the
knight so bold and the maid with golden
hair"
cannot help smiling at him Heis like
an enthusiastic boy now.
"I am serious, too" he goes on. "At
her first ball began to tell you, as stood
here yowing that she should be miuo.
made ND my mind that 1 would go away
for a time and let the other adorers have q
chance. 1t seemed only fair. Besides
wanted her to have plenty to choose from. y
ITO choose 'front.' exclaim. "You
had already decided that sho should have
no choice-that you would choose herr"
"Oh, no. She will choose me freely"
"You are her first cousin. 1t Is not
right for you to marry her."
Proudly throwing back his head, h'
SAYS: "It must be right. love hor. VIZ
love each other"
It Is useless to argue with him. IL II
customary 10 submit to him. He leads me
back to the ballroom, and claims Geral
dine for waltz.
The sirens spell Is broken now. Their
are no more stereopticon views, although
the moons rays are as soft and bright a.
before. can move and breathe, but m,
heart Is heavy, and should Ike to weep
but cannot can think. feel ~ though
| / have awakened from dream, and think
ing of the dream, connect IL with late
events Yes, I remember that ball yer.
we'll. remember that Reginald and Ger
aldiue waltzed together, and that after