Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-11-26

tender, Wlstful look, Wnlcn pierced my
beat like poisoned dagger.
"Will the solitude seem dull when
we are gone, Del?" I asked.
"Deathly dull" said Del, with O
slight culver of her tender mouth.
"Aunt Martha shall bring you to
town, you poor little Gagged birdl" I
said, taking her hand in mine.
Mamma will never leave s;eaview,
nor let me go away even for day
without her." said Del, moving up
closer to me, as if for protection against
those long, solitary days of approach
ing winter.
'Then we must take you away by
force, little one" said, with decision,
putting my arm protectingly around
her shoulder. Del leaned her head,
crowned with it's ripping FURNISHED
gold, on my shoulder, not knowing of
the throbbing heartbeats so close to
hers, or of the rising storm of emotions
she was creating.
ooh, Cousin Allen, If you could only
get mamma to leave this dreary, dreary
place." she said, pleadingly-''geth her
TO consent to my living like other girls,
/ would love you, oh, so dearly, all my
life!"
do you promise that, Del? Is it q
bargain ?" asked, while dull pain
seized hold of my heartstrings. do
you truly love your elderly cousin?"
"Of course do" answered Del, nest
ling close to my side, while the soft
evening breezes waited me the scent
of her perfumer hair.
81 love you dearly" she added
But her frank, unembarrassed words
only added to the growing pain IN my
heart, TO the tumultuous emotions
which were invading me.
"And Fred?" asked, softly, hold
ing her gently to my side.
cousin Allen!" she murmured in
On imploring tone, turning to hide on
my shoulder her lovely face, over which
had swept n wave of color.
'All right, little one," whir pered,
reassuringly, while the tempest of baf-
fled hopes, ruined anticipations and
murdered joys swept in burst of fury
me with their bitter waters. .
"All right, Del, little cousin mi,,el
You shall not spend the glorious years
of your youth in these sad solitudes.
Your happiness is dearer to me than
life itself, and l know one who lives
only in the hope of having soon the
right to order your sweet young life
Oh lines of light and happiness. 1 will
see Aunt Martha" l added, rising slow
ly, "and will send Fred to you"
cousin Allen!" she again said, cling.
ing breathlessly to me.
"Let me go, dearie," said, lightly,
wEile the fury of bitter regret and
n hurricane of wild emotion shook my
soul and senses and threatened to SUBJ
merge my loyal determination to let
Fred gain the sunshine of life, hence
forth lost forever to me.
Look here" added, jesting;y, II
must call Fred back before the stovrn
bursts-before furious tornado comes
along to interfere with our bright plans
for the future!"
"Why, Cousin Allen!" said Del, lift
ing her head in establishment from it's
confiding rest on my breast, and lift
ing to mine in wide-eyed wonder her
beautiful soft eyes. What in the
world are you taking about? There's
no storm brewing! Why, the night is
calm and beautiful! Just look how
quiet the water is; how serenely the
stars shine out!"
But I laughed aloud, knowing the
tempest which was raging in my heart,
the wrecked blossoms of hope and joy
which lay bruised and scattered over
the advancing years, and I called to
Fred, who was slowly approaching:
"Here, Dalton" 1 said. chcerily.
'"rhis little cousin of mine, over whom
I have assumed a fathers authority,
fears the dull winter months. She
would like, the silly little bird that she
is, to flee from the sweet protecting
solitudes of her old cottage home. I
told her you could suggest satisfac-
tory arrangement for her. am going
to discuss the matter with Aunt
Martha"
Fred stood up and wrung my hand
with silent and deep emotion.
1t was late when our evening, filled
with SO much joy to two of us, came to
an end.
cousin Allen" whispered Del, hold
ing fast my hands, az we said good
night. How could you fear storm?
Was there ever a night so blissfully
calm and beautiful? This is the kind
of weather that reigns in Paradise"
"Sans doute, little fiancee," 1 au-
severed back laughingly; "neverthe-
less, great storm has ragged on the
gulf coast this evening, and the ruin
and wreckage it has left behind it will
never be repaired. D. Times-Demo-
crat.
81 70