The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-06-26
Twill Loftus!' I exclaimed. 'Is it

| mer, and how often I used to see my
boy-lover, since lost sight of for many
years. Ours had been one of those
youthful attachments which but sell
| dom ripen into first and only love.
They are often but "the prelude to the
strain, before the song is sung" We
| we're on the verge of an engagement
when Will was suddenly recalled to
his distant home, and I had seen him
no more. Yes, foolish as it may have
| been, I had always kept one corner OF
my heart sacred to his name, and it
was with strange thrill that I heard
| he was again near me, and that I soon
| should see him.
| That day he called with his FRIEND
Harry Mills. He was tall, fne-look-
ing man, polished, refined and fascin-
atlng in his manner. I could hardly
| Identify him with the slender youth
| that had once known; but he referred
so gracefully to our former acquaint-
ance and expressed so much pleasure
at renewing the intercourse so sudden
ly interrupted, that felt perfectly at
ease.
How pleasant were the days that
followed! We called each other "Will'
and "Lizzie" in the most friendly way,
and Lottie and Cornie seemed already
to regard him in a very sisterly man
ner. We read, walked and talked to-
gether, and night after night his deep,
rich voice would accompany those of
my sisters, while 1 played the old ia
miliar tunes upon the piano.
I fancied that my own voice might
have lost little of it's early sweet
ness, and so did not attempt to join
the others, whose melodies were so
| harmonious.
Several other invitations were sent
as of yore to Misses Whitaker, and I
was fast forgetting that I was an old
| maid, when, at an evening party I
overheard the envious and ill-natured
remark, "Just see that Elizabeth Whit
taker. What youthful airs she does
put on! Trying to catch Mr.. LOTUS, I
dare say
How those words rang in my ears
long after the lights, the music and the
dancing were shut out, and I was alone
in my own room. How I catechised
| myself, and tried to reason with my
poor, foolish heart. Yes, I had been
trying to look young, and had appro-
| priated Wills attention as a matter of
course. ......s.s
What right had I to monopo1ize his
time? Was it not far more likely that
he would choose Lottie or Cornie-if:
indeed he were to pay court to any of
| us? Even this was by no means GER
tain; he might go again as suddenly as
he had come; and I was startled to
| find what sad void his departure
| would make In our circle, and still
| more in my own heart.
"Ah, Elizabeth, Elizabeth,' I solilo-
| quized, take warning ere too later
The next morning I rose with a new
| resolve firm in my mind; I would not
yield to the sweet delusions of love-
| The world should not have cause to
| laugh at the silly fondness of an old
maid. Strengthened by these purposes,
I was the better fitted for the trial
that awaited me.
| That very day Will LOTUS came, and
inquired for me alone I caught a
quick glance passing between Lottie
and Cornie as I left the room, and
there was a more rapid pulsation at
| my heart as I entered the cool, dim
room where he was seated.
'Elizabeth,' he said tenderly. as he
took my hand, "do you know what
| priceless treasure have come to ask?
hardly dare to be so bold, and yet,
| faint heart never won fair lady, and
| I must not lose my courage
"How very timid he has grown!"
thought. "Can he not see that he has
but to speak in order to VIM"
smiled assuringly, and he proceed
ed.
do not think me precipitate in my
affection, though the acquaintance has
been so brief, for I cannot be mistaken
in my feelings, and only wait your per-
mission to offer my hand to your pet
sister, Cornie. You stand in the place
of parent to her, and therefore I
asked your CONSENT
All, Will, Will! 1t was we'll you
could not read my heart just then!
With mighty effort I choked down
a convulsive sob, and replied that he
had my full, free permission; and add
ing that would send Cornie to him
directly, left the room a sadder and
wiser woman.
There is not much to add Cornie's
! love was already given to the hand
some man so recently stranger; and
a very few months later she became his
| wife.
| Lottie was a fair and stately brides
maid, while I witnessed with maternal
complacency the ceremony which unit
ed the destinies of the only man !
had ever loved and my child-sister,
! Cornie.
Peace and contentment were my
guardian angels that night, and with
serenity that was sincere and unaf.
fected I returned the kiss which the
bridegroom gave me, as he said ten
derly and. gently, "Sister Elizabeth!'
For with all our pretension to en-
lightenment, are we not now a talking
| GnSn1fnrv ratho,. thor rnodi+o+;ue