Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-04-20

sion, a little spray of hawthorne he
had given me earlier in the day. / had
pulled off the leaves one by one, and
when he left me the bare stem was
left in my hand, with one leaf only re-
naming. See, here it is, the last relic
of my first and last love. God grant
that in your whole life, my Ruth, you
may never weep such tears as l have
wept over that one faded leaf"
She opened the little red prayer
book in her lap and showed me, hid
low hawthorne leaf.
This little book" she said, was
Edwards gift to me, and this old dry
leaf is my only relic of the day when
We parted in the wood, never to meet
again in this world. Stay, have one
more treasure, see!''
She drew from her bosom a quaint
old locket and put it in my hand. 1t
was miniature painting representing
young man in an old-fashioned naval
costume. 1t was a handsome face, but
stern and proud-looking, and l could
very well believe that the original
would have behaved as Aunt Hetty
had described.
But did you really part like that,
auntie?" l said. Did you never see
him again?"
Never. He did not so back to the
picnic party, but joined an outward
bound ship the next day, leaving a
1rinf fcr CT inc . hot
we had fortunately found out in time
that We were unsuited to each other,
and had. therefore, by mutual consent,
put an end to our engagement"
But that was very cruel, auntie."
Il thought so then. Perhaps it was
little; but afterward I blamed my
self far more than him. / had given
the provocation; and l knew in my
heart of hearts that one word of re-
greet on my part would have made all
right between US. But was too proud
to say it. / let him go with my eyes
opened, and l have been justly pun
ished."
But have you never heard from him
since, dear auntie?"
"Once or twice, but only indirectly
He had no relatives in our part of the
country. / know that he gave up the
sea and obtained commission in
some Indiana regiment. When last
heard Of him he was a captain; but
that is many years ago, and do not
know whether he is alive or dead. So
ends my poor little romance. There is
one thing I should like to ask, Ruth,
and that is partly why have told you
my story. You have seen my relics.
They have been my greatest treasure
in life, and l should like them put In
my coffin when l die. VIII you remcm-
Der this, dear?"
could not answer for tears, but
kissed her hand and she was content.
Two months ago, tired of our hum
drum country life, auntie and l re-
solved to visit foreign parts. Accord
ingly, we went to Boulogne and took
up our abode in a quiet boarding
house In the Rue des Vieillards. There
were a good many visitors staying in
the house, but they were mostly in
families or parties, and we did not
mingle with them. Our yis-a-yis al
table was n tall gentleman of soldierly
appearance. who was always spoken OF
as the major. When he ventured to
address an order to the waiting maids
in French, the difficulties he got into
were dreadful and he always ended
by getting angry with himself and
them. / ventured to help him out of a
difficulty once or twice. and in this
manner a slight acquaintance sprung
up between us. 1t had, however, gone
no farther than a friendly nod or re-