Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-02


had sworn their troth, the doors of
the snow-bound hut flew suddenly
open, and 10. the landscape had
changed-the hills We're gay with grass
and tiowers-the sky was blue and
brilliant, the birds sang and every
let loose from their icy letters, and
gambolliug down the rocks in the joy
Gus sun. This was the work OF the
goddess Friga-the first kiss eX-
changed by the lovers she watched
Yer, banished Winter from the land,
and Spring came instead, 'Tis a pretty
story. and true all the world over
true for all men and women of all
cIeeds! 1t must be an ice-bound heart
indeed that will not warm to the touch
of love-and mine, though aged, grows
young again in the joy of my children. y
He put his daughter gently from him
t; wards Philip, saying with more
gravity, Go to him, Child!-go- with
thy old fathers blessing! And take
with thee the three best virtues of a
wife-truth, humility, and obedience,
Good night, my SOM" and he wrung
Erringtons hand with fervor. you'll
take longer to say goodnight to Thel-
ma" and he laughed, 80 I'll go in and
leave you to it,"
And with good-natured nod, he
entered the house, whistlinG tune as
he went, that they might not think
he imagined himself lonely or neglect
ed-and the two lovers paced slowly
up and down the garden-path together,
exchanging those first condolences
which TO outsiders seem so eminently
foolish, but which to those immediate
ly concerned are most wonderful, de
lightful, strange, and enchanting be-
yond all description. Where, from u
practical point of view, is the sense
OF such questions as these-"When did
you love me tirst?' What did you
feel when l said so-and-so?" Have
YOU dreamt of me often? will you
| love me always, always, always and
SO on. ridiculous rubbish" eXclaims
the would-be strong minded, but Sc
cretly savage old maitland the self.
ishly matter of fact, but privately
| fidgety and lonely old bachelor. All!
| ut there are those who could tell you
! that at one time or another of their
! lives this ridiculous rubbish" seemed
far more important than the decline
and fall of empires-more necessary to
! tC{o
fraught with hope, fear, suspense, com
tort, despair, and anxiety than any
thing that could be invented or inn
agined! Philip and Thelma-man and
woman in the full flush of youth,
health, beauty and happiness just
entered their Paradise-their fairy
garden-and every little flower and
leaf on the way had special, sweet
interest for them. Lcves indetinablt
glories-Love's proud possibilities
Loves long ecstasies- these, like so
many spirit-fgures, seemed to smile
and beckon them on, on, on, through
golden seas OF light-through
| flowerfilled fields of drowsy entrance
!
strewn and lily-scented leafage-on,
on, with eyes and hearts absorbed in
one another. unseeing any end to the
dreamlike wonders that like some
heavenly picture-scroll, unrolled slow
ly and radiantly before them. And 50
they murmured those unwise, tender
things which no wisdom in the world
has ever surpassed, and when P't'lip
at last said Good night" with mere
reluctance than Romeo, and pressed
his parting kiss on his loves sweet,
fresh mouth--the riddle with which he
had puzzled himself so often was
solved at last,-life was worth living,
worth cherishing, worth enncbling
The reason of all things seemed clear
to him--Loye and Love only, support
ed, controlled, and grandly completed
the universe! He accepted this an
swer to all perplexities-his heart ex-
panded with a sense Of large content
his soul was satisfied
Meanwhile, during his friends abb
sence from the yacht, Lorimer took it
upon himself to break the news to
Duprez and Macfarlane These latter
young gentlemen had had their sus-
picions already, but they were not
quite prepared to hear them so soon
confirmed Lorimer told the matter in
his own way.
Il say, you fellows" he remarked
Carelessly, as he sat smoking in their
company on deck, you'd better look
out! If you stare at Miss Guldmar too
much you'll have Phil down upon
you!"
'Ha, la!" Exclaimed Duprez lyly
"the dear Phil-eep is in loye?"
Something more than that" said
Lorimer, looking absently at the cigar
he held between his fingers-"hes an
engaged man"
Engaged" .ried Macfarlane sy-
citedly. Ma certes, He has the
deevil's own luck, He's just secured
for himself the grandest woman in the
world"
"Yes!" said Duprez gravely. nodding
his head several times. "Phil-eep is
T. T.