Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-04-01

"'Who falls from all he knows of bliss,
Cares little into what abyss
''They are the truest lines ever writ
tcn," he said, and he stared into the
fire for time without speaking.
Listen, and will tell you how fell
Five years ago l was a young man-dO
l look young now?" and he pointed to
his sunken checks and gray~strcaked
hair. And yet five years have made
the difference.
''My name is Robin Alerne. was
living with my father in Scotland and
it was there l met my Flora. l can see
her now, as she was the first day met
her. 1t was glorious day in June. l
had sauntered ont with my rod in the
morning, and was whipping the stream
which ran along the outskirts of the
wood, when the sound Of sweet music
fell on my ear. l turned round and
saw woman. She had not seen me,
and as she came along she sang in a
voice as sweet and pure as was the
singer:
"'Her face is fair, her heart is true,
As spOtless as she's bonnie, o!
The opening gowan, wet wi dew,
Nae purer is than Mamie, or
"She was singing her sun bonnet in
her hand, and the sun was playing
with her golden hair. Her neck was
bare, its whiteness contrasting with
her bonnie. sunburnt face.
when she saw me size stopped and
blushed. Then she threw on her sun
bonnet and walked on hurriedly.
''She was girl from the neighboring
farm. l fell in love with her, and we
met in the wood, unknown to any one.
Then my father heard. He forbade me
to see her, and told me If l disobeyed
him he would turn me from the house.
Il met Flora the same night, and per-
suaded her, on that glorious moonlight
night, to be my wife. We came south
together, and married her. l was sue
cessful in obtaining clerkship, and
after my work at the Office was done,
my wife would sit in the little chair by
my side, while sat writing at my desk.
For had the gift Of writing bits of
stories, and often when the night had
drawn on, and work was put away,
Flora and l would sit talking Of the
future, of the day when l should be a
famous author. and the drudgery of the
Office should be thing Of the past.
But our happiness was too CREST to
last The roses on my darling's face
began to fade, and though she tried to
smile away my fears, felt sure she
was going to be Ill.
Then one night when l came from
the office, found her i'll in bed. In
despair l sat down to write a story,
which, II accepted, would enable me to
get her away into the country, or to the
seaside. l worked at it all night, and
finished it. Then a week later l re-
ceived letter at the Office from the
editor telling me that my story had
been accepted, inclosing check and
asking for more stories.
Flora had been growing worse each
day, but now, l thought, she should
soon be better. cashed the check and
bought some luxuries for her, and,
passing flower shop. went in and OBJ
tanned a spray of lilies. They were her
favorite flowers.
''Then hurried away home. l could
hardly walk fast enough, but at last
reached my little house, and entered.
l ran upstairs and threw open her bed
room door.
"'Flora,' I cried. Success ut last,
my darling. You shall go away for a
few days now
'She did not answer me. She must
be asleep thought, Snd noiselessly I
walked across the room.
Il stood over the bed, looking at my
sweetheart's lovely face. 1t was SO
calm, 50 beautiful. so pure. There was