Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-07

busy among the carnations, the birds
had done half their days work; some
of the taIl-plumed lilacs were begin
ming % droop, and the white acacia
blossoms had fallen on the long grass.
her whole soul in her eyes, and those
eyes fixed longingly on the white gate,
she sat there until noon.
Great city bells rang out the hour;
| in the villages it was told 10y sweet
old chimes. The hay-makers sat down
to rest, the butterflies rested in the
great hearts of the red roses, the bees
settled in the carnations, the languid,
odorous wind was still while the
strokes rang out one after another
fragrant, sunny, golden noon.
He had not come; but every moment
was bringing him nearer. Some one
brought her glass of wine, some fruit
and biscuits. She would not touch
them because she would not take her
eyes from the white gate through
which he had to pass.
CHAPTER xxx.
The Thirtieth of June
She did not grow impatient; the love
which sustained her, the hope that in
spired her was too sweet; her soul
seemed to be in a blissful, happy,
trance; no doubt, no fear, no present.
ment of coming disappointment
dimmed the radiance of those sunny
broWs He was coming fast as steam
could bring him; it did not matter if
he would not come yet, if more of the
sunny hours passed-even if he de-
layed until even-tide, he would come
SO sure as the sun shone in the blue
sky.
Noon passed. One two-three-
still she had never moved or stirred
Four and five struck, still the light had
not died from her eyes nor the smile
from her face; he would come; the
stars might fall from the heaven, the
great earth upheave, the rivers rise,
the hills fall, night become day, dark
ness light, but he would come Who
SO faithful, so fond, so true? And at
five her maid came again; this time
she had a cup of strong, fragrant
coffee, and Leone drank it eagerly. She
would wait for dinner; she expected
some one, and she would wait. Quick
ly enough she replaced the cup and re-
turned to her watch; he might have
come while she had the cup to her lips;
but, ali, no, no one had trodden on the
white acacia blossoms were I'M
crushed
Perhaps the long watching had
Wear1ed her, or the warm glow of the
June afternoon .fatigued her, or the
strong odor of the flowers reached her
brain. She looked at her watch: it
was after five. He would come. most
certainly; she knew that; but she was
tired, and a great fearless sob rose TO
her lips. The heat of the June sun was
growing less; she leaned her head
against the easement of the window.
and the white eyelids fell over the
dark, passionate, tender eyes. She was
dreaming, then; she heard the ripple
OF running water that sung as il ran
and the words were:
A ring IN pledge I gave her,
And VOWS of love we spoke
lhose VOWS were all forgotten,
The ring asunder broke"
over and over again the sweet. sad
words were repeated. She was stand
ing on the brink of the mill-strean
again, her lovers kisses warm on ner
llps' her lovers hands clasping hers.
An, Heaven, that the dream cou1d
nave lasted or she never woke,
Dlrd woke her by perching on, her
hand; perhaps he thought it was a 1i1v
ana she started in alright. The bells
were ringing six; she had lost ono
whole hour, yet Heaven had sent that
sleep IN mercy; one hour of forgetful-
ness strengthened her for what she
had TO suffer. She woke with a start.
TOT one moment her brain was CON
fused between the dream and tha
reality. Was it the ripple of the mill
stream, or was it the sighino of tho
Wlnd among the roses? She had slept
Tor an hour Had he come? Had she
slept while he entered the garden .
Was he hiding in jest?
She rang the bell quickly as tho
trembling hands would allow. and
When the pretty, coquettish maid an
sWered 1t she asked had any one come
mao any one called; and the answer
was, No Still she could not rest.
she looked through the rooms, through
the garden; ah, no, there were. no
traces OF any arriva1-none.
once more her watch at the window.
out the scene began to change There
was no longer the golden glow over
lana and water, no longer the golden
glare OF summers day, no longer +he
sweet summers noise, and the lo11d
Juollant songs of the birds A orav
Unit was stealing over earth and s1rv.
Inc lilies were closing their white Guns.
the birds singing their vesper HYMN.
longer shadows fell on the GRASS.
cooler winds stirred the roses He
would come. The sky might pale, the
earth darken, the sun set, the flowers