Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-09-15

tender leaves were springing on the trees;
the foliage was of that lovely light green
that 1t wears only in spring. Afar in
the wood the cooling Of the ring-doves
and the song of the cuckoo were heard.
At first he talked to her of these things.
because they touched his poets soul so
deeply; then he found her a seat on a
bank where the wild thyme and sweet
.viO!ets grew.
Heaven has made this day purposely
for me to tell my story. The wind woos
the leaves, the birds WOO each other, the
flowers WOO the dew and the sunlight.
The ring-doves are calling their loves, the
birds are singing of love; the sweet spring
woos the fair earth. oh, Lenore, l have
no words that will tell you how 1 love
you. l have loved you from the first mo-
ment l saw YOU. 1 shall love you until 1
die: no other face will ever be shrined
in my heart; l can never know another
love, because 1 have given my heart, my
soul. and my life to you"
The beautiful face did NOT flush or
droop from his: the frank, clear eyes
were quite untroubled; nor yet was there
any niger or impatience-nothing but a
sweet, half-startlcd wonder.
You love ME so much? How strange,
Austin!!" she said.
why is it strange, sweet? Who could
see YOU and not love you? The sun
shines the brighter for shining on you,
the flowers are the fairer if your shadow
falls over them, the birds sing more
swretly for seeing you. What could l do
hut love q whom all things love? L.c-
more. do you love me?'
She looked up at him with thoughtful
eyes.
"Do YOU know" she said. that is the
very question l WAS asking myself, and
| do not know how to answer it?"
Austin smiled at the words.
There can be but little doubt over
that, sweet. If you will answer me truly
| will soon tell .yom if YOU love me. DO
you like talking TO me. first of ally
Yes. very much indeed" she replied.
Are You pleased when you know that
! am coming-sorry when | Cog
Yes. always" she replied.
Gould you he happy with me always
-siaring my interests. my hopes and sor-
rows-my Fife and all that is in it"
She stopped for IL few minutes to con.
slider. then answered:
IVES. | think So"
SHOULD YOU feel that life held no more
for YOU. %l.cnorc, if l were sent away from
you? Would the loss of my love darkcn
the whole world for yong
She thought carefully over his words
before she answered them; then she re-
Piled:
FRANKLY speaking-no. I think not,
Austin. l should be very unhappy, for
l am quite sure that | love YOU very
much: but it would not spoil my life if
you left me-"
His face fell; that did not seem like the
love which was to inspire Il poct-thc pas
sion that was never to know Indifference,
change or death.
Yet" he said to himself, "slc was
young, and. though so clever and gifted,
she was simple as an innocent child.
There could be no doubt but that she
loved him very dearly He need have no
scruple in assuring hHthat it was so"
She looked into his fair, comely Saxon
face with inquiring eyes.
ut would be such Il terrible thing" she
said, "if we were to make Il mistake. if
l were to marry YOU. believing that 1 loO
cd you, and then find out that l had de.
crived myself! You! are II man and a
poet; you have mixed in the living world
of men and women. you have studied
their love. You have studied the poets,
and you know their love; tell me honestly,
do l love you?"
Yes" he replied; and that one word
of his. spoken in all honesty. yet Il terri.
BILE mistake. sealed the fate of three lives.
Il accept Your decision" she said,
quietly. IA mainland Il poct-you should
know better than l do"
You will be my wife. Lcnore:' he
asked.
YES. l will be your wife, Austin" she
answered softly.
(To be continucd.)