Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-08-17

tender leaves were springing on the trees;
the foliaSe was oe that lovely light green
that it wears only in spring. Altar 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 seat on a
bank where the wild thyme and sweet
violets 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 sunllgnt.
The ring-doves are calling their loves, the
birds are singing Of love; the sweet spring
woos the fair earth. Oh, Lenore, have
no words that will tell you how l love
you. I have loved you from the first mo-
ment I saw you. I shall love you until
die; no other face will ever be shrlned
in my heart; I can never know another
love, because | 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 anger or impatience-nothing but
sweet, half-startled 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
sweetly for seeing you. What could 90
but love you whom all things love? Lee
more, do you love meY'
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 you if you love me. do
yon like talking to me, first of alp
Eyes, very much indeed" she replied.
care you pleased when you know that
am coming-sorry when | go!
eyes, always" she replied.
"Could you be happy with me always
sharing my interests, my hopes and sor-
rows-my life and all that is in it?'
She stopped for few minutes to con-
slider, then answered:
Eyes, [ think So"
Should you feel that life held no more
for you. Lenore, if | were sent away from
you? Would the loss of my love darken
the whole world for you?"
She thought carefully over his words
before she answered them; then she re-
Piled:
Frankly speaking-no, l think not,
Austin. / should be very unhappy, for
l ana quite sure that [ love you very
much; but it would not spoil my life If
you left me-"
His face fell; that cid not seem like the
love which was to inspire a poet-the pas
sion that was never to know Indifference,
change or death.
"Yet," he said to himself, "she 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 her that it was so"
She looked into his fair, comely Saxon
face with inquiring eyes.
cit would be such terrible thing" she
said, 'if we were to make mistake! II
I were to marry you, believing that low
ed you, and then find out that | had de-
ceived myself! You are man and
poet; you have mixed in the living world
or men ana women, you nave Stuu1eu
their love, you have studied the poets,
and you know their love; tell me honestly.
do love your"
Yes" he replied; and that one word
of his, spoken in all honesty, yet terri
BILE mistake, sealed the fate of three lives.
II accept your decision" she said,
quietly. "a man-and poet-you should
know better than | do"
''You will be my wife, LenoreY' he
asked.
Eyes, will be your wife, Austin she
answered softly.
(To be continued.)