Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-03-08
Observation-Disclosures NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| Repented at Leisure.
BERTHA M. CLAY.
II


have an idea that she does not like
me-"
II he had though the matter over for
months, he could not have said any
| thing more likely to answer his pur-
pose than that; all the love, the fiat
terry. the eloquence, was as nothing
compared to those magical words. He
saw the fair, girlish face flush, and he
knew they had taken effect.
| Miss Digby not like you?" she ques-
toned, slowly Are you sure of that?
How do you know it,"
Il know it by instinct" he replied;
Il cannot explain more fully"
He knew that in her own mind she
was saying to herself that she, Ethel
Gordon, would like him, if only out of
opposition to Helen Digby; yet he was
too wise and too wary to pursue the
subject.
my idea is that we cannot control
our likes and dislikes," he added, but
that they are instructive ! see some
persons, and my heart goes out to them
|
words are weak to express; / see
others, and do not even like them, but
shun them IL can"
She was looking intently at him.
II am glad you say So" she observed;
my experience Is the same. Il find
that, il at first / take dislike to any
one, seldom overcome it,"
He would not let her see how grea.
was his curiosity about everything con-
nected with her. He was longing to
know why she was there, how it was
that she was associated with Miss
Digby, to what family of Gordons she
belonged; but all these things, he said
TO himself, he must learn by degrees.
He pointed to the pretty harebells
growing at her feet.
DO you know the legend attached to
these fowers?" he asked.
mo; | have not heard it,"
1T is said that in the depths of each
OF these little bells fairy resides. and
on quiet moonlight nights each little
elf leaves its home, and that together
they will ring their bells with a pecu-
liar chime 1t is said that travellers in
the woods have heard the sweet, faint,
fairy music, and have wondered what
1t was
Her face frightened, and the golden
, light deepened in her eyes.
1T Is so long since i have heard any
pretty legends" she said; tell me
some more"
His memory must have been well
stored with many quaint and graceful
fable. He told her German legends of
the dark forests. and of the spirits who
live IN the grand old trees-of the elf
king who rides on the night-wind, OF
the water-spirits who dwell in the
streams; he told her many a fair leg
end of Grecian lore. of the daphne and
narcissus, OF the hyacinth and the rose
stories that took her imagination
captive and charmed the artistic. beau
ty-loving mind. She forgot that he was
a stranger: she sat with clasped hands
looking into his face, drinking in each
word as II fell from his lips.
You must be a poet" said the girl,
simply; and for moment an express
sion that she could not understand
crossed his face, Was it regret, re-
morse, pity. or a hesitation? She could
not tell, and almost as soon as she had
noticed it, 1t was gone.
Il am not poet, Miss Gordon. but |
admire poetry, and these old legends
have always had great charm for me.
You judge me too favorably. | am n
man OF the world-not a poet"
She repeated the words after him.
"A man OF the world-that means
man clever and shrewd in judgment
quick, versatile, and accomplished.
does 1t not?" she asked.
Viewed favorably-yes." he replied.
But there is one thing. Miss Gordon.
which makes every man a poet for the
time"
What is that?" she asked.
Love for fair and noble woman.
Love is poetry; il is the one grand
passion of mans life: II refines. soft
ems, and makes beautiful the hardest
natures"
What must 1t do to poet?" she
asked him, with a blush and a smile
that bewildered him.
1T fills his heart so entirely that i'll
overflows in song" he anwsered. THUS
the world is made richer by a poet's
love Now, Miss Gordon, have you for
gotten your letters and your tears?"
1t was like taking her from fairy
land of golden light of sweetest
warmth and fragrance. out into inter
darkness and cold She had forgotten
all her troubles The glamor of a
sweet dream was over her. The ligat
that never shone over land or sea was
glowing on her face.
Have you been telling me all these
beautiful stories to make me forget"
she asked
Yes; wanted to vile YOU from sad
and sorrowful thoughts; sadness and
and sorrow should never come near