The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-02-01
realms Of light"

II. S.-Tell mother TO take care OF my pearl
studs l left them in the wash hand stand draw
er. Don't let the children get hold of them.
p. P. ST. shall take this letter with me to the
farm. II turn down one corner, you may know
have been accepted; II not. you may know it is
oil up with your heart broken brother.
G. N. R.
Gregory having finished his letter
read it over with much approval, put
it in an envelope, addressed it and sat
contemplating the ink pot. somewhat
relieved in mind. -.
The evening turned out chilly and
very windy after the days heat. From
afar off, as Gregory neared the home
stead on the brown pony, he could
distinguish a little figure in little red
cloak Mt the door of the cow kraal.
EN- leaned over the poles that barred
the gate and watched the frothing
milk run through the black fingers of
the herdsman, while the unwilling
cows stood with tethered heads by the
milking poles. She had thrown the
red cloak over her own head and held
it under her chin with little hand to
keep from her ears the wind that play
fully shook 1t and tossed the little
fringe of yellow hair into her eyes.
lis it not too cold for you to be
standing hereY said Gregory. coming
softly close to her.
"Oh, no; it Is so nice. always come
to watch the milking. That red cow
with the short horns is bringing up
the calf Of the white COW that died.
She loves it SO, just as If it were her
own. 1t is so nice to see her lick it's
little ears. Just look!
1.-THE clouds are black. think it is
going to rain tonight" said Gregory.
EYES," answered EN-, looking up as
we'll as she could for the little yellow
fringe.
"But I'm sure you must be cold" said
Gregory, and he put his hand under
the cloak and found there small fist
doubled up, soft and very warm. He
held it fast in his hand.
"Oh, EN-, love you better than all
the world besides! Tell me. do you
love me little?'
Eyes, l do" said EN-. hesitating
and trying softly to free her hand. ;
Better than everything; better than
all the world, darlingw he asked, bend
ing down so low that the yellow hair
was blown into his eyes.
81 don't know" said En- gravely. 81
do love you very much, but l love my
cousin who is at school and Waldo
them so long"
"Oh, EN-, do not talk to me so cold
lyv Gregory cried, Selling the little
arm that res :ed on the gate and press
ing it till she was half afraid. The
herdsman had moved away to the 9th
er end of the 'kraal' now, and the
cows, busy with their calves, took no
notice Of the little human farce. EN-,
if you talk so to me l will go mad. You
must love me-love me better than all.
You must give yourself to me- l have
loved you since that first moment
when 1 saw you walking by the stone
wall with the jug in your hands. You
were made for me, created for me.
l will love you till die. Oh, En-, do
not be so cold, so cruel, to me!'
He held her arm SO tightly that her
fingers relaxed their hold and the
cloak futtered down on to the ground,
and the wind played more roughly
than ever with the little yellow head.
81 do love you very much,' she said,
"but 1 do not know if l want to marry
you. l love you better than Waldo,
but 1 can't tell if love you better than
Lyndall. If you would let me wait
for week. l think perhaps l could tell
you"
Gregory picked up the cloak and
wrapped it round her.
IF you could but love me as l love
your he said. But no woman can
love as a man can. will wait till next
Saturday. l will not once come near
you till then. Goodby. Oh, En-" he
said, turning again and twining his
arms about her and kissing her sur
prised little mouth, IF you are not my
wife l cannot live! have never loved
another woman, and l never shall
never, never!'
''You make me afraid" said EN-.
"Come, let us go, and will fill your
r.....
Il want no milk. Goodby. You will
not see me again till Saturday."
Late that night, when every one else
had gone to bed, the yellow haired lit
tie woman stood alone in the kitchen.
She had come to fill the kettle for the
next mornings coffee and now stood
before the fire. The warm reflection
lighted the grave old womanish little
face that was so unusually thoughtful
this evening. .-.
Better than all the world; better
than everything! He loves me better
than everything!' She said the words
aloud, as If they were more easy to
believe If she spoke them so. She had
given out SO much love in her little
life and had got none of it back with
interest. Now one said, 81 love you
better than all the worldw One loved
her better than she loved him. How
suddenly rich she was! She kept clasp
ing and unclasping her hands. So a
beggar feels who falls asleep on the
pavement wet and hungry and who
wakes in a palace hall with servants
and lights and feast before him. OF
course the beggar's is only dream,
and he wakes from it. and this was
real.
Gregory had said to her, 81 will love