Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-09-27
CHAPTER III.

Miss Atherton was particular about
rendering Acacia Cottage secure at
night. Every door and every window
were fastened punctually at half past
eight; then having read chapter IN
the family Bible to the yawning little
maid and her niece, she dismissed
them; and she herself also retired to
rest, with the virtuous sensation of
having fulfilled her duty to the utter
most.
Violet went to her room, and having
extinguished her candle, drew up her
blind, opened the window, and let in a
flood of silvery moonlight. The
girls poetical soul was reused almost
to rapture. She could hear the river
as it rippled between the green banks
and them in the far distance, the night
ingale began to sing.
81 should like to hear it more dis
tinctly," she said.
my aunt could not be very angry
If she did know that l went out to lis
ten to the nightingale's song"
1t was still quite early, and the dying
light OF day was giving place to the
pale light of the moon She had no
thought in her nature-loving heart
save that of seeing the fall Of the
waters and listening to the nightingale.
Little imagining how beautiful she
looked, quite unconscious that she was
committing great imprudence, Violet
wrapped a black-lace shawl around
her head and shoulders, and crept
noiselessly down stairs Then she
passed into the dining-room, and, I'M
fastening the long window, stepped
on to the lawn.
A sense of freedom and eXhilaration
made her pulses thrill. All around
was so fair and so lovely to her dazzled
senses.
How beautiful she cried to her
self. 81 will go to the river first"
1t did not take her many minutes to
reach her favorite spot, the falls. The
spray shone like diamonds; all kinds Of
sweet, Wild vagrant thoughts fitted
through her mind. And then, as she
stood there, tall, dark figure emerged
from under the great group of trees
near the waterfall She recognized it
at glance and her first impulse was to
turn and fly; yet why, she asked her
self, should she not hear the nightin-
gale sing, If she chose to do so?
He advanced few steps,
do forgive me-" he said, ''for being
here. | fought with the temptation
for five long hours, and lost in the
end
What was the temptation" she
asked. Il do not understand"
You said this morning-oh, how
long it seems since then--that yoa
liked to see the waterfall by moon
light, | looked at the almanac. and
found that there was a full moon to-
night; and | have been debating in
my own mind whether | should come
or not 1t seemed unfair to take any
advantage of what you said uncon-
sciously, but | longed to see you a
gain"
did you?" she asked Did you
really wish to see me? How strange!'
1T is not strange at ALL" he cried,
impetuously, making one step in ad-
vance, and then checking himself.
81 thought you would come out to-
night; and, now that am here, do be
kind to me, Miss Beaton, and let me
talk to you for few minutes
ut is not at all the right thing to
do" she answered. "To tell you the
truth, Mr. Randolph" she said, ~
came out to hear the nightingale sing;
ii is in the linden tree over there"
May | go with you so far" he ask
ed. 1T would be an untold pleasure
to me-"
She looked at him intently.
Aunt Alice will-well, she will be
terrible angry with me If ever she
knows: but it will not always be June,
and the nightingale will not always
sing Yes. we will go and hear it,"
The dew lay thick and heavy on
the grass each drop seemed 70 catch
the moonlight. Lord RIVERS was be-
side himself with delight; his heart
was full, but he could not speak, the
words would not come. The song Of
the nightingale grew clearer and
sweeter
There is the linden-tree,' said Vio-
I let; We must move very quietly, or we
shall disturb the bird"
With quiet steps on the long grass,
| they advanced until they reached the
spot where the bird was pouring out
| its marvellous flow OF melody. They
stood entranced.
Il am glad I came" said Yiolc. after
time. Il would not have missed Il for
| the whole world.
! II might have lived forever in the
busy haunts of men" remarked Lord
RIVERS, and have heard nothing like
/ It,"
III We ever meet again she said,
/ regarding him thoughtfully. how
strange ID Viii seem to remember that
we have spent an hour together in