The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-01-26


thought how pleasant home would be
it she could always brighten and bless
it with her presence, and so I wrote
her a long, long letter, which, when
finished, seemed SO very formal and
stupid that dreaded to think how
little, quiet laugh might lurk about her
beautiful mouth, or surprised, half
angry frown creep across her fair
brows, If she ever read it.
Then 1 determined to commit the
whole thing to memory, and repeat it
to her at some convenient time. won
dering If could make her believe it
mere extenporaneous burst Of elo-
Quence.
There was not much burst about it,
as concluded when came to rehearse
it; but she was so plain and practical.
perhaps she would like it better, I
thought, than any amount of rhetorical
flourish. 1t certainly evinced earnest
ness and determination. for l had
thrown into 1t all the force of college
essay, with more heart than any essay
ever held. So wadcd patiently through
the whole four pages, and then waited
and watched my chance. did not dare
ask her to walk with me, and there was
never possibility of finding her alone
anywhere about the house, for when
she was not with mother, Tommy, my
younger brother. was sure to be hang
ing around, and there was no use in
trying to talk sentiment with his sharp
ears on the alert to catch every word,
however softly spoken. l do not know
what kindly fate prompted my wander
ings, one warm, bright afternoon, but
out in the orchard 1 found her. my
hearts queen, fast asleep in the ham,
mock l had hung low between two
gnarled old apple trees, with one hand
holding the book she had been reading,
and the other half closed beneath her
pale, pretty face.
In an instant had forgotten reason
and argument. I tore leaf from my
note book and wrote on it only 81 love
YOU" Oh, strange epitome of life! This
I folded carefully, then slipped 1t as
carefully into her hand and walked
away. saying softly:
"You will wake and find it. and under.
stand,
And all unawares will your answer be
given,
For l shall be watching your dreamy
eyes,
MY fair queen lily, my glimpse of
heaven"
Then climbed into the nearest tree.
where could see her plainly.
She woke soon-woke with fiutter-
ing Of her white eyelids and quick,
soft sigh.
The folded paper rustled beneath her
hand as she raised herself on one
elbow; she drew it out listlessly and
read: 81 love you" l saw the puzzled
look on her face give place to soft,
rosy glow-such wondering, happy
look; then she glanced shyly around
slipped out of her swinging couch and
walked away.
climbed into the nest she had left
and lay there dreaming for hours, quite
content to know that she did not reject
my love, and that she fully understood
it. for was sure had heard her MUIR
mur: What a strange, shy child he is.'
and had chuckled all to myself. say
Ing: "Ah, little motherly woman. am
afraid you will find him a forward
child to manage, but he means to grow
gentle and good for your sake"
/ knew it would not be right to bind
her to any promise. She was SO young,
and had still two years of college life /
before me. but l treated her with new
Difference which she returned with
shy sweetness. that made her seem
more charming than ever. Only few
days passed in this way, and then va
cation was ended and / must needs
return to college walls and written
pages once again. thus shutting out
that sweet, bright page of real life
But only for a little time, said to
myself, until l can return and claim
her.
babe her geod-by as she stood by
mothers side in the old porch, and
with sudden, unintentional earnestness
l thanked her for the beauty She had
lent to the beautiful summer. and the
new. Interpretation of life and labor,
her brave, clear words had given. The
tears filled her soft, bright eyes, she
gave my hand last, warm, clinging
clasp. and so left her.
The next year l went travelling with
class of boys to teach them survey
ing, and SO for two years did not see
my dear old home, and only heard
from my darling at irregular intervals,
when mother would mention her name,
"Clarice is we'll" 'Clarice wishes to