Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-10-11
CHAPTER VII.


scarcely dies out of the sky On a fair
July night. From the bonny woods OF
st. Byno's a faint, sweet sound, like
the echo of the Aeolian harp, reached
Violet's ears; from the river came a
soft, musical murmur.
1t was not till after hard struggle
With her conscience that Violet went
to keep her appointment She con
soled herself however, with a false
line of argument Miss Anterior had
forbidden her to leave the garden, and
he was not going to leave it. She
would be within the rose-covered
hedge; and she would not have gone
at all but that she really felt sorry for
the young artist. He had looked so
handsome. so imploring, the promise
to see him again had almost uncon-
sciously been wrung from her.
1t was ali her aunts fault. II she
had allowed them to say good-by open
ly and quietly, there would have been
no need for this twilight interview.
After all, she did not quite like it..
Her sense of propriety was opposed to
it; but she could not let him go with
out one word he had been so pleasant
and kind to her. The girls heart re-
belled against her aunt. Why had she
not asked the young artist in, and
allowed them to spend an hour or two
together? Then he would have said
good-by, and would have gone out of
their lives probably forever Now she
was going to do that which she would
rather not have done.
Go to your room at once" Miss
Atherton had said, when the usual
family devotions were over "You
viii not want candle. 1t is quite
light enough, Goodnight"
And then Miss Anterior had retired
to rest happily unconscious of her
niece's meditated plans.
Meanwhile a handsome, ardent
young lover moved softly through the
deep shadows of st. Byno's wood,
looking with anxious eyes that pierced
them at the picturesque cottage. He
went slowly down to the riverside,
crossed the corner of the wood, passed
the little gate where the white acacias
grew, down by the rose-covered hedge,
and then he stood still Never had
his heart beaten so before There
was no stir in the cottage; the white
blinds were down. Would she come? p
The Ryverses were not famous for
patience; but the young lord had
never been in such fever Of suspense
no rJ,z
was a stir, something surely was NOV
ing over the long grass that shook the
white clover, and sent the acacia.
leaves fluttering to the ground But
it was only the summer night breeze.
Would she never come? A little bird
in the far distance twittered He
heard the deep baying of hound
across the river
ooh, my love. my darling" he cried,
"if you would but GOMEZ"
And just then the pale beautiful face
of the young girl looked anxiousIyI
down through the shadows. She
could not see him, and she did not
know if he was there. Just as he had
pictured her, she came out in her long
blue dress; over her head she had
thrown a black lace veil. 1t was dark
or than she thought it would be. She
stopped for one moment under the
chestnut trees to reconnoiter before
she passed on to the place of redez-
vous, In another minute they were
standing face to face, the handsome
young lover and the fair-haired beau
tiful girl.
How good of you to come" he said.
Il hardly dared hope you would do SO.
Il ought not to have come" she said.
DO not praise me for doing what
know to be wrong; but you have been
so kind to me, and | have enjoyed your
intimacy so much | did not like to
think | should not see you again"
He was looking at the hedge,
II am standing" he said, outside
the gates Of Paradise VIII you open
them for me?'
Il cannot" she answered.
you can if you viii. Tell me that |
may leap over this hedge
Il ought not to do So she said
II cannot see you here, and want
to see your face again" he urged.
She was silent for few moments
Then she thought to herself that, as
he was there, he might just as we'll be
ON one side of the hedge as the other
You may come" she said softly.
But mind you do not fall"
Il could clear hedge twice as for
midahle as that, he replied with a
laugh; and the next moment he was
standing by her side.
How strange and agile you are "
She said to him with a smile, looking
admiringly at him, as women do look
at brave, manly men.
SHOW me anything that I would not
do to have the happiness of standing.
by your side for one minute. You
said something to me about good-by.
DO you think ] could leave you?' His
voice trembled with passion.
II have never thought about It. she