Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-01

HA<~
Ia sr,W the clouds cleared away
II va When came into the gar
~ ~ den the light and gladness
t1xsy'ry 81 of the summer were on
C-iN.! ,5s'l every side. The roses
shaking off a shower of
diamond drops as | passed, filled the
air with fragrance. and every lesser
denizen of bed and border added its
share of sweetness. A blackblrd
was warbling in lime tree. whilst a
faint music came from the brook which
skirts the green lip of the lawn.
But my heart failed to respond to
the glad greeting of the summer
morning. / was st variance with my
self and with all the world. | had
hour so that | might catch the first
train TO town, for wished TO escape at
once from surroundings which had be
come unbearahle. After an almost
sleepless night | had risen without
looking at NY watch. Descending i
found that had forestalled even the
servants of the house, so | wandered
into the garden to pass an hour, rest
lessly tramping the smooth paths.
With every step hurled defiance at
the quiet beauty of the roses and
cursed the blackbird for its soft, sweet
singing.
At times | called myself fool for
allowing an empty laugh to thus en-
bitter me. | urged upon myself the
necessity for putting aside such mani
fest folly What, argued, was the
uncertain love of q foolish girl com
pared with the rewards which art and
learning hold out to their devotees?
And yeti argued with myself in
vain-my heart told me that my rea-
soning was faulty
Dolly and had been friends ever
since childhood had come to regard
her. half unconsciously. perhaps, buC
really, as my special property. Long
ago had settled IL in my heart that
my life should be devoted to her hap
piness. for | loved her dearly with a
love that had stood the test of years.
And faneied--I foolishly nurtured the
thought--that Dolly was not averse
from me,
And now | had spoken to her
only last night told her that at last
] had an assured position, that I
could speak as man amongst men. |
touched lightly upon the fortune that
] had so lately inherited Finally, |
told her that her parents and my
mother We're well pleased with our
friendship. And ! asked her then
and there to say that she would be my
wife
paced the garden more quickly
and clinched my fists in anger. as the
memory of the interview bit it's way
into my mind. | cursed my folly foi
placing myself in a position where
such rebuff was possible. for Dolly had
laughed in my face. had thrown back
her pretty head. and. regarding me
through half-closed eyelds, had
laughed Then she had said-I re
called the words with unpleasant dis,
tinctness:
MY dear Jack. you know how glad
] am to hear of your fortune and sue.
cess. But why. o why, am to be your
wife? do not see any logical con.
nection between what you have told
me and what You have asked me. And
] have not the faintest idea of promis-
ing any such thing"
Thus she had treated the whole af.
fair as huge and entertaining joke
And I--well. had left her alone in
the summer house and had gone away
feeling more angry than ever before In
my life.
Suddenly. as | paced the garden
trying to comprehend what to me as
yet seemed impossible. | came face to
face with the cause OF all my dis.
quieting thoughts. She looked
was bound to admit it-as fresh and
sweet as the morning itself. She had
been gathering roses and carried q
basket filed with the fragrant blooms
Without the least sign OF surprise OF
embarrassment she advanced to meet
me.
"Since when have YOU taken 10 early
rising. Jacks" she inquired with gay
little laugh. II admire your choice of
an occasion for the experiment; the
morning is perfect. is II not7"
Ignoring her question. said:
II am of TO town almost Immediate
ly-that is. as soon as have had
some breakfast"
fancied that her face grew slightly
graver as he exclaimed:
so soonl Why. thought you were
at least going TO remain over my birth
day. We are such old friends. and be-