Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-26

You wear no ring, Miss Forster
he said.
''I haven't any, I replied, quickly.
Madame gave me my mothers we'd
ding-ring; but it broke"
Il wonder if you will think me very
rude if 1 make one comment?" he
continued
81 should never think you rude"
answered, make what comment you
might"
''As you wear no engagement-ring,
venture to conclude you are not en-
gaged?"
ITO be married, do you mean?" l
asked, in supreme wonder
Yes, to be married" he said.
ooh, no! How could that be? l
have been at school all my life"
you have never had a lover?" he
pursued.
NO, never" I answered
81 knew it," he said. "Ah, Kate, no
womaa's eyes are ever the same after
d lover has looked into their depths!
Yours are clear as the morning star.
No lover has ever gazed into them.
Kate, raise them to mine"
But, instead of that, 1 buried my
face in my hands.
The birds sang on, the wavelets
broke TRANQUILITY against the bank, but
above the song and the ripple l heard
the voice that held all the music of
earth for me.
Did you find out what the moss
rosebud symbolized? You must tell
me. Did you find it out, Kate?"
YES" | whispered, almost inaudib-
~
Il loved you at first sight, Kate" he
said. you were sitting here by the
lake when l saw you. You do not
know the charm of your own face. Yet
you will learn it quickly enough when
you are in the world of men | could
not imagine who you were, for my
brother had not told me of the new
addition to his household; but |
thought you the loveliest girl l had
ever seen; and, Kate, in that first
moment my heart went out to you and
it has never come back. | wanted to
tated; you seemed 80 unconscious of
it all. To trouble you with the cares
Of love seemed like breaking into some
beautiful sanctuary; yet 1 do not see
why I should not be happy if l can.
Kate, l love you, and 1 want you to
he nv wife,
That was the answer to my prayer.
II love you SO dearly, so well, Kate,
that I will devote my life to you. Will
you love me in return?''
[ did-heaven only knew how well.
but it occurred to me that it would be
madness for him to marry me- l had
nothing but what he was pleased to
call my beauty and my loving heart.
[ had neither fortune, position. nor
connections, and l felt sure that all
him that he could not do a worse thing
for himself. He laughed, and said
that he was the best judge. He loved
me, and nothing else was of conse-
Quence.
[ did not tell him all-how I had
L
heard his voice. Some few details I
kept secret even from him. We
plighted our troth by the side of the
lake-a troth that has not been broken,
and never will be-
His wife! How little I dreamed
that l should ever hear those words!
| had loved him with love that was
all humility.
you delight my eyes just as you
gladden. my heart, Kate" said my
lover. ut seems to me always as
though you move to some sweet hid
den music. You confess that you love
me, Kate?'
yes; love you,' 1 replied.
"And you promise to be my wife?"
'Yes-f you really wish it"
"As if l could help wishing it, Katei
am your first lover, darling?"
"And my last l said, earnestly.
THAT believe No lover has looked
into your beautiful eyes, no lover has
kissed your lips-sweet as they are
true! May 1 have the first kiss,
Kate?"
And there, in the glory of the even
ing sunset, my lover kissed me for the
first time; and that kiss bound my
heart to him forever.
The sun had set, leaving the water
cold and gray, before we remembered
how time was flying. The birds had
all gone to rest, all nature seemed in
reDOse when we rose fo return RI tho
house.
Mr.. GILMORE" l began.
Never Mr.. GILMORE again, Kate"
he said. Mine is not very melodi-
Gus name, but you must try to use it.
Say Uric always when you speak to
me-"
Uric I said shyly, "do not tell
any one just yet. Let me grow &C