River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-10-23

20 moon of my delight that knows n wane,
The moon of Heaven risii once again
How oft hereafter shall she rising look
Through this same garden-after me-in
yainr
She knew the voice. She would have
known it among thousand. Yet now
there was the confirmation of her
eyes as well, for>as the slow old boat
came creeping out of the deep bushes
into the open space beneath her, she
saw Murray Graham-such familiar
figure in his white fannels and straw
hat!-seated at the front of the small
deck quietly touching the chords of his
guitar and sending that passionate
appeal floating toward her heart. He
did not raise his eyes, but as the boat
dragged its length beneath her, he
went on:
And when thyself. with shining foot shall
Among the guests star-scattered on the
grass.
And in thy joyous GRAND reach the spot
Where 1 made one-turn down an empty
glass;! ="
He was passing her without look!
In another moment he had passed, and
there were only inarticulate murmurS
of the sweet song that came back to
her. She could not bear it. Involun-
tarily she sprang from the hammock
and ran down the steps to the brow of
the cliff Thence she could look down
and see the slow, mysterious old boat
ghostIy-looking in the waning light,
moving silently away.
The music ceased. Suddenly the fa-
miliar figure appeared on the bow.
She could see that his face was turned
toward her to where she stood palpi-
tati1g on the bank. AS unconscious
ly as an automaton she raised her
hand and waved it toward him. Then
she saw swift motion ON his part to
reach the side Of the boat, but it was
away from, not toward her. What did
this mean? She understood a mo-
ment later, when he ran swiftly across
the width of the deck, and then, with
sort of flying leap, landed on the
bank beneath her, only few yards
away.
There was a cracking of bushes,
rustling of leaves, word or two of
herself in the place that she had def
nitely determined never to be-in his
arms. She couldn't helpsit. The sud
den looming up of what seemed to her
to embody all that she desired in this
world, and the subsequent passing her
by of this same embodiment, took her
quite out of herself, and when he
L. = s,I II n hi
but GO to them.
"Where did you come from? Is it
miracle?" she said, freeing herself by
desperate effort.
"This is a miracle" he answered, 'it
I read it Alright, and it means that you
love me! Winifred, I challenge you.
Look me in the eyes and deny it if you
can"
She knew it was useless, and she did
not try; but now the thought of other
things was returning.
Glow did you find me? Why are you
here?" she gasped.
''Aunt Kitty and have been CORE
spending" he answered. THAT how
1 found you. Why am here is another
matter. Like you have been spending
my time since we parted in the pursuit
of career. 1 determined that if ]
could not have you, I'd try at least to
deserve you, and, finding life intoler.
able without you, applied for posi-
ton as resident physician at fash
ionable watering place. The reply was
that the place (Which is very desir-
able one) was ready and waiting for
my fathers son, provided I could full
fill one condition, which the manage
ment insisted on"
"And that was?" she said, with an
eagerness which showed how this an
nouncement had delighted her.
THAT the place should be given only
to married man."
He got his arms about her tight
again, and looked into her eyes and
laughed.
what say you?" he asked. Gam
to get the position or not?"
Don't ask me" she began.
81 beg your pardon. 1t is you and
you only that l shall ask. Nobody else
in the world has anything to say in this
matter but you alone"
She waited just moment.
'This will be your career-or rather,
the beginning of it; for, once
launched, you are sure to succeed; but
what of mine?''
"Yes-what of yours?" he said. you
have always told me, know, that you
would not give up your career for any
man alive"
And so l wouldn't" she said, MAX
ing a brave effort to keep her footing,
'but the truth is, have not yet decid-
ed on what that career is to be-"
"Then let me help you to decision
of that point here AMI now" he said.
Its big career to be doctors wife,
and to hold him up TO his ideals and
help him practically in his work. If
you will settle the disputed point by
adopting this as your career, l, for my
part"
Here she interrupted him.
Come she said, ''let me show you
the place that have prepared for the
very purpose of reaching this deci-
sion. 1t has been useless so far, but
if you'll come with me now, We'll talk
this matter over in that place, and its
creation by Uncle Joe and myself will
be justified at last"
So saying she led the way up the
rude stairs to the platform under the
branches, and the moon. now risen to
the level of their eyes, looked on in
smiling silence, the only witness to the
prompt decision which settled the