The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-09-18
OaAB AF2L1 BLOSSOMS.
DY auNDEnLAND ]

49, AANf01AhAAaAND NAA4MNN1
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The becchoa green with the $50,
.caia9e ot sprInEtifae. spread la..i
branches over the Winding ROAD all
Ne ali ferns shared TIE trunks viii
Inc ~encroaching Ivy. 1he Dnnet aus
the thrush sang undisthfbed Ia IL.
Ticket, tall hedge, which shut out ths
fcsl Of the world. tbs merry aty
sunshine dafted "a and out AfBone IN.
ifayes, playing hiGc-anG-scok with TIE
shadowB. Al the head Of she iane d
cfab-apple tree beat beneath ia wciehi
u scented blossom.
They sat On uae bank beneath 81.
kaif IN sunshine, half IN SHADOW. Ea.s
rejoicing in the light which alantai
through The branches upon her hair,
he dreaming beside her In the datA-
pesa The hotne-going bee hummed 90
content az he passed from blossom Il
blossom, diving deep into tie dainfy
heart u each where was stored the
6olden honey. The birds called TO each
ether from among tbs branches. ami .
TAT, red cushy-cOw-iady settled upon
her skirts and slept IN peace.
They were friends VINO had ncgW
teen lovers perhaps. The sunshine
spoke to them, and the birds sang until
tie very grass was stirred. and fhf
message OF both was the same.
Life is short but Love is long,
Death Is swift but Love Is strong,
Time Is nothing. Love is ALI
She heard every word OF the warning
thrilled her; she had hearG u often be-
fore. yet never had Il sounded so clear.
~ In her ears never had II found such
echo In her heart she looked AZ him
Nonderingly-had he hserd it, No! his
ears were shut, for he himself was
speaking-c0mMon-place words. pain.
fully out OF harmony with the beauty
around him; trivial thoughts. full O.
the pres aud turmoil Of the restless
world outside; Eordid ambitious. such
as choke the souls Of those WHO stfetct
out their hands TO yellow glitter, ane
call Il gold.
She turned her eyes away--lf she
could have turned her heart she wouiC
Rave smiled. But she could not. ant
so the voice that praised the birds was
husky, and ia1hes which bent over tnt
too truthful eyes were wet Her hands
resting OF her knee looked small anc
louely-not even ciasping over one AZ.
other-and her thoughts rushed back
and the present WIS forgotten in the
past.
He did not notice her abstraction
he was r-ecounting personal expert
encesi he was living IN the midst ci
struggle AID warfare, and the dreay
round q work had eaten into his heart
60 that he could think Of nothing else
His horas. his ambitions. Of thest
be was speaking. soon the tine woult
come when be would take up TIE posi-
ton he had lonEed for since boyhood
Tower would be within his grasp, 3
scat In parliament al his command.
The clear. cold voice went on day
dreaming; and she, coming back from
the brink Of the fair Poppyiand Of The
past, heard il, as one hears the fare
wells Of beloved ones sounding faT-oal
across the turbulent waters OF the ter
rible stream which must be crossed BY
ell. Stretching her hand she gathered
q spray Of blossom. and tore the dainty
petals asundeT cle by oae, es Il seek
ing an outlet for her misery Ia the
/ reckless wholesale destruction. Sur il
the schemes that we're rapidly unfo.deS
she bad no place; aad II the successful
career 50 yitilly shetchc3 before her
She had neither park nor loL Ter
years she had waited, tga years she
had hoped, ten years she h2d worsh !,
PED. Now she saw plalaiy that hei
aFeam Was shRttercd-2at her iecl
lad feet Of clay.
When the evening shadows fe4
across The path they rose and walked
home 90 silence. Ho had anished HE
recital. and listened vaguely Tor 1s
words Of praise which dld not come.
She salKcgca.
"Are you eo.d- hs asked. suddenly
aware 81 her presence
"No. th2nk you she answered
Cold did uot describe Ae sensation
that came over her. as she apE tas
grave % hcg dreams and latd theEeiu
the hopo Of ,en long years.
Under the leagy tztila s0ek they
PASSED. snd the Mrk sans "a %turousil
az ho mounted ia tae sunset Sky. .
n!ac huah shed q heavy perfume on "a
aill uiEht air~and The tross oroakoc
softly ia iAc 3islAat pond
This time neXt yoar ] ahR!i have
done much % the Work have set mig
telf 20 40. hp eriei turning 3 a AZ the
little wooden gate aoa treaaing on the
bofaer pSusies Nlfa reckless leet Tbs
effort sill ~ Ygfg great the htruEEit
terribly koen, hUt 1 wln conquer. Next
year The eogsl wiI hg ogc8 Che calm
water will be reached the GOOD Will
touch me and carry mo CA 90 fame and
glory. Eyoything that hlRacfA o.
Uomas betNSea Mesi De overcome, "
else must be i~ofE0ttta. u viii be =
hard struggle. hat neXt yc&r IL VAR be
cytr-lt stGah br-lt must be-
Eyes. rte answered ErQping bltntly
iol the handle 90 the door. IL Wal b
= hard nEhI. Bat Il FAUST be d0ue
lle SMILED at her words How sym
pathetic she was. What Inspiring de
t~ertaination there was Ia bcr Voice
The peoples budded. Winter came
with now and ice, snnwdrops lifted
their delicate auts 20 hal taig spFlnE
-ahd az length The cTab-spple tree
burst into beauty uiuk and white as
a maiten's cheek. Plnker far than
that 81 tAe giri who sat reading b.
Ieath IT,
A shadow sen On ne page and she
looked up.
lie Was beside her with a siad light
IN his eyes aud a smile on his Nps
Her eyes were grave aad her face
was calm Il was a ycung face, childish
en- the smo0ihposs of lts contour. bat
d. a. H. a. go 49, ~