Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-11-12
Continued.

be-that he had better go and leave
her; for it could not end happily, her
own instinct told her so. All day the
sweet, fowerlike face had been
shadowed with these thoughts. and in
the light sunshiny afternoon she had
gone to her favorite nook, the stlle IN
the lane, to sit there and shape her
thoughts into words. She had woven
some eloquent arguments against her
self: she had strung together many
sensible thoughts against her love,
and was making herself sentimentally
miserable after the most approved
fashion, when a hand whose clasp she
knew well. touched hers, and the
voice she loved best, said
"V.olante. l have been looking
everywhere for you. l have come to
ask you if you meant what you said
last night, and if you are willing to be
my wife,
And before she knew what to reply,
he had raised her from the moss
covered stone on which she sat, and
they were standing under the delicate,
QrOODln9, SDlueu dDulluIlls.
Il meant what | said" she replied,
shyly; but can never be your wife.
Then in good order as she remem-
bered them. she made use OF all those
sensible arguments which made him
so impatient.
Il am twenty-five years Old he
said, smilingly. Il am my own mas,
ter; | am rich and prosperous, and
love only one woman in the world.
You tell me | cannot have her for my
wife If she is to be won by prayers
and by love, she shall be mine, VIC
lante; fer life will be all blank to me
without her"
One by one he vanquished all her
arguments. and at last, with her
hands clasped in his, she had prom
ised to be his wfe-to love him, to be
true to him, to care for him. and him
alone, until she died.
He made her say the words after
him, and she added, looking up into
his face:
Il promise another thing, Vivian, |
promise. in everything | do and say,
to study your interests and your hap
Diness before my own"
They stood together under the
laburnums for another half-hour, and
that was, perhaps, the happiest time
that either was to know. He was tuIl
of gratitude: he had to thank her
thousand times over for her words;
he had to pour out thousand protes-
tations of love and tenderness, Of
unalterable faith and constancy; and
she listened-heart and pulses beating
as they would never beat again. Her
meadow, from sunlit valley to deep,
dark eyes wandering from hill to
broad stream. from tree to flower,
wondering If everything around her
looked doubly bright and fair because
she was so happy-wondering If the
sun and the flowers knew, and how
far nature sympathized with her.
The wood pigeons near were cooling
with delight, the birds We're singing.
she herself was happy in the full
realization Of her loves first dream;
yet, despite all, there was half
cloud overshadowing her halfde-
fined fear that although it seemed de-
Ightful. although they were in the
seventh heaven of delight, it could
not, would not, end well.
What will my father say" cried
the girl suddenly He has not the
fantest idea. Vivian, that you have
spent these summer weeks in falling
in love with me- He never seems TO
live quite in the world around him"
He will be very pleased and will
say | have spent my time well, was
the smiling reply.
He will never believe | am old
enough to be married, she cried, with
a low, delicious laugh, sweet as the
chime Of bells. He always speaks to
me as though were seven, instead
Of seventeen He will never believe
| am anything but child"
He is right" said the happy lover
You will always be in some things a
child and that is one reason why
love you 50
A look Of deep reverence came over
HIS UdIdSpHlE idGG. Tie bb"Gu MS
head and his voice sunk to a whis.
per.
Il have much to thank Heaven for"
ne said 1T has given me many great
gifts. The most precious of all is
yourself How | bless the day | came
TO Wocdeaves; and how little
thought. when / brought poor Berries
message here that | was coming to
meet my fate"
He never forgot her face as she
ra.sed it 10 his witn an agony of en-
treaty, her eyes shining with tears,
her lips quiyering with emotion.
Vivian" she cried, will it always
be 50? Shall YOU always think the
same: or will the day come when you
will wish you had never seen Wood (
caves, and had never seen me?"
He comforted her as lovers best
know how and then they walked
home through the glowing sunlight
together
She was never grave or gay for