The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-03-17

stars studded the canopy Of hRzy
eventide, and the moon, shedding a
soft and subtle silver, sent shafts OF
light to CLINT upon the bosom of the
Cedar. The waning day lowered
about the skirts of night and pleaded
Tor another interim of life ere yet 1t
died.
And two young lovers, Algernon
Edward Knotington and Constance
Clementine Anterior, mindful also Of
the fastening shadows, wandered near
the village upon the river shore. They
paused beneath the grandeur of the
stars to be enraptured by the reflec-
ton of a great handiwork upon the
waters.
Then in a voice impassloned, yet
low and gentle in its earnestness. the
ioYeryouth spoke his affection. The
maiden, trembling. listened to the
burning words that filled her heart
with yearning, but her tongue spoke
not. She was stilled by strange fear
that Knocked her happiness.
What! Are you afraid, frightened
like timid child?" the lover cried.
wrapping his extra length arm around
her automobile coat.
mol MOI" she cried In startled
tones. mot that! Not that but to-
morrow we separate, our lives diverge.
our paths lie wide apart for months
and who shall say"
With kisses he smothered the words
that fell and murmured softly. Fear
not, Constance-dear, dear Constance!
The world is wide, but l shall meier
forget thee, the ripple of that voice,
the liquid purity of those great, brown
eyes, the nectar of those lips, the ra-
ven black of this dark hair or the
thousand perfumes of thy presence"
The telltale flush leaped to the girls
cneek, and she buried her face in his
ulster as he continued:
mo, Constance; our hearts are beat
ing in rhythmic alchemy of love
winch neither time nor absence can
efface. Here, Constance, is the ribbon
we found yesterday. See, have cut
the silk in twain and on the ends have
scratched words our hearts can under
stand. You keep that end and will
cherish this, and when we meet again
1t will be to join the two forever"
And if either learns to love an
other, then he or she is to send the
ribbon to the one who yet loves, that
each may know" said the girl sadly.
Why speak of impossibilities. dar.
nf oh ~ q
autumn, the winter come and go and
the apple blossoms hang beautiful like
this" pointing in the moonlight, "than
l, my sweet, my own, shall come to
wed my flower, my nightingale, my
love, clasping her in his arms and |
pressing her warm face to his.
You will be far away and eyes more |
beautiful, lips more voIuptuous. faces
more fair will teach you to forget me. |
| shall not hope too much, my dear
one," cried the girl-woman weeping.
STOPPING, he tenderly turned her
wet face to his, and gazing eagerly
into her sad eyes, into the face that
spoke of constancy and love, he cried
Constance, loved one, l bid thee
nope! Hope ever! Believe! Believe
ever! for shall not forget thee!"
Looking trustingly into his eyes
through her tears, she whispered, Il
will hope-and believe"
Long they stood thus, wrapped in
heir affection, while the stars
,listened ON the water, the zephyrs
blew softly and the wild apple blooms
he'd perfume and petals at their feet.
A year had passed and a woman
TODD alone upon the bank The moon
lid his face and the waters lay dark
md pulsefess mass before her. Her
White face she turned upward in agony
md clasped her thin hands in prayer.
The breezes soughed through the ap-
lie trees, and the blossoms fell I'M
eeded at her feet. With loud moan
t anguish her body swayed, then
imply down she sank into the fallen
etals sobbing:
What shall l do? What shall
o? Algernon Edward Knotington re-
urns tomorrow to knot the ribbons,
cannot stop-him-even
Or Harry's sakel" (sob, sob, sob)-
be-be-cause that pesky dog of
line-has eaten my end of the rib
on! oh! oh! Oh! !"
Life is not all sunshine and apple
lessons.