Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-06-11
On the btlltops.

town she saw a woman, tall and slen-
der, going along the path his feet had
once touched SO lightly when he had
seen her on the hillside. She drew
her breath a little hard as she caught
the sheen of the pale blonde hair.
The blonde woman started as she saw
ner sitting there, and would have
passed with dignifed bow, but the
/ girl called her name and with innate
courtesy she paused
GA beautiful evening, is it not"
she said, in her soft, clear voice. 81
came up to see the sunset on the
river, and you seem to be enjoying it,
too. Do you come often?"
The next moment, as she remem-
bered what the village gossips had
said to her of her lover and Charline
trysting here, she could have bitten
her tongue for the question.
yes" she said, with a little catch.
in her voice. 81 have come often dur
/! ing the past few weeks. l am to be
married sOon-to the minister-per-
haps you may not have heard-and af-
ter that l shall not be here often. for
shall be out behind the hills, where
l cannot even hear a boat whistle
think | will miss that"
! The two women-the small brown
girl in the grass, with the rich,
velvety eyes, and the blonde woman,
! who had grace rather than beauty
looked at each others faces, and she
OF the blonde hair drew a deep breath
Then she spoke with cold, slow
smile. "But you will have your hus-
band" she said; cit will be a great
thing for you to be married to a
clergyman. Young girls always make
heroes of them, 1 believe"
yes" said Charline, and a bright
red spot burned on her cheeks and
crimsoIed the lips that spoke so
bravely and falsely, Il always ad-
mired him. and 1 shall read his SER
mons, and hear him preach, and I am
sure-oh, quite sure-that l shall be
happy. No one else ever cared for me
or kissed me or told me he loved NE,
and I should hate to be an old maid
My aunt says every girl should have
tusband-that even the unpleasant
ones are useful to keep Off undesirable
men from a poor girl"
The blondes face softened as it had
not done before for long while; her
eyes seemed to grow deeper, and she
laughed a low, merry laugh. your
aunt has queer ideas of matrimony,"
she said 'Fbut am not sure she is al
lfOTnthor oh
away to where the sun was setting in
a saffron cloud. The river was golden.
and on the side of the hill the blue
daisies doomed On the graves of the
forgotten dead, who, perhaps, on some
bygone day, had their chance and
missed it, too. Well, she would not
miss hers again: and then, moved by
sudden impulse, she stopped and
kissed the brown cheeks of the girl,
and Charifne knew that she kissed her
because of the dream that was given
back to her again.
Il am going to be married, too, next
month"; think" the blonde woman
said, softly, as she plucked a spray
of cedar and pinned it in the soft fur
OF her throat. 81 had letter from
Mr.. Roberts yesterday, and l am
going to answer it tonight. 1 will
tell him your news"
| With smile she went away down
the hillside, tall and graceful, to the
happy life that lay before her, and
Carline sat with wide, sad eyes, the
color fading from her brown cheeks.
| Down in the valley between the
hills negro went homeward along
the Red river, singing some wild love
! song of his race. The cedar birds
twittered sleepingly overhead, and the
| light faded from the skies as night
fell On the hills.-N. o. Times-Demo-
crat. 81