Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-09-20

with some credit, made several voy-
ages, saw many lands and many faces,
but none of these latter made the
least impression on my heart; I re-
manned faithful to my first love.
Several years passed. promoted to
the rank of lieutenant, and very much
fatigued by the examination, l OBJ
tanned leave of absence for two
months, and unannounced, went home.
Three minutes after my arrival my
sister Bertha presented me to a young
lady of about my own age
My brother Henry. a good-tor
nothing fellow who calls himself a
ieutenant-Henry. this is Clara, my
best friend"
Good heavens! Could 1t be possible,
Yes. ii was she. the same and yet not
the same; the child had become a
woman; she was much taller, and had
it not been for a slight scar just visi-
bic over the left eyebrow, | might
have thought that my imagination was
playing me trick. She did not rec
ognize me, but my surprise and emo
ton were too evident to pass upper
ceived.
What's the matter, Henry, said
my lively sister Are we such mon
sters that the sight of us petrifes
your"
'T-I-nearly killed this lady once,
stammered
What! was it really you? How
strange! Wen, you see, sir. did not
die of it, but have been very care
full about turning street corners ever
since" she said laughing;y.
1t was summer; my parents feeling
tie country rather lonely and not
expecting my visit, had invited Clara
to spend few weeks with my sis
ter. They had not known each other
very long. but, becoming acquainted
through mutual friend. were now
inseparable.
You can imagine what followed |
had soon forgotten the sea and the
fish in it, my ship and it's quarter
deck. l believe I should have been
quite capable of confounding larboard
with starboard or latitude with longi-
tude. l was helplessly in love, for the
first time in my life. In the days that
followed we three moved together in
the most intimate companionship.
Instead Of the vision which had so
often kept me company in my watch
on deck, | had the sweet reality be-
side me. | was madly in love: | wor-
shipped the very ground she trod on.
but-you will hardly believe me-
dared not tell her of my love, though
| longed to do so every hour.
Il viii tell her tomorrow morning"
and having taken this resolution, l
felt proud of my courage and finished
the day in a calmer frame of mind.
The morrow came-my courage had
evaporated. ASK her to marry YOU!
Mailman! she would laugh at you.
pack her trunk and leave the house
So I tormented myself, and mean
while. time was passing rapfcay, my
leave of absence running out. and my
did not return. Clara treated
me lust as if were an older brother:
she was always friendly and smiling
and seemed quite unconscious of the
storm raging in my breast and rend-
ing my poor. timid heart. We often
took long walks together through the
woods and the feds beside the river.
gathering flowers, and watching the
swift current rushing seward. /
caught my sister examining
me with curious expression in her
eyes, and l wondered If she had any
suspicion of the truth.
The time Of separation was nearing
rapidly; another week passed. and
then came letter from Claras par.
ents begging her, forget now for
what reason. to return at once: she
was to leave the next day. It was
a thunderstroke for me. In the even
ing my sister proposed that we should
take a walk together-the last. There
was a sick child at the mill to whom
she had promised some picture books:
we could take them. The weather
was lovely; warm summer evening.
with just breeze enough to stir the
leaves and make pleasant music in
the woods. Heavy wagons, loaded
with sheayes of corn, were entering
the village, followed by tired. sun,
burnt peasants rake on shoulder. We
came to the mill, which stood under
some chestnut trees near the edge of
ravine. in which fell a cascade.
Wait here for me-" said BERTHA
pointing to rustic bench under one
of the largest trees. II shall not be
long" and l thought as she said this
she gave ne meaning look.
Ny heart began to beat violently.
the supreme moment Md come; ex.
pecting It, l had been preparing my
speech as we came along, and now
/ had forgotten 1t. No, | could not,
dared not utter a word. my throat
seemed closed. | said to myself
Come. courage. one word only. the
rest " II follow in vain.
The window of the mill cottage was
open. and could hear my sisters
voice telling the sick child the story
of Little Red Ridinghood. said to
myself: When the wolf has eaten
Little Red Ridinghood my sister will
come out. and then my chance is lost.
will count 10 and then-9. 10. No.
Z D. a.