Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-11-28

shadow dappled length of the veranda,
raised her voice a little and called
again, "Paola, dear"
A hooking bird in the cedar by the
gate gurgied liquid impertinence that
ended in q low call to his mate, but
the rest was silence.
Miss Sarah looked across the lawn,
then down at her feet.
"Paola must have this scarf" she
said to herself sternly, ''and l suppose
she is sitting on the bench by the
Black Prince-the most imprudent
childr' That the Black Prince was
beloved rosebush saved Miss Sarah's
remarks from their apparent impro-
priety, and, mindful Of her steps, she
hurried into the path that led to the
Black Princes domains across the
lawn
The moon burned white above her In
cloudless sky, and Miss Sarah re-
sponded delicately to the influence OF
the hour A faint fragrant dream, with
boyish eyes, called to her as she went
SlOMly uON IL luC pam, anu gOhhes hoNSD
swan mistily in her memory as If they
had drifted there with the smell of the
box in the hedge.
She thought of the night her mother
died, another June; of a lowered gown
she had worn the day she was sixteen
of a poem. something about daffodils
or was it roses?
1.-the love that came with the daft
fodils and went away with the roses
that was It," said Miss Sarah, with a
little sigh of satisfaction, ''only the
daffodils come back with the spring
really don't see the sense IF that. Those
love songs are nearly always rather
silly" She stopped to thrust back the
daring sweetness of yellow banksia.
''The garden is very sweet tonight"
said Miss Sarah to herself, land God
walked In the cool of the garden.
wonder was 1t like this" She paused
on the edge of the Black Prince king
dom, where it lay half in shadow, and
lifted her eyes to the moon.
"Oh, dear" said Miss Sarah, almost
aloud, what beautiful night it IS. -
which was Miss Sarah's way Of saying
| that the world was very good and she
was happy. Then she lifted her skirts
little higher and sped into the heart
| of the rose garden.
Paola was sitting on the bench by
| the Black Prince-Miss Sarah saw that
at once-and beside her was young
| Lockwood, as Miss. Sarah had also
foreseen, and Paola's head was thrown
back, and one of Paola's slim white
arms lay like a simmer of moonlight
along the back of the bench. Positive
| ly inviting rheumatism" murmured
Miss Sarah miserably.
She was within a few feet of them
and call trembled on her lips, when
| PaOla's own voice stopped her.
go on" said Paola in soft, hurried
whisper, and Miss Sarah by some queer
instinct drew back into the shade OF
the great oak behind the bench, fearful
lest an incautious movement would be
| tray her, fearful almost of her OWL
| breathing, for Miss Sarah was learned
| in the ways of Paola's suitors, and il
| was one of her best learned lessons
never TO interrupt them. So she drew
| back and waited, innocent of any de
sire to eavesdrop.
go on said Paola again, and younl
Lockwood's voice came out of the deep
er shadow, low and vibrant and rhyth
| mic. Miss Sarah leaned closer instinc
lively to hear the words; they escaped
her at first, then echoed clearer:
Remember how when first we met We
| stood,
| Stung with immortal recollections,
o fact, immured beside fiery sea
| That leaned down at dead midnight to b.
kissed!
| o beauty folded up in forests old,
| Thou vast the lovely quest of Arthur
knights
Thy armour glimmered in a gloom o
green.
| Did not sing to thee in Babylon?
Or did we set sail in Carthage bay?
Were thine eyes strange? Did / not know
thy voice?
All ghostly grew the sun, unreal the air
Then when we kissed"