The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-09-07

He had finished his course at the uni
versity with high honors; and his ad-
vent in Ryefield was the signal for
series of parties, and picnics, and
merry y-makings, in which I could not
join, and which took Leona from my
side. I heard from all quarters the
praises of my handsome, manly broth
six feet tall, and, they said, looked
much older. I was not surprised to
hear that his wit and his manly graces
were making sad havoc with the hearts
of the village girls. Already over my
soul had begun to steal presentiment
of sorrow.
I think my brother loved me very
much. He had always made me his
confidant. One night, he came to my
room and said, with hesitation which
seemed very singular in his frank, fear
less nature, that he had something to
tell me. Then he talked of Indifferent
subjects for while, and at length,
suddenly-alas, it seemed to me pitt
lessly!-the blow fell. He loved Leona
Ashland! Oh, heaven pity me! God
have mercy on me! l knew in that
moment that I too loved her. I, blind,
helpless fool that l was! had made
her my idol. had not known before
what was the spell which bound me to
her; or, rather, 1 had resolutely closed
my heart against the conviction. The
veil was ruthlessly rent away.
I was not one to inf1ict my sorrow
upon others. l strove to go out into
the world with a cheerful face. But
listened with tremulous eagerness to
every infection of Leonas voice when
she talked with my brother. l knew
she must love him, but there was a
curious fascination in watching how
this passion would spring up in her
pure heart-how the tenderness which
could never be for me, would grow
into her beloved voice. Day after day
it seemed to me to become full OF a
sweeter pathos.
One night Leona asked me if she
might go alone with me to evening
prayers, as she used before Richard
came. 1t was pleasant walk, that
half mile between our house and the
church, in the summer sunset, with
the trees over our heads all odorous
with bloom. There was curious JOY,
which was more than half compounded
of pain, in knowing that she was by
my side, in feeling the light pressure
uf her hand upon my arm.
When the services were over, she
asked me to stay little longer and
play for her, as had often done be-
fore. Hitherto at such times she had
chosen the tunes; but now the fever
poured forth the story of my hopeless
love. I used no words, but the music
explained itself. 1t thrilled, it trem-
bled, it pleaded, it despaired, it strug-
gled, it hoped, then, as if for the dead,
it walled and died out, at last, IN a
long, helpless cry of sorrow. I heard
Leona sobbing She stood, at little
distance, alone in the darkness. left
my seat. I went to her and took Rer
hands. In the darkness she laid her
tender, plying arms around my neck.
I felt her wet cheek against my own.
Alas, I knew the language Of that silent
caress. She loved Richard, but, with
all the fullness of her angelic nature,
she pitied me- She would be my Sis
ter.
No word was spoken by either of u.s.
We went out of the church and went
home, under the night and the trees.
One evening we three were alone in
the long parlor I sat at one end
among the shadows Richard and
Leona were at the other, where the
moon-for I heard them talking of it
-shone in at the open window Per-