The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-08-30
A SUM M Err
AFTERNOON
BY IDA DE MARION

1t was on cold gray day that they
met and gray were their hearts.
She came to him on business She
wanted to see the manager who had
gone away on a trip, and so she was
referred to his brother, a young boy
about 81 years of age. She was girl
one or two years older, with golden
hair, big blue eyes of uncertain depth,
with dark eyebrows and lashes. There
was something fascinating while cold
in her appearance.
They saw each other for but mo-
ment, neither of them thought about
IT, and only once did he see her again,
a few seconds only, and by accident.
The time passed. After rainy days
followed laughing sunshine. The air
was warm and moved by little cozy
wind and the sunbeams kissed the lit
tie buds on trees and bushes, bidding
them unfold their leaves and beautiful
blossoms. Everything was bright and
happy.
The girl had changed, too 1t seemed
as If her GOODNESS had melted away un-
der the kiss of the sunshine.
1t was a warm afternoon when the
girl again went to the Office and found
the two gentleman together.
What was it to-day that made the
girl so attractive to the young man
that it thrilled him through and
through and filled his heart with un.
known pleasures. Why found the
blushing maiden a pair of gray-blue
eyes so magnetic that she must look
at them all the time?
He went out with her through the
hall and they parted with longing
chances in their eyes and found their
hands folding in a warm thrilling
clasp.
The next day he came to heron
business. They were sitting together
and talking like old friends. When
the business matter was over the
young man looked at his watch and
sighed The girl arose and went to
the piano. She sang for him in sweet
contralto tones; her soul rang through
those beautiful notes, and when the
last chord died away the girl found
the man at her knee, his eyes filled
with tears and his folded hands up
lifted toward her. A strange feeling
overwhelmed her with a sensation she
never before had known. 1t grew
stronger and stronger, her heart went
wild, the blood ran through her veins
like raging flame, her body trembled.
She knew she had lost.
His wavy, silken hair ran between
her fingers. O! How she loved TO
touch it forever as if she never could
do without the presence of this true
young heart.
Suddenly the boy sprang TO his feet
with burning face: 20, what have you
done?" he cried. What power is this,
stronger than myself, that fills my soul
ans body with wild, sweet pain? |
love you! | love you! / would give
everything on earth to make you my
own, my beloved one!"
There was a silent moment.
Forgive me, said the man. Il am
mad | think I'd better 60" and he
took his hat
NAMED in the same place, wondering
what gave this young boy such a great
soul and what ii was that made him
seem so dear, so sweet to her, that
she couldn't let him go.
He read in her eyes the language of
her heart and with wild cry of joy
he threw his arms around her neck
and found her lips in a long, clinging
kiss.
Nobody can tell the feelings of
young couple with their warm true
hearts, who live the moment of LIES
greatest joy, not knowing what will
happen.
A noise and the bark of dog re-
celled them TO the fact of time. They
felt that they must part and the girl
knew that their sweet, short dream
was over.
But she still felt his burning kisses
on her lips and knew that one thing
was left forever-an indelible remem.
brance OF this summer afternoon.