Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-09-26

II was a blue.eyed maiden, grace,
full as a fairy. who first convinced Syl.
vester McCracken Of the fact that
there were other women in this world
beside his mother. He loved Louise
Selwin, and TO his great, strong ma.
ture, love was a serious thing.
How lovely she looked one summe
evening as she louuged in saucy ease
by the vine.wreathed window, gazing
out into the night, while he stood out.
side. Unseen by her, gazing in at what
seemed to him the golden day OF his
whole existence. A meteor unusually
bright. shot across the sky. and clap.
ping her hands with delight, she
sprang from her seat quite upon the
window sill, when she perceived Mac.
oh, did you see that 1t was a
real star, for ! was looking at It burn.
ing steadily up there. when all at once
it started from its place and was lost
in the distance. Oh, | am sure now
there are lost stars, and | believe that
] must have witnessed the flight Of
L OF them. say, Mac, did you see
it,"
NO, | saw none OF the stars out.
side. ! was looking at a brighter,
purer star within, which l hope will
never, be lost. Do you know,
little one" said he, vaulting over the
window ledge. what a tumult you
have created in my heart? ! have
learned TO love you so, that II all the
stars OF yonder heaven were blotted
out. Il would not be darker than my
existence would be without you"
A perplexed face was turned stead.
fly away from him His avowal had
come so very suddenly, that. taken by
surprise. she was casting about for a
way 10 gain a little time for the
expected reply She had, long ago,
learned to love this magnificent man.
and was now inwardly wondering what
be found in her TO deem a fitting e1.
change for the grandeur she saw in
him.
Speak to ne. Louise. he went on.
snd tell me II you can consent TO
shine for me alone to be my dear lit.
Tie Wife"
Halt provoked at his persistence.
half frightened a. being thus sudden.
ly brought face 10 face with 80 seri.
Gus a question. half bashful. too. and
altogether thoushtless. a sudden in.
SEPARATION Of mischief prompting her
with an idea, she burst into a merry
peal Of laughter.
What have you found so amusing
In Try r-nr.aFHf.E L,,Faa0 5000 !
the matter under consideration as far
too weighty for such unusual mirth."
oh. oh! oh. | was just thinking.
you know, that then, when | grew old,
I-oh! oh! o~h!-should be-Mother
McCracken, you know"
You'd better be that than Mother
Goose he burst forth, stung TO the
quick By this i%rreverent allusion TO his
honored mother, by one, too, whom
he had regarded as little lower than
the angels. Then without another
word he strobe from the room, from
the house, out into the darkness-a
starless night.
Realizing what she had done, Louise
threw herself prone upon the sofa
IN an agony OF tears.
oh! why did | say that? And his
mother must be such a grand woman
too, to have such a son. If had
only known her personally / never
could have said such a thing, / know.
He adores her, too! Will he ever for.
give me?' then the natural hopeful.
ness Of her nature asserted itself.
Yes, know he will. He is too grand
to stoop 10 mean spitefulness. He will
be back tomorrow"
And wiping her eyes, she fell into a
pleasing reverie oyer the scene that
would be then and there enacted.
But he did not come back to.mor.
row, nor the mex day, nor the next.
He had received a pressing offer Of
a very advantageous business connec.
tion in a distant city, which was the
real cause OF preclpitating his pro-
posal.