Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-07-11

iouT uOuTS longer.
Il shall begin to think you a living
teetotum, Maggie, if you talk so,' /
answered.
! watch her as she played with the
spoon over her coffee-cup, and | knew
then the meaning of the bright flush
on that dear face, of the light in those
sweet eyes, and the musing, quiet
smile which parted the red lips. NV
child had found her woman's heart.
She was beginning the sweet dream
OF love-the dream that had scorched
and withered my life.
Hous afterwards, when | knew my
sister was sleeping, I stole back to
her room. / could not rest until had
seen her again. She lay sleeping
soundly. holding something tightly in
her hand; rosebud. half-crushed and
broken. Then | felt sure of what I
had begun to think might be only a
fancy. Maggie would never be a
child again; woman's lot was before
her-to love, and perhaps to suffer.
Even in her sleep sweet dreams were
with her: her lips were parted with a
half-smile. / kissed the waving brown
hair that lay over the pillow, and went
back sadly to my room.
! need not have feared that my sis,
ter would sleep too long. When I
came down to breakfast. she was there,
fresh as rosebud. She explained her
early appearance by saying that she
had been out for run through the
orchard, so that the cold air might
wake her up.
Did Mrs. Hope say at what hour
she would visit us, Maggie?" | asked.
No, she replied, growing suddenly
intent upon her tea-cup. Il suppose
about three; that is her usual time
! quietly watched her restless little
ways. How many times | detected
her looking anxiously at the little
ormolu clock, that chimed one hour
after another! She tried to draw.
but found the paper rough and the
pencil tiresome; she even declared the
new piano was out of tune. At half.
past two she slipped quietly out of
the .drawing-room, and returned in a
Few minutes with glowing cheeks
and hair freshly braided. My simple
little Maggie! | felt like an ogress.
devouring her little secret.
Sooner or later everything must have
an end, and Maggies suspense termin-
ated when the Hopes carriage was
seen coming up the lawn. But Mag
gie's restlessness was gone too. She
sat very pale and very stiu. | could
almost fancy | heard the child's inno-
cent heart beating.
| had always hoped great things
from my darling; and it is much to
say that | was amply satisfied when I
saw Walter. | did not idealize him as
my sister did, nor could / see any re-
semblance to my picture of Sir
Launcelot. He was a fine, manly
young fellow, with a frank, noble
face, as open and clear as the day;
a man whose glance met your own
boldly, for he mad nothing to hide;
and the clear, bright eyes revealed
the bright, clear soul. He had a
charming smile that lighted up his
faoe-a kind, genial smile. that 1t
cneered one to see, and pleasant
voice that fell unsteady on my ear.
| welcomed him to Fernside. I
think the meeting between Maggie
and him IF he
scenes I ever witnessed. My sisters
face glowed until it was like a red
rose. Her blue eyes fell until their
dark fringes rested on her cheek.
Walter flushed too, up to the roots of
his hair. Then they tried to talk so
unconsciously, and got themselves
into such dreadful entanglements and
messes that was obliged at times to
come to the rescue.
On the following day Walter came
again, with another invitation from
Mrs Hope; and after that, every day
brought him, on some pretext or
other, to Fernside. He must have ex-
hausted his imagination in finding
excuses, for every day brought a
fresh and very PLAUSIBLE one. / can
see him now, standing hat in hand be-
fore me, growing red and more con-
fused every minute, while he STAN
mered out his reason for calling.
/ never helped him by single word.
1t was just as much as ! could do to
keep my face straight, or from laugh
ing outright.
In the meanwhile the affair was
growing very serious with poor Mag
gle. The child's whole life was en-.
crossed in her love- II Walter
praised song, she sang 1t until
was fairly wearied OF the melody
What soothed my Jealous heart was,
that she did not seem to love me less
Had she done so, ! am afraid should
have disliked Walter.
One morning our young hero came
earlier than usual. He asked to see
me alone; and then I knew the hour
was come in which some one else
would lay claim to my darling. ! es-
teemed him always; but after that IN.
terview ] quite loved him, he was so