The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-05-28

youngest heads, Rosetta, aged s. and
the baby curls OF Pearl. the 2-year-olda
Ida had climbed in last OF all, and there
was hardly room for her, SO she had
slipped arm around h baby and
fallen asleep with the rest. It was
such fun, this game of make-believe
in the old trunk But as the mother
raised the lamp to look down at the
sleeping faces she gave a scream OF
terror that echoed through the whole
house.
It has been a game OF make-believe,
but there haG been an unseen play
mate. one who had not played quite
fair, and 1t was Death, the reaper Of
young flowers.
One by n the kindly hands OF
neighbors summoned by the mothers
cry for help lifted the little ones from
their trunk. Ida was still alive, but
died within a few minutes. 1t was all
SO terribly, traglcally simple! They
had hidden In play In the old trunk,
and the lid had fallen and caught fast.
come-waited until they had fallen
asleep, and the Reaper had gathered
them mercifully as they lay uncon-
scious. After all, he was not such
harsh playmate; merely a careless m
1t is an old. old story. his one so re-
cent and new out in kankakee. Gem
turtles 1T happened in Italy, and hi
sadness and mystery Of its romance
have thrilled many a chance reader OF
Samuel Rogers poem "Ginevra"-
Ginevra, child bride of Modena, who
ran Laughing and looking backward"
from her wedding feast to hide in play
in the old gallery Of the palace.
Great was the JOY; but at the nuptial
When all sat down, the bride herself was
wanting.
Nor was she to be found. Her father cried,
" lis but to make a trial of our love-"
And filed his glass to all, but his hand
shook,
And soon from guest to guest the pani6
Twas but that instant she had left Franz
tcesco,
Laughing and looking back. and aytnR
still,
Her ivory tooth imprinted on his finger.
But now, alas. she was not to be found.
guessed,
But that she was not.
Full fifty years were past and all forgot
When on an idle day, a day of search,
Mid the old lumber in the gallery.
twas said,
By one as young, as thoughtless as Gin
why not remove 1t from its lurkina
placer"
Twas done as soon as said: but on tha
way
It burst. 1T fell. and 10! a skeleton,
With here and there a pearl, an emerald
stone,
A golden clasp, clasping a shred of gold.
All else had perished-save a wedding ring.
And a small seal, her mothers legacy,
E~ngraven with a name, the name OF both,
"Gtneyra."
There then had she found a grave,
Within that chest had she concealed her.
self,
Fluttering with Joy, the happiest Of ths
happy.
When a spring lock. that lay in ambuas
there,
Fastened her down forever.
Centuries ago.. Later, In England.
the story found its way into a SONG.
and Christmas eve, the merriment was
hushed while some one sang Of the
mistletoe bough, and Of Lovell's bride.
who had played hide and seek, and
vanished. to be found years after,
skeleton In an old chest.
Perhaps, If the old trunk had been
concealed in a garnet. the mystery Of
the three little one might never have
been u~nraveiled until years hence, the
trunk had been dragged from it's cor
ner, and its secret laid bare. But this
time he mothers hand opened it to
the light and the story was revealed.