The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1924-12-18
THE FALLING LEAF
(By E. P. Conwell



tana, one of those calm, semi-chill,
evenings when the air is crisp and the
slienc is here and there puneuateC
only by the chirping of an insect anC
!, when every sound seems afar off. The
sun was setting, building fairy tenn
pies in the sky, painting its dome:
and minerets with snimmering gold
It cest shaft Of light on the darken-
ing scene which stretched from tbs
feet Of Two young lovers like golden
stairway leading to the temples in
the sky.
/ The scene is that CT forty years age
in Red Lodge when the world was
wide and wild, when the prairie
stretches were young and all but I'M
marked by the feet OF civilization.
But change has come.
Rock Greek, then almost unnamed
whispered song to the sweet depart
ing glory in the west, and tumbled
aimlessly as it sang, like a drowsy
child; but before the creek song the
universe seemed standing still, listen
ing to its own whispering melody.
White clouds. were floating across the
sky, causing first darkness then pale
light and the soft summer moon look
ed like a phantom ship sailing on a
river of dreams.
They strolled along Lovers Lane.
she laxative, he meditative. 1t was
4 school romance, one of those which
abhors formality and mocks custom.
They had known each other only few
weeks, but to them time was not
measured by dial plates but by heart
throbs.
Chapter ii.
1t was a summer evening in Mon
tana- The scene is that of Thirty
years ago in Red Lodge when the
world was wide and wild, when the
prairie stretches were still young and
but slightly marked by the feet of civ
ilization. Rock Creek still sang its
deathless hymn, the west was crimson
with retiring day and the fair goddess
OF night still shone in refulgent glory.
But a change has come.
They strolled along Lovers Lane
but 1t was not a school romance now. |
A change had come. "There are times"
he said, when I catch q Whit Of |
fragrance from the rose garden of |
the past and follow fancy back over
the years to the scenes of 10 wears |
before, | like college life but there |
are times when forget the prosaic |
affairs of life and dwell in other
realms-almost in the confines of |
eerie land. That locket you gave me |
treasure more and more as the days |
90 by and at night when I study in |
my room, your picture is on the /
mantle place so near that can touch
t with my hand The book you gave
ne | have read over and over again
md learned some Of the sentences YOU
had marked, by heart, for you had
llready indicated the thought which to
ne seemed most beautiful.
Isn't it strange how"
A falling leaf the first herald Of
'utumn fioated to the ground before
hem and aroused him from his rev.
erie and by the pale moon light he
law her face. 1t was shining like the
sun at noontime. Her glowing tresses
gave back the CLINT of the sky with
'ubtle answering fires. Her ewes
sieamed with the perfection of
eternal promise. Her lips
oft, sweet and warm were parted
With a glad happy smile. In the
'olden moonlight he could see all the
Tory of her face-radiant splendid.
1t was an artists true model, a pic
ure of proud humility.
Life" he said SIS like the falling
ear, so tender in springtime, so rad I
anf IN summer, so mature at autumn. Il
Q helpless at the approach of winter. l
outh is beautiful, romantic, dreamy,
ut time robs youth Of these and they
anish at the brink Of manhood and |
fomanhood. Then we trade wings of !
metaphor for the pick and shovel 30
hat we can make a living. But
till kiss the clouds in my dreams for
ne milky way is seldom shown to me.
The girl felt the clasp of his hand. / |
he was serious now. "And is this
Ife" she said, lis this life?"
Chapter III.
An old couple sat in their room and |
alked of the long ago. 1t was
ginter evening in Montana. The |
Gene is that Of yesterday in Red
lodge. The world is still wide and
he prairie stretches are marred with
he feet of civilization. 1t is sunset
ime and the trees slant long shadows
hat caress the murmuring waters of