Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1891 — A SUMMER’S EXPERIENCE. [ARTICLE]

A SUMMER’S EXPERIENCE.

We were not very well off. Farber’s situation in the bank, although a responsible one. yielded, but a smalt salary when compared with tfie expensive family it had to support; so. when the question came up-wnere we should spend the summer one of the first things to be taken into consideration was expense- _ It did not make much difference to me—l was sure of a certain anount of admiration and attention wherever 1 went I had always received it since my first day at school, where my pretty curls and shining eyes had captured the hearts of the “big boys,” up to the last ride taken the in park. ~ With not only the beauty but mflrcTi of the cleverness of the family, naturally great things were expected of me. 1 had but one si 'er—a poor, pale, Little thing. She was younger than I and had always been delicate, but foi some time had been gradually weaker, until now we wheeled her about the house in hereasy-ehair. It was finally decided that mamma should take ths boys up into New Hampshire,and Sistei Millie and I should go down to Beach point, a little unknown resort bn the coast

Father accompanied us, but only stopped long enough to see us comfortably settled- I was lonesome enough the first few days. There were nt boarders but us, and the house was th. only one on the beach, our neighbors being away back in the uplands. I dutifully took my bath each day as one swallows a bitter tonic. 1 played on the; bid-fashioned-piano in- the parlor, and to kill time sleet away a greater part of the long summer aiternoons. It was all very dull and commonplace. Millie was cheerful and contented. She read and worked on th e pre tty things she was constantly knitting out of bright wools, or sketched as much of the scenery as she could see from her chair by the window. One evening I was out of sorts and s little cross, and had just declared" t wouldn't make a toilet to go downstairs, where there was no one but the landlord's son. who usually expressed his admiration with open-mouthec wonder.

Presently our landlady bustled in full of importance. ~‘•1 just ran up a minute to tell yor that the stage has come, and Mr. Brent was in It He is here everj summer and comos gunning in th« winter. He gave us the sailboat on ths bay, and we had his name painted on it, 'Hartley Brent’ He an’t so very young, but ho is rich, and I thought perhaps you’d like to. know he was here, so ae to change your dress before you oome down. - ’ She hurried away, feeling she bad done a good dead. After closing the door to shut out the cool sea idr I wrapped a shawl around poor, shivering Millie, saying; “Now, dear, I have been ‘forwarned,’ and when I am arrayed in my new grenadine I shall be ‘forearmed.’ ” Time dragged no longer after Hartly Brent came, and soon several other pleasure-seekers arrived, until wo were a merry party. Escorts were plenty, and as was the privilege of my bellehood, 1 otiose such as pleased me best When my choice fell on Mr. Brent, as it often did, I could see how pleased he was to be of service. He was never officious, yet always ready to quietly render any little attention needed. His manner was different from the gay gallantry of other cavallevs with their jests and flattery, thQvgb he was always deferential, and praised iny taste, my music, and my voice with a discriminating earnestness I knew to be sincere “It is because bo is older than the others,” I said to Millie, who loved to hear me talk of hirq,

She was always interested in anything I liked, and ho had been kind to her, bringing her fruit and flowers, jftni books, and taking her In Irra strong arms dowh to the parlor"oF an” evening, and back again to her room when she was tired. ‘‘Besides,” 1 said to myself, the warm blood circling round my heart at the thought, “their attentions mem nothing, and he is in earnest”

How quickly time flics when one is happy. Each perfect summer day has a remembrance in my heart; we boated, and fished, and gathered shells during the day, and in the evening sat on the long piazza, after I had tucked Millie in bed and kissed her goodnight. Mr. Brent and I engaged in quiet Conversation, our voices subdued, that they might not reach or disturb those who sat with us, while he told me of his home: “f his struggles with the world, and the success which had crowned them; his past life, and plans, and aspirations for the future. Listening to his voice and looking out over the moonlit expanse, love freighted a fairy boat and launched it from the sand, and I wntehed 4t-sa44-ing o’er the summer sea, cireless where it drifted, I was so happy. Each day I looked in the little square glass that hung on the wall of our room, and saw myself growing more blooming and r diant. Mr. Brent—l c lied him Hartly in my thoughts—said I reminded him of a crimson carnation, with my bright color and tbe spicy scent of my fan. “And. Millie," he added, turning to. her with a kindly smile, ns though she might feel slighted, “with her golden hair and white dress, is a water lily." It was our last day nt Beachpoint The season was nearly over and mamma was already at home with the boys and had written to me to come and ori.ig Millie. Mamma informed me that she had described her case to a celebrated physician, and he thought »he could be cured beyond a doubt In the morning wo went with a merry bathing parly over the bay Id the surf. Millie wifrcd her hand to ug from her 4ent on' the porch, where Hartly, with brotherly kindness, had brought her and crowned her with moist pond lilies, frhich he must have walked a long distance to gather. After taking my bath 1 donned my walking-dress again, and getting tired 3f watching the others, in their ploturesque costumes, sporting in the breakers, I wandered down the beach to a point where the hulls of twostaunob vessels, with crushed timbers half sunk

in the sand, eloquently told the story, of storm and shipwreck. Seating myself on a projecting beam. I gave myself up to pleasant recollbo lions of the eventful weeks just passed. I pictured my fairy boat sailing forever over friendly seas and tinder cloudless skies, until, life being done, it was safely anchored in heaven. 1 had no fe ir for the future if owe dear hand was to guide me. one thrilling voice I had come to know so we 11 wu; to cheer me. How good and noble he is! 1 thought with a swelling heart; how altogether superior to all other men I had known; how worthy the love and respect of any woman! I had nevei been in love before. I had seen a grea* deal- of society, and and received several offers, but none were eligible, and when m -mma s.dd "No,” I had without a pang seen father turn them away There was a step behind me, and my he Tt told me who it was. "‘How did you fiad-me?''l asked, al Mr. Brent pushed aside my dress anc sat down on the same beam. -. “pon’t you suppose I those little footprnits until I know the slender tracks?” he smilingly answered. pointing to the impression in the damp sand of my high-heeied walkingjhoets- • •‘lsri'l this scene grand! One never tires of looking at the ocean, for it is never twice alike”

He was silent a moment, and seemed more thoughtful than usual, gathering a handful of the white sand and watching it sift slowly through his fingers, at length recovering himself, he said, “Sing something, please; you know 1 always like hear you sing, ‘in sea son ;nd out of season. ’ The sea will bcbissandaccompani merit.” 1 began the old ballad, “Three fishers went sailingaway to the west.” As my voice rose loud and full, swelling over the water with -the melody dying away to the sounding monotone of the waves, I looked at my companion. His face wak turned seaward, and over it was a softened expression, and in his eyes a tender light I had never seen before. Though my heart ceased beating my voice -was too well trained to falter, and the music wailed on: “For men must work and women must

weep. Though the harbor bar be moaning,” The sad chord did not touch him; joy. faith, and hope held possession of his soul. How hit thoughts irradiated his somewhat stern features. 23 face of the one man in the world for me, but I did not know it could look so handsome. When the last echo of the song was lost in a retreating billo.v he turned, and. taking ray hand, said, in the court ly manner that never forsook him: “Thank you. I did not know there was so much music in that song. 1 have heard it often before, but never like that. Your rendering of it adds a hundred fold to its •meaning. And now I want to speak to yon on a subject I did not intend to mention when I followed you here.” His bronzed face took a ruddier hue, and the firm fingers closed over my baud in a nervous clasp, while, unnoticed by him, I lowered my sunshade between my face and his. “1 know I ought to have waited until yon wore at. home, and I had meant to. but something impels me to throw myself on your mercy, and find out my .fate before yon leave. 1 love your sister Millie with all my heart, :;s I have never loved anyone before, and I ask your permission to tell her so. I do not think she regards me wholly with indifference. I will take and cherish her as a precious flower. As my wife, time and wealth shall not be spared, and I am confident that somewhere may be found a cure for her infirmity. Will you intercede in my behalf, if she hesitates to commit myself to my care? Plead for me with tbo ÜBawranQO th’t it is Iqvo, not pity", I feel Knowing your great snfluonco over her, I want to beg you. for the sake of our pleasant friendsnip, to use it in my favor.” A cloud whs gathering on the deep, the waves looked dark and angry, and fancy saw my love-boat reel from side to side arid then"go in miil-ocean. At the call of the company we joined them, and I went home, as I shall go through life in daily sight of their happiness. with never a line on my face tv toll of my loss.—New York Weekly.