GAUTEMOTZIN: THE LAST OF THE AZTECS, 



-M i 



I may be able to look upon Allen 

 with a brotherly eye. I am very 

 unhappy now, and beg you will allow 

 me to leave this house. I will call 

 on Allen to-morrow." 



Jessie inclined her head. Steve 

 bowed to the rest and departed. The 

 remainder of the day was the most 

 delightful of my life. I have suffered 

 much during my life, and in the words 

 of the old song, can truly say : 



" I have journeyed o'er the deep, 



I have crossed the desert wild ; 

 I have seen the storm arise, 



Like a giant in my path. 

 Every danger I have known 



That a reckless life can lead, 

 Yet her presence is not flown, 



Her bright smile haunts me still." 



That one day proves I have not 

 lived in vain. I loved Jessie fer- 

 vently, and as I sat in the little par- 

 lor that sunny afternoon admiring 

 her classic features, I said : 



" Jessie, dearest, J am a rough 

 country boy and do not deserve the 

 rich treasure that has fallen to my 

 lot." 



" Allen," she replied, " the rarest 

 jewel was but a rough stone until the 

 edges were smoothed down and it re- 

 ceived a polish. That you will get 

 when you are brought in contact with 

 your fellow students." 



" Nevertheless I am forcibly re- 

 minded of the beautiful lines of the 

 poet." 



" What are they, love ?' 



" I remember once how I, an idle boy, 



Used fondly stray beside a lovely stream, 

 On whose wild banks grew flowers that gave 

 me joy, 

 And set me dreaming some sweet dream. 

 One bank was low and carpeted with green, 

 The other high and steep — you could not 

 climb. 

 To climb it, though, was my ambition ; still, 

 alas ! 



ss. 



I could not reach that height that 

 sublime ; 

 For on this bank their grew a lovely flower, 



\\ Inch I so long, s<> tried to oik e pos 

 Twas lor this 1 sought to climb, ah, man 

 an hour, 



But failure was my lot, I must conf< 

 It was the fairest flower that blossomea 

 there — 

 Its beauty far more rich than all the n 

 Its sweet perfume was wafted on tin 

 To own it, I thought my life wrere b 



'Tis thus I think of thee, my lady fair 

 How humble is my place, how hizh art 

 thou ! 

 My loving thee, and almost to despair, 

 My struggling but to climb where thou 

 art now. 

 For years I've toiled to gain that m 

 boon, 

 The fame and richness that would equal 

 thine so great; 

 And as I grasp them,ah! they fade too 8 

 And so I love you in my humble St 



But all my struggles have availed me naught; 



The vision lades, and from my dream I 

 wake, 

 Full many a sorrow in my heart is fraught, 



And all, sweet lady, lor thy gentle Sail 

 And still, fair lady, thou art' like my flower, 



So high upon the bank beside the stream ; 

 And as I dream of thee through every hour, 



I find it all must be an empty dream. 



But my heart spoke when lips wished not to 

 speak, 

 May Heaven send you blesi from 



above, 

 May tears ne'er stain tip 



Still, lady, let me say I chide the fate 

 That made our lives SO far so wide a: 

 My humble lot, how can I help but i 

 Since it has stole the jewel of my he. 



Ah ! well ! r tis life to love and lose, I k 

 But may you never know that bitter dp 

 To love the sweetest flower that '.nth 

 could grow, 

 While it so high above beyond tin- stream." 



" Allen, your love has had a difl 

 ent termination from that of the p< 

 Your dream is realized." 



" Not yet, darling, but soon will 

 will it not:" 



"Surely," she answered sweetly. 



(to BE CONTINUED. ) 



SHE WAS LEARNING. 



Mary had a little wheel 

 'Twas anything but slow, 



And everywhere that cycle went 

 Poor Mary had to 



— Louisville Courier- Journal* 



