Part 14 (1/2)

'Twas just a slight flirtation, And where's the harm, I pray, In that amusing pastime So much in vogue to-day?

Her hand was plighted elsewhere To one she held most dear, But why should she sit lonely When other men were near?

They walked to church together, They sat upon the sh.o.r.e.

She found him entertaining, He found her something more.

They rambled in the moonlight; It made her look so fair.

She let him praise her beauty, And kiss her flowing hair.

'Twas just a nice flirtation.

'So sad the fellow died.

Was drowned one day while boating, The week she was a bride.'

A life went out in darkness, A mother's fond heart broke, A maiden pined in secret-- With grief she never spoke.

While robed in bridal whiteness, Queen of a festal throng, She moved, whose slight flirtation Had wrought this triple wrong.

WHAT THE RAIN SAW

Winds of the summer time what are you saying, What are ye seeking, and what do you miss?

Locks like the thistledown floating and straying, Cheeks like the budding rose, tinted to kiss.

See ye yon mist rising up from the river?

That is the spirit of yesterday's rain.

Go to it, fly to it, call to it, cry to it, What did ye see when ye fell on the plain?

Rosewood, and velvet, and pansies, and roses, Blossoms from loving hands tenderly cast.

Lids like the leaves of a lily that closes After its brief little day-life is past.

Beautiful hands on a beautiful bosom, Folded so quietly, folded in rest.

Mouth like the bud of a white-petalled blossom, Creased where the lips of an angel had pressed.

Lower, and lower, and lower, and lower, Dust unto dust--but a mound on the plain.

Left alone, lonely, this, and this only, Saw we, and see we to-day, said the rain.

Winds of the summer time vain is your seeking, Vain is your calling with sobs in your breath.

Lips that are tender, eyes full of splendour, Wooed away, sued away, vanished with death.

AFTER