AM IDYLL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 57

AM IDYLL.

THE GOLDEN ISLES.

(By J. M.)

Once it was a long, shoaly beach, famous for nothing save thoughtless hours and wayward fancies. Willie and she used to go down o' nights to dream and count the waves, which seemed as careless of everything as they.

Willie admired the glory of the distance, for fame to him was centred in the far west. She loved the shelly sand where Willie was. Hour followed hour, just like the waves, each leaving a silver line on its sands.

But everything changed when one night the storm drove a vessel on to the beach, for that very night Willie went away, angry as the ocean, his bitter words wasting their giant strength on a helpless wreck in her bosom.

Sunshine came again and again to the beach and the maiden, but the wrecks were always there. When Willie was near, the waves used to pass that spot, never even tossing their hends till they reached the silver sand. Now, on .the sunniest days they beat themselves into foam against the wreck, and when the slonii arose she could hear Willies voice, angrier and more relentless than ever. When the storm lulled she'd sit and wonder if Willie had found fame in his Golden Isles, or if there was there too, a dreary wreck. Many lovers came- — -but she was wooed and wed ; no sunshine ever made a wreck look glad. At last she smiled — one evening in midwinter, and not even the tolling bsli could sadden it. Maybe Willie had met her, for the smile was peaceful and eternal.

The wreck sank deeper and deeper into the sands, till one day the waves raced past tli3 spot to -break upon the slioaly beach, and two lovers came to wt,tch them — one to dream of the Golden Isles which lay beyond ; the other of the peaceful beauty of th. j shoaly beach.