The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-22

rolly-berries, had fallen back on hershould-
ers, and her cheeks were flushed with ex-
ercise A pretty little white dog was
with her, leaping up eagerly for cluster
of holly-berries which she playtuIly shook
above his head. She whirled swiftly
round and round the frisking animal, her
long red ribbons flying on the breeze, and
then she paused all aglow, swaying herself
back and forth, like flower on It's stem.
A flock Of doves, as if attracted toward
her, came swooping down from the sky,
revolving in graceful curves above her
head, their white breasts glistening III
the sunshine. The aerial movements of
the child were so full of life and JOY, she
was so in harmony with the golden day,
the wavering vines, and the circleing doves,
that the whole scene seemed like an ale
GRO movement in music, and she a charm
ING little melody floating through it all.
Alfred stood like one enchanted. He
feared to speak or move, lest the fairy
should vanish from mortal presence. So
the child and the dog, equally unconscious
of a witness, continued their graceful
gambols for several minutes. An older
man might have inwardly moralized on
the folly of the animal, aping humanity
in thus earnestly striving after what would
Weld no nourishment when obtained. But
Alfred was too young and too happy to
moralize. The present moment was all
sufficient for him, and stood still there in
its fulness, unconnected with past or flu
ture. This might have lasted long, had
not the child been attracted by the dove
shadows, and, looking up to watch the
flight of the birds, her eyes encountered
the young man. A whole heart full Of
sunshine was in the smile with which he
greeted her. But, with a startled look,
she turned quickly and ran away; and the
dog, still full of frolie, went bounding by
herside. As Alfred tried to pursue them,
bough knocked off his hat. Without
stopping to regain it, he sprang over
hollv-hedge, and came in view of the yer:
anda of house, just in time to see the
fairy and her dog disappear behind trellis
covered with the evergreen foliage Of the
Cherokee rose. Conscious of the impro-
priety of pursuing her farther, he paused
to take breath. As he passed his hand
through his hair, tossed into masses by
running against The wind, he heard a
voice from the yeranda exclaim,-
Whittier SO FAST, Loo Loo? Come
here, Loo Loop
CHANGING upward, he saw patrician-
looking gentleman, in handsome morn
lng-gown of Oriental fashion, and slippers
.ichly embroidered. He was reclining on
a lounge with wrcathes of smoke floating
before him; but seeing the stranger, he
rose, and taking the amber-tubed cigar
from his mouth, he said, half laughing,-
"You seem to be in hot haste, Sir,
Pray, what have you been hunting?' =
Alfred also laughed, as he replied
q have been chasing chaming little
girl, who would not be caught. Perhaps
she was your daughter, Sir.'
'EShe is my daughter" rejoined the
gentleman. "a pretty little witch, is
she not VIII you walk in, Sir
Alfred thanked him, and said that he
was in search OF AMIR. Ducan, whose resi-
dence was in that neighborhood.
. l am Mr. Ducan," replied the patri-
cian Jack, 90 and fetch the gentle
man S hat, aud bring c;@ars."
\ negro obeyed his orders, and, after
smoking awhile on the veranda, the two
gentlemen walked round the grounds.
Once when they approached the house,
: they heard the patter.ng of little feet, and
lIr. Ducan called out, with tones OF fond
ness
9 Come here, Loo Loo! Come, darling,
!: and see the gentleman who has been run
ming after you!'
But the shy little fairy ran all the fast
er, and Alfred saw nothing but the long
red ribbons Of her gypsy hat, as they float
) ed behind her on the wind.
Declining polite invitation to dine,
he walked back to the city. The impress
t sion on his mind had been so vivid, that,
as he walked, there rose ever before him
vision Of that graceful arch with waver-
, ing vines. the undulating fight Of the
D silver breasted doves, and the airy motions
: o! that beautiful child How would his
y interest in the scene have deepened, could
S some sibyl have foretold to him how close.
e Iy ,he Fates had interwoyen the destinies
a OF himself and that lovely little one.
n When he entered the counting room
5 he found his employer in close converse
r ton with Mr. Grossman, wealthy cotton
n broker. This man was but little more
e than thirty years of age, but the FREEDOM
nance of animal propensitics was stamp
n ed upon his countenance with more dis
e tinctness than is usual with sensualitie,
0 of twice bis age. The oil of a THOUSAND
/ hams seemed oozing thro' his pimplec
: cheeks; his small gray eye were SETH Lii
e head like the eyes of pig; his moutl
It had the expression Of a satyr; and hi
a nose seemed perpetually shifting the sa
IS worry prophecy of food. When the clerl
baI 1olivaral rs M oacoorrn ba {, rnal "a