The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-01-13

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clear eyes, it seemed like looking into
calm, smooth river shining in the sunset.
Wallace Treat vas fascinated at once.
His grave, proud exclusive nature was
d'sarmed hy this gentle, sunny creature,
ard he piled her basket with the richest
berries, anc filled her TN cup with the
cool sprlng water, and little child would
have loved the rare smile that lighted up
his grave features, AS lie listened to that
lsuSh-oh to think it will never make
music with the birds in the wood bouyhs
again
Matte ! aud Elise came to me, af:er
every kettle anI basket had been filled
with the ripe berries, Mamma told M. to
be sure and galhe: her some mountain
inlnt They are LAYING the cloth for DIN
ner under the mulberry trees, yonier, aud
At You will 90 with ne to the hill, will
gather the mlnl before dinner. We can
steal of unohservcd now, aud | know
where II grows thick, among the green
grass, ou the other side
Aud | went With her.
ELISE, how do vuu like Mr.. Treaty
| did not ask ler this question nuliI we
had gathered the mint, aud were sitting
down IN the cool hull shadows TO rest our
selves.
Il Ike him, Mu.ier she answered
thoughtuily, more ~ IT she was askrur
herself the Question, th III replying To
m'ne. lie Is refined. accomplished, gen.
temanly-ot course, one cannot hep Ii.
krng hun
smiled. 'Tha, quiet, half doubtful
tone is hardly complimentary, K Ii>e.
isn't II, Matte! She pulled up two
or three hutercups, and wnuud Tie long
stems round her fingers. then suddenly
she DIRE" up close 10 me, aud SAID, ear
nestly, When first saw Mr. Treat, Mat.
tie, | DID NOT like hlm. That is too
strong, perhaps-l mean my first impres.
sIohs were not pleasant, aud yet,' speak
my to herself again. IT WAS not exactly
repugnauce. Ii MAS kind Of warning
voice, n something that seemed to whis
per III IN, heart, 1t were better you had
never come together
She spoke these last words in louder
tone, and the echo in the lane beneath us
caught the words, and ausw cred clear and
inonrninI AS human Voice, 1T were be,
ter you had never come together
lnroiun'arily our eyes met. was the
first to speak. Laughing of the momrn.
iary Impression winch the lie percussion
had made, | answered; We'll. Elise, its
apparent Mr. T'eat won't endorse the
echo's opinion, for his actions sad very
plainly, 1T Is better ,hai we keep tosclh
err am not sure but he told you this
too. when yon and he were by the spring,
washing the strawberry stains off your
fingers will sorrel leavcs-don't you think
now he WAS long time learning the verv
simple manipuIauons.'
Nonsense, Matte; though under
stand your inuendo, | shall not admit lis
truth. But seriously, my first Impressions
have been nearly neutr.IIzed by Mr..
Treats very agreeable manners and con.
versation. Is not his smile BEAUTIFUL?
There is really heart poetry in il. | am
sure he must be good or he could never
smile like that
My reply WAS interrupted 10y bunch
OF wild roses that fell at our feet. The
next moment Mr. Treat VAS at our side
The dinner is all ready, iades,' renov
ing his straw hat with that grace which
pcrvaded his every movement, 'and the
company are in state Of absolute star.
valIon, induced by your running Off |
volunteered TO come il search Of yuu.'
We bo.h sprang up with regrets and
apologies, but thought, ss we descended
Ihe hill, Mr.. Treat did not lament much
either the delay or the trouble. Wallace
Treat was not ut heart n BAD man. nei.
ther was he exactly a noble one. have
sometimes thought his greatest fault WAS
'Intirnily Of purpose and yet il is more
than probable he would, To achieve de
sired snl, eyince more energy, more per
slstency than most men. BuI he WAS
MENTAL EPIcURE, loving beauty for no
higher motive than that il yladdened his
:astidious, aesthetic nature. THIS love, Of
course, brought ITS reward in cons.sat
weary ing Of the old, a constant craving
after the new.
lie was, at the age .! twenty five, that
mos, unfortunate Of men, a mental dys
pepiic.
But he loved Elise. Looking back
now OF the past, have not the least
doubt Of il, and if-Lah, me how much
sorrow aud suffering lies beyond that
quivering Of my pen bu: ! ms, hasten
over my history, for the bright June day
is wearing downward, aud the three
o'clock breeze, lha; lifts the edges Of my
paper. ia whispering Of the night. The
day after the picnic ] suddenly lef, Moss
Glen, aud did not return I'LL late in the
next month.
Elise did not know I had reached
home, aud went down to her mothers
% surprise ber