Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-03-21
Joy his perquisites, if you would look after

speeches that these little things went gren
way with her.
All the morning that flush Of pleasure
never faded from her face, that smile forgo
to leave her lips; up stairs. before her mir
ror, dressing for dinner, she paused to re
gard herself, paused half regrctfully, hal
surprised, as II, just to-day, some unsupported
blossom had sprung up in her place.
"Why, am almost pretty to-day" sht
whispered; "if--r and checked herself
leaving unsaid the willful thought that traced
with thread Of gold the gracious possibili
ties of life, then as Tor penance she turned
resolutely away from the glass and indulged
In no second glimpse.
Tea was served that evening out under the
willows, whose great plumes cntangling the
rehcxes of a hundred tints, swung indolently
in the breeze then there was dancing on
lawn till Geordie could no longer keep his
eyclids in order. What an evening it was
for more than Geordie How freely Laura
forgot herself beneath the lustre of those en-
snaring eyes--how her wayward pulse quick
ened with each caparicc of flute or violin
how her foolish little heart beat measure for
measure! She though atterward that a
swallows summer flight across the blue
heavens could describe no more delightful
arabcsque than those dancing feet upon the
green turf.
Well, by-and-by, the stars slipped, one by
one, into their places, and the early moon
just showed the tip of her silver horn above
Holiday Hill, and th.n Laura must leave ii
all to pilot Geordie happily across the waters
of oblivion into the Land of Nod. Through
the pauses Of her fairy tale she could catch
the rhythm of the dance sometimes little
Jet of melody flew up. like bird, to seek
her; sometime ripple Of laughter found
her OUT sometimes the wind came follow
were some sweet thought sent after her, and
all the while Echo went wandering into tue
distance with stolen snatches Of the festivity.
II nothing availed to cut the story short, to
bring the beautiful Princess into hasty pos
session of the two magic crystals which held
her crown and kingdom. Geor,lie only grew
garrulous and used all his powers of fascina-
tion, in order to detain Laura by his side,
till, exhausted by his arts, Nature took the
matter in hand and reduced him to subicc-
tion.
BY that time the dancing was over, the
lawn deserted, the musicians had departed /;
above all there brooded the sweet soleu nifty
of night, broken only by some football on the
piazza below. Laura went to the window
and looked out. One star, shining large and
luminous overhead, seemed to point at Capt.
Laurence, pacing up and down there like
some Gagged creature, as II some impalpable
limits shut him out from the Promised Land.
81 wonder what he is thinking about, pom
dered Laura; she had almost said "s0to.
If she had only known!
One morning Captain Laurence was little
late at breakfast; but before the meal was
half through he sauntered into the room with
that easy grace of his, bent an instant over
Laura with some syllables half tender, hall
jest, and dropped into the seat beside Rose.
1.-THE sweetest dreems, understand, come
with daybreak," said that subject, land sure
ly since then you have had time for whole
nOsegay."
"But faulty if the rose were omitted.
Since dawn have seen the sunrise break
through Tangle Wood. You must 90 there
with me sometime, Miss Laura" he added,
turning to her.
:" II is not q great way OFF,"
"The further the better" he replied.
"What is the programme to-day, Rose p
asked Harry.
"That stupid picnic of Mrs. Bryant's."
"Why stupid?" inquired Laurence.
"Oh, because every body gets cross and
hungry, and you lose the people you want to
find and find the people you want to lose
and some one is sure to tread on YOU
dress-it actually seems as if there were g
detachment for that especial duty"
"The long and the Short OF it," put In
Harry.
"Shsll you go, Captain Laurence p asked
Rose.
'1O HiteT nuCu WARN uS
"But you have no unfortunate gowu to be
trodden on; consequently no danger Of To-
sing your temper"
'You forget, Miss Rose, the danger Of 10
sing what is not 30 easily recovered"
"Nothing SO easy if you offer a sufficient
reward"
"Ah, fair Pagan! l am afraid there Is nc
need for ME to run any further risks"
"Indeed! have heard Of the beauiifu
Dulcinea, have not 7"
Laurence gave the least perceptible start
and the least suspicion of frown darken,t
on his brow.
"No; have your What is she like-Gips,
Jane2''
Now Rose had really heard nothing, onl,
she thought it wise, before reeling oil into
filtration, to beat about the bush while ant
knock down all the last years nests.
''She has dark brown hair, long and wa
wy" she began ''eyes the color of my sap
phire ring; see-Harry gave it to me, tn
extravagant; she has an ear like little pinl
shell. You would take her for alabastcr if
ripple of color upon her white cheek didn'
remind you of an opal. When she laugh
you hear the silver falling of the fountain
of perpetual youth when she sings you re
member the SIRENS when she walks yol
follow"
"Thank you said the Captain, reassured
Miss Laura, your cousin has been takini
your picture"
"Why didn't you tell me was sitting tina
might have called In 'prunes and prisms
to my aid p she answered, just on the poin
of leaving the room.
"'When she walks you follow" quote,
the Captain, looking back at Rose with
laugh as he turned away to join Laura in til
drawing room.
"Do you mean to humor this stupidity O
Mrs. Bryants ?" he asked, taking his seat be
side her.
81 think not"
"The poor Bryant, what will become q
her--and all her cakes and ale ?"
"0h, the others are going"
sand why not yourself? The moo