Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-03-28

[FRoM HARrER's MAGAzrSE.1
LAUR R AS LOVERS.
[ooNTINuED.l ]

is very bewtching at times, don't you think
SOP"
"Iknow some one who is always be-
witching'
"Ah who is that ?" very simple.
:" It's great secret of mine"
"Oh, excuse me-
mot at all. I'll tell you-in confidence.
No, III write it on this oak-leaf; the wind
blew ii in on purpose. There" and he
passed her the leafbearing the word Laura
merely, followed by something like Il super
iluous flourish as if he had designed to make
the name alliterative but wavered.
A little spark of delight flashed from Lau-
ra's wide-open eyes.
" Petrarchs Laura, she said, smiling.
81 didn't mention Petrarch; was speak
ing of myself"
"Oh! are you going to this picnic your
self?"
"It is vexed question; what would you
adviser"
A little signal ran up her cheek, plainly
showing what would be too charming too
think Of
"You will find it very agreeable" said
she.
Impossible; shall not find you there. "
+" But you will meet the Mores from the
Cliffs, the Thorpes from the Upper Parish,
the Gilberts from Crane-neck Hill, and l
cant say how many Others"
Positively I'm afraid to encounter so
many strangers without guardian angel.
Can't the cherub go with me?"
"Children are not invited"
" But surely the maids can take charge Of
him."
d" He might give them the slip; why, one
day we went to Cragstowe and left him in
their care, and he went down to sail his brig
in the brook-thcy call it brook, but it's
both deep anil wide; some reapers, happen
ing to pass by, found him making out into
the middle of the stream, where his brig lay
becalmned, the water already up to his
shoulders; and Laura came near losing sight
of her dear boy she added, as that young
desperate administered an emphatic hug,
crying
"The Major, Laura; you forgot the Ma
jor"
"Oh, did I forget the Major?" she said,
the color deepening a shade
"The reapers, you know, only called me
back, but the Major walked right in after
me, with the crutch and all, and caught me
up on one arm just as If were nothing but
fly; but kicked some"
Naughty boy!"
But, Laura, there was the brig in dan
ger; | didn't know he was going back after
| it, and he looked so cross too. And he
wouldn't let me get out of bed the rest of the
day, that was the worst oft; and when you
came you told him you didn't know what you
could do for him, and he said he did, but he
| didn't say What. suppose he wanted you
to sew on button or mend his glove-EIar-
ry always does
"Sapient YOUTH" laughed the Captain,
"won't you wade in the stream again that
may emulate this Major"
"Oh, but you haven't any crutch, said he
An hour later the carriages were on the
way to the picnic.
"Why didn't Captain Laurence ride with
us, Harry!" asked Rose, with some vexa-
tion.
"Laurencc? Oh, he had letters to write
he didn't como.
II hope they'll miscarry, quoth the sweet
Rose.
Late in the afternoon, when Laura went
into the drawing-room with her work, Cap
tain Laurence met her halfway.
"When did you return ?" she queried.
81 haven't been away; had letters to
write, which only the pleasure of escorting
you could indnce me to postpone.
"Thank you. And you have had no
luncheon"
81 beg pardon, twas brought to my room.
Won't you come out on the vernanda and
sit? I've improvised luxurious divan of
piled cushions for you, and the most fra
grant of south winds is ready to fan you if
you won't let me-.
"Do you know" he continued, after they
were agreeably seated, "Tve half mind to
quarrel with this Major of Geordie's. What
business had he to know you before l was
so fortunate?"
"Oh, he is only friend of my aunt's; he
is always coming here more or less, she an
swered, demurely.
so much the worse and in the mean
time you are always walking with him, more
or less, and playing chess with him"
"How do you knoaD that?"
"From Geordie. He challenged me to
contest and declined, whence he inferred
that ! wasn't half so good as his Laura,
which, of course, is II weak expression of a
strong fact; for she used to play lots with
the Major whether she wanted to or not
"Poor Geordie, he tells all he knows, and
a good deal which he imagines."
''rhen you didn't dislike playing with the
Major?"
"Oh, no indeed, we both played so badly
that il was very NICE"
"You are making me very uncomforta-
ble."
"No indeed am 1? How ?"
ats too plain that can never be such
an old friend as this Major; he has stolen
n march on me"
"Yet-" She had il in her heart to say
that old friends were not always the most
valued, but bethought herself in season.
s'Yes, l sec you want an excuse. Pray
don't mind breaking my heart, 'tisn't worth
much"
Nonsense; dare say if you come here
two or three summers aunty will like you as
well as the Major"
" Consoling = and how about aunty's
niece?"
"Oh, the Major is nothing to me, truly;
if you mean that"
That was not precisely what he did mean,
but II was pleasant assurance.
g Then, said he, touching her hand with
his lips, 81 wouldn't be the Major for any
thing But as for coming here two or three
summers, might as well suffer chronic
voyage round Cape Horn"