Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-11-07
ssAD0PYBD.' -
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

| OI hNl ItnNUULFU Us
"It's very strange" muttered
Blanche Penroy, slowly weaving
the wreath of scarlet autumn
leaves with which she was decora
ting her board brimmed straw hat
She made a beautiful picture
sitting there all a lone in the mel
low glow and color of the Otobel
woods, the crimson shawl drop
ping from her shoulders, and the
sunshine lighting up her bright
autumn curls with glittering
threads of gold, while upon the
fallen tree trunk that formed her
impromptu seat, lay tiny bunch
of grasses and autumnal flowers.
She was transparently fair, with
purple tangles Of veins in each
waxen temple, and a faint pink
bloom on her cheeks, while her
eyes, large and brown, seemed to
look at you with the grave, ten
der expression of an infant.
eyes, it is very strange" went
on Miss Penroy, blushing within
herself. 81 know so little about
him-I have only known him ten
days-yet when he spoke about
leaving Elm Point last night, it
seemed as if all the sunshine were
going out of the world for me. O,
Blanche ! naughty, naughty little
Blanche!'' she added, leaning for
ward, and apostrophizing the fair
face mirrored in the glen stream
at her feet. SIS it possible that
you've allowed yourself to fall in
love with that tall, black-eyed
young Southerner? Ten days ago
| had never seen him--and now!"
The roses mounted up into her
cheek as she wondered within her.
self whether Mr.. Evering cared
for her.
81 wish l knew" she uttered
aloud.
"Knew what ?" demanded a
calm voice, and Mr.. Gilbert Ever
ing took up the bunch of grasses
on the log, and coolly seated him
self beside her,-a straight, hand
some man, with bailliant dark eyes,
rather irregular features, and a
deep color glowing through his Oh
i've skin.
Blanche demurely looked up at
him--she was not to be taken by
storm thus easily.
"Whether it would rain to-mor-
row, for our picnic, | want to
wear my white India muslin y
"O,-the picnic; / had forgot
ten that when l spoke of leaving
tomorrow. Of course, though,
my presence or absence will make
no great difference"
Blanche was silent. Somehow
that scarlet and brown spotted
maple leaf required great deal
of adjustment in the ribbon of her
hat.
'Blanche-shall 60 or stay"
"Just as you please, Mr.. Ereving,
of course"
"No; Just as sombody else
pleases. Yes or no! And / fore
warn you, the yes means a great
deal"
Chow much does it mean?"
questioned Blanche, half timor-
ously.
"Everything"
"Then you may stay
"My Blanche-my little white
daisy!" he whispered, bending his
stately head over the slender hand
that lay on the autumn leaves.
And Blanch felt that in the
golden stiffness of that October
dell she had turned new page in
the book Of her life!
She was very, very happy, and
all that day she seemed to be walk
ing through the bright mysteries
of dream. But with the morning
came other feelings; alas! that
shadow should always follow sum
shine in this world Of ours.
eI'm not disposed to be unrea-
sonable Blanche" said Gilbert, in
a whisper, as he arranged her
white lace shawl for her, amid the
merry tumult of the picnic
ground "but I do think you've
walled quite often enough with
with that confounded puppy, Blr-