The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-06-24

into the Gaveston parlor. The large
low rooms were bowers of greenness,
but there was hardly any one present
but Mr.. and Mrs. Gaveston.
"Doctor," said Mrs. Gaveston, "oLr
friends are dancing in the garden
Would you like to join them. You
see they they have quito deserted the
house."
The doctor, drawing an inference
favorable to the garden, assepted, and
followed Mrs. Gaveston along paths
dusky in shIubbery, and haunted by
music and laughter until suddenly they
emerged on lawn, upon which people
were dancing. Giganic oaks, the low
er branches of which were hung with
lights in colored globes, formed col
onade around it. A wealth of green
shaded it. The figures fitting 20 and
fro in the soft light looked elf-like,
and one fairy figure, which Mr. Caves
ton arrested as it fitted by, was so mar
velously beautiful, that Doctor Ruby
replied to the introduction with such
an involuntary gaze and wonder and
admiration that Laura Gaveston turned
her face aside, with smile.
tsDo yeu fancy our idea of dancing
out of doors, this evening, doctor ?'
she said.
6. Indeed do 7" said the doctor it's
as pretty as novel. All the ladies
look lik FAIRIES under these great trees"
"Do you know my. sister Z" asked
Laura.
81 have not the pleasure.
"TheD let me give you an introduc-
ton"
The dress was not azure silk now,
but pure white, with garland of oak
leaves for sash, and the bright brown
hair in massive braids pushed back from
the rosy cheek. The clear cut fea-
lures were as white otherwise as "fresh
broken marble stone," and Marion Ca
weston was the perfection of Wood
nymph.
She was no less beautiful in pink
merino when the doctor called the next
morning, approaching the house as if
he expected to find it vanished like the
gents palace, SO peculiar had been the
effect Of the garden festival, and SO
strongly excited his Imagination. Those
beautiful creatures were fairies these
were the loyeliest woman he had ever
beheld.
"Have you any interest in herbari-
ums doctor ?" asked Marion, as she
idly knotted the silken cord of her
wrapper, with fingers white as milk.
Laura and I have just found two huge
ones we manufactured before we went
to school. 1 had forgotten all about
them, and have been quite interested
in looking them over this morning"
The doctor turned the leaves of the
book, interested, of course, for Marion,s
white wrist supported her graceful head
c,ose be the table where it lay, and
they were soon busy in chatting of
ferns, lastr@e and Polypodies, and dis
cussing the claims and titles OF various
rare flowers which Laura said had been
sent her from Italy while she was quite
a child. The doctor could talk of bo-
tanical specimens as easily as he could
breathe, and the conversation nowise
limited his powers of observation Ma
rion GaVeston was thoroughly beau
-ty. There was not line in her face
or figure that was not glowing with
loneliness, and DIR Ruby found all his
senses entranced 10 her presence
That is why he came SO often to her
home. That is why people. from max
ing interested remarks. soon declared
that they were engaged.
But it was not so: Something kept
Doctor Ruby from asking the girl to
be his wife He sought her continu-
ally-rode with her, walked with her,
turned her music, brought her new
songs; but though he fully intended to
appropriate her, he did not make the
claim.
He knocked lightly at the open door
one afternoon, and receiving no re-
sponse, quietly walked into the silent
parlor to wait until some of the family
appeared. The windows were open,
and the rose vines rustled around them.
A bouquet of brilliant geraniums was
upon the centre.tsble. As he wheeled
ont an arm chair, he knocked from a
what not small portfolio.
"What is this ?" he thought "Who
is the artist2
For numberiess drawings were scat
tered upon the carpet-sweet ideal
faces, flowers, landscapes and, again
again, the handsome and spirited head
of horse. 1t was always the same
drawing. and always in the corner of
the card was the word written "Rick !"
There were light footsteps, the rustic
of drapery in the hall, and Laura and
Marion entered s'4 have found some
body OUT" he said, looking up and
smiling, "I always knew there was
talent in the family"
They looked surprised. Marion came
and looked over his shoulder.
ssOh those things" she said, Ian
.guidly,-"Thcy are Kitty,s; amt they,
Laura ?"
ayes; Kitty Kendrick, a cousin of
ours' Doctor Ruby-mere school girl
drawings"
"But this pony's head is really
striking" persisted the doctor, exam
ing another picture of 'Rick."
"Oh, yes; she has some talent, 1
think.-She is an odd little thing.
Come home next week /; doesn't she,
Marion ?"
81 believe So" answered Marion,
carelessly.
"Is she at school ?" asked the doctor,
still looking ut the pictures therefore
he did not see Marion color little as
she answered, eyes"