The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-09

nieasanter," he said, opening the little gate
and coming W to us. Miss Bennett, |
hope you are pleased with your first after
noon here. How are your aunt and cousin,
Miss Riieys Ihave not seen them to-day"
"Oh, they are out in the Kitchen" said
Belle, raising her smiling blue eyes to his
"Isn't it lovely here at this hour, Mr..
Brooks? Every day after tea | come here
to watch for the evening-star. See, there
it is now, just over those clouds. Isn't
Venus beautiful?"
Mr. Brooks seemed to think that Venus
aoas beautiful, and sitting down by us he
appeared quite ready to join in Bellies live
ly chatter and quick repartees. But it oc-
| Cured to me that he was not quite so sus-
ceptible as Belle thought.
a few belated bees were humming
around the white clover.
"Some of Sarah's honey-bees," said.
| At that moment Sarah herself came
| through the narrow entry and sat down
among us with her knitting She was a
quiet bit of background for Bellies bril-
liancy; only when any of us said anything
| witty She laughed as if she enjoyed it.
| The sun went down, and the moonlight
came instead, shining white on the silver
elms and willows.
Il am going" said Mr. Brooks, and he
rose. "What do you say to ride on horse
back tomorrow, young ladies? Don't
you think your cousins would like it,
| Sarah?"
"Yes, indeed" she said; "and it is such
| pleasant road to the cliff. Belle has not
seen the cliff yet"
"Very WE'LL he replied; 81 know your
| two horses are good under the saddle, and
| will bring my Brownie for the third.
| Y0u had better take Brownie, Sarah; he
is used to you And now | really must
hasten away. Good night ALL
And off he went. We prepared to go
| into the house.
"He did not give me time to answer"
said Sarah, in her quiet way; "but have
| no idea that 1 shall be able to go with you
tomorrow And you shall ride Brownie,
Belle he is Just the horse for you"
YOU'RE a good, amiable little thing,
Cousin SADIE :" exclaimed Belle, ioyously
"That is Just what | wanted Oh, how |
shall enjoy riding with my handsome
COrydOn! Promise me not to interfere,
Phene."
Sarah gathered up her work silently, and
went into the keeping-room WHERE her
mother sat. But Belle and | " ent up into
our own room, took down our hair. and
had a comfortable talk,
&c your COUSIN Sarah, Belle" | said,
she 7dch a harmonious person; she
uon If o.. any ones feelings"
~ no, of course not" said Belle; ''Sa-
RAJ. IS a good little thing and have quite
, an affection for her. But she is gray. Do
Won know what | mean? Some people
Seem gray all the way tlirOugh--all Il mono
tone on a minor key--nO warmth, no sparkle
in them; nothing to take hold Of Sarah
| Is that way | never think about Sarah
there isn't any thing to think about in
her."
| And Belle, with her shining blue eyes,
and hair ripping in waves all down her
shoulders, sprang up and danced about the
room like bewitched Undine.
81 feel So full of lifel" she exclaimed,
| stopping brcathles her cheeks rosy-red.
And I'm tired, dear; I'm going to bed"
| replied, feeling more and more the after
fatigue of travelling.
The next day was lovely, but felt still
tired and had headache. 1t seemed to
me that to ride on strange horse that
day would be intolcrable- and | told
Belle would stay at home If she did not
mind
"No, dear, l don't mind" she said gay
w. "Corydon and can have good time
all by ourselves"
COrrydon came riding up to the gate
presently, leading lady's horse by the
bride, and Belle ran out to greet him, then
flew up stairs to put on her pretty blue
riding habit.
"But where are the other horses?' asked
Mr.. Brooks, looking surprised.
ooh! Sarah and | are not going" l
said "She has to watch the bees, and |
am not well enough to ride to-day, so L
shall keep her company"
Mr. Brooks actually bit his lips, and
looked gloomy.
"Why, Phene Bennett" / thought to
myself have you made a conquest al
readyg 1t can't be the man is disappoint-
ed because | am not going" In the in
slant another idea struck me, and l looked
around for Sarah, but she was up stairs
making beds She came to the window
when Belle was ready to mount. Mr..
Brooks scarcely noticed her, but assisted
Belle with the greatest care, paid her
compliment on the way she held the reins
in her tiny, gauntleted hands, and then
away they rode, Bellies merry laugh float
ing back on the air.
| | went up to our room and tried to read
| n little, but the scent of roses and of new
| ly-cut hay stole through the window, and
| the Diut-DfGuS anu GObllS WtIc SlHGlnS, bO
| that / was soon glad to lay down my book,
for it was better to be quiet there and re
ceive rest into my soul heard the bees
humming and buzzing among the flowers,
and | wondered if Sarah was watching
them.
q believe I will go down and study
into the nature of gray" thought, sud-
denly, and on the impulse went.
| " You'll find her riUht ont nv the hack
door, under the apple-tree," said Aunt En-,
when | inquired after Sarah.
So went out exploring. / can fairly
see it now, that fine old yard with its row
of fruit trees, and the little garden in the
corner. Under the trees stood the hives,
ten in row, with the bees coming and
going, full of business and excitement
And near by sat Sarah with her work in
her hand, in her quiet, cOntented way,
seeming a natural part of the sunny morn
ing, the bees 'humming and the sweet air.
"TO begin wth," / thought to myself
"you remind me Of Isaak Walton and his
book, where he describes the meek who
inherit the earth. You are inheriting this
morning. So far gray is good"
"An end of this bench is all have to
offer you, Miss Bennett" said Sarah but
won't you sit DOWN."
DOH Cdll me MISS DcHiietC-l III
Phene,"I entreated. Yes, I'll come there
in minute; but l want to look ut the
garden first"
For delight in old-Gshioned gardens
and this was just after my own heart The
beds had old fashioned pinks for borders
that double kind that fall apart, too fra
, grant to live. Gillyfowers double and
sweet, poppies like great quadrupled roses
amaranths and "bottles," marigolds and
peonies; sweet peas and larkspurs there
, were in plenty, and bed of mignonnette
, Early asters were in bloom, and the
, chrysanthemums were just beginning to
bud. Then there was Il useful bed, al