Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-24


it away, he has no sure trust in the
willlul, bewitching girl. When he
thinks Of the future; Fanny as his
wife and the mistress Of his home;
an underlined, shifting fear is apt to
come between John and his certainty
of happiness, fear near akin to that
he has felt among the treacherous
quicksands further east when he has
been seeking anchorage.
He answers, almost solemnly: "Am
| threatening, darling? Then | don't
mean it. mean warning, not threat
ening. You see, haven't got SO ma
ny words to fit my meaning to, as such
a clever little lass as you, Fanny. All
| mean is, want to put it clear to
you that when you're, maybe, meaning
no harm, only little teasing in play,
you're playing with feelings a man
can't keep under; it's as if the devil
was let loose in me, l know. You
don't think men murder one another
of set purpose, do you, Fanny, when
they're themselves ?"
Fanny turns white and retreats still
farther from the cliffs edge; then she
gives little forced laugh.
II must say, John. y'u've got
strange notions of pleasant talk; first
you scold me till cry, and then you
speak about murder. Now | must 90
home, and if you can't trust ne to 90
by the beach, I'll take the long way
over the cliffs. Are You satisfied now,
sir ?"
Satisfied John is radiant at such
unexpected sweet submission for the
road on ahead over the cliffs is Just
two miles round for Fanny, and when
they began to quarrel she Iad said
nothing should induce her to 90 home
unless she went by the beach, where,
as John knew, Capt. StandiSt and bis
friend are pacing up and down in front
Of the little bay. e You little duck r
he says, and John offers lp good
deal OF atOnement in word and act,
which Fanny receives with many
smiles and bushes, and at last he lets
her 60.
why not 90 by the lane ?" he
asks.
Fanny mods. al vas Just thinking
So she says, and she looks back over
her shoulder and smiles like an angel.
John thinks.
But the smile fades out Of her face
more quickly than the rose color from
those long ribbon-like cloud lines
By the time she reaches the end of the
rock path her forehead is dinted with
a frown.
The path ends its shelf ike course
along the cliff, and slopes down to the
left IL steep descent to the road
leading to the beach: on the right it
mounts as steeply to the upper part
Of the village. A lane with high
hedges fringed with plumy fronds of
ladytern, and nearer the ground, rarer,
more minute kinds nestle like green
tassclS in the chinks of Ioosc-piled
masses Of stone hidden by long, satin
strips Of hart's tongue
Fanny stands frowniug still where
the three ways meet. She is think
ing about John.
Il don't believe he thinks half en-
ough about me; he wouldn't dare to
be so masterful if he didr And
then for a good intention repented
of seldom gets a second hearing,
Fanny tells herself she is an idiot
d" A nice slave | shall be when | am
married If | am never to look at any
one or speak to any one but him.
What is the use of good looks if they
are all to be hidden out of sight p
and she hardens herself in this one
idea of her own beauty, and the am
cunt of admiration due to it.
She stands still, looking wIstlulIy
down the steep lane to t h e beach
A sound Of voices comes up to her, {
hearty laugh, and then some words
which bring a blush to her check
a blush of pleasure; her lips part
and her head is thrown back 8aucily
as two gentlemen come in sight, saun
tering up the path.
BY Joye! this is lucky"
Captain StandiSh takes his cigar
out of his mouth, and says, "GooC
evening"
He is a tall fair youth, with pal,
hair and eyes; there is washed
out look about him. Mr.. Russell ha:
a more manly aspect; he is short an(
thickset, something of the bull-terrie
breed.
Fanny is in such autter of vanit,
and delight, that she hardly know
what is said to her, or what she an
+, swers. She has quite forgotten be
: intention of going straight home, AM
i, stands listening and laughing Will
; the Captain talks.