Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-09-10

their ease, hearing nothing but the soft,
continuous flowing Of brooks, the hum Of
insects, and the gentle tones Of the wind
through the leaves-only these and the
singing Of birds, and the lowing Of the
cows in the pasture. and the Growing Of the
cocks a. they called to each other from the
distant farm. yards.
My father had been from home, aud
this was, perhaps, the chief reason Why
was so glad when Miss Young would talk
to me in this strain. Besides these ladies',
there was Miss Jervis, a niece of Mrs.
Moore, and the belle of the ueighborhood
"a beautiful girl, with rolling waves of
fair hair, splendid in azure silk that
changed to silver, and a great cape of
white velvet with dropping buttons Of car.
buncle-a superb woman-a witty, gra.
cious woman--a woman that turned all
hearts, yet kept herself cold as ice.
How dislikcd her, this woman, with
all the fascination of manner, the sweetest
smile, aud softest speech, and still without
a heart! Oh l didn't know her then,
Madeline Jervis. Without a heart p
she was all heart, and that was the reason
why she seemed so cold and unfeeliug
Her heart was rreoccupied, filled, inhabited
She could not help being beautiful, fascin
ating. queenly; but she could not open the
door Of her heart, for its owner had gcne
away-neither did she wish any body to
enter till he returned; she knew that
some time he would come, and this made
her cheerful, happy-and still, Seemingly
cold. l said I dislikcd her, snd' 90 Ibid !;
but as l grew able to join them .ine ther
rides, walks, and moonlight excutsipns on
the shore, strange fascination crept over
me, and I was never happier than when
walking by her side, hearing her talk in
that racy. piq uant manner so becoming to
her-the peculiar light in her large, mel
ancholy hazel eyes-eyes full Of lustre-
the soft. dark, golden skin-the family
impinged chcck-the scarlet lip, the
whole coloring Of the face; and then
carelessness about her-the grace, the
abandon of little child.
/ remember, one evening, tho sunset
light was so low upon the sea that it left
nothing there but great golden highway.
Miss Jervis proposed a stroll by the waters
edge. Lucy brought my cloak, and Miss
Jervis let Mr.. Weston wrap her shawl
close about her, and they walked on few
steps in advance, Mr.. Weston talking in a
low earnest strain, while it seemed to me
Miss Jcrvis grew co!dcr-nore fearfully
beautiful. The moonbeams that danced
upon the waves leaped up aud sparkled on
her dress and in her hair; but to all his
words of passionate entreaty, that was
sure from his manner he was utteriny, she
said nothing; his words only reached her
ear-they could not touch her heart. At
length she made gesture of impatience,
and came and seated herself on the wooden
seat where Miss Young. Lily. and had
ensconced ourselves, while Mr.. Weston
went striding up and down before us
sometimes stopping and looking down upon
the white hands folded in her lap-almost
as much in his silence as in another mans
speech; still, she did not notice it. Her
manner, full of an airy sparkle, as though
she lived in some buoyaut atmosphere,
and still it seemed to me an effort, as
though she would have much preferred sit
ting there on the sands and dreaming Of
something long ago Why I thought this
then hardly know-it was long afterward
that learned the truth, and knew what
gave the far.away look in those unfathomcd
eyes.
1t was the week that was going home.
DR.. Rhodes had been there. and given his
consent; besides, the winter was coming
on, and I longed so much to see the old
rooms. Mr.. Weston hal been talking Of
going to raris-Miss Jcrvis was sitting
before the piano, dallyiDg with the keys.
Some measure was singing in her memory
some old, sweet tune she seemed to
hear-some words, once spoken, resounded
again.
The light was soft, and softer in the
room-the air was like the suspended
bloom Of plum-a wind came wandering
in, heavy with the breath Of flowers. and
from the fairy fingers trilled ont a faint,
bewitching melody, that was little more
than the murmuring air itself. A silver
cord might shake so in the wnd-a bell
might prolong its vibrant undulation. tone
after tone having pealed out in joy.bells,
or for midnight chimes-the faint waves
rustic so along the shore-a honeyed,
doubtful music; but a soul upbuoyed its
passion. Was it some chorus rising out
Of the sparkling water?-the echo Of a
song sung by the nymphs who live in
coral caves !-or was It but the pining Of
heart for other days? Whatever it was,
T could not help folding nv arms about the
singer; and as 1 pressed my lips to hers,
l felt the tears rolling over the white face
and falling on the ivory keys. .
"Have I troubled you Miss Jervis !!
Indeed, am very sorry; | had no thought
you could be so unhappy" and drew
back.
You have not troubled me, child"
She put her hands on either side my face
while her kisses crowded TO my lips. Then
turning her dark eve full upon ME. she
said; "Do you believe in presentime"ss,
0live" !"