The Lincoln County herald., 1871-09-21
DICKS ANSWER


foaming waves brots into sprays Of gilt.
teriug light 10 the EARN summer sun
shine, che great sea spreading FAT away, its
surface only ripplsd BY che soft, delicious
breeze that blew in iandward, and the
mossy, gray rocks, at whose feet the va.
ters murmrcd strange stories Of the lands
thoy had come from, far away, and on
=, whose jagged summit Luc,e Gray was
sitting, an open book lying IN her lap.
She heard . step CRATE on the rough
path leading up the cliff behind her, aud
turned her eyes that way for moment,
to see who the intruder on her quiet
might be-
II was Dick Gorham. A little, soft
flush crept up to her cheeks as she saw
who it was.
"You here, Miss Gray 2" cried Dick,
10 his CHEEKY, pleasant way, as he accom-
! plished the ascent Of the cliff II did
: not expect to find any one here, l assure
you. A beautiful prospect. iso't it 2"
sweeping his hand towards the sea as be
spoke.
Very beautiful" she answered "but
) hardly worth climbing the cliff for,
think. 1t takes away ones breath SO to
Chamber over the rocks, and makes one 80
red in the face. can't help laughing to
look at you"
> Poor Dix grew still redder 10 the face
. as he dropped his eyes before her cool
scrutiny, and heard her musical little
laugh Of amusement at his appearance.
"I suppose that it's like most things in
! life" he said, trying to look aud appear
| at ease. 1--WE must work for what we
would enjoy. The pleasures which cost
US most We value most"
"Ah |" Lucie seemed hardly to com
prebend what he was saying She liked
, to tease him 80.
i "You were reading" he said. "What
book was it?"
"This one" she answered, holding up
the book which was laying ia her lap,
and smiling provokjngly.
D IL know that we'll enough; but what
book is it ?-i it's name want to know
: "Oh, that is it, is It ?" she said, laugh
ing 1T is Tcnnyson's Search for the
y Holy Grail.
: "Let me read to you. please" he said,
reaching and taking the book from her
. hand.
Their fingers met. He looked down
earnestly into her face. Her eyes had
' been on the sea but. as If by some kind
Q Of magnetism, she lifted them and met
D his gaze. A soft color suffused her face,
and then hor eyss dropped before his
steady glance.
He s.t down and road IN her from the
n place where he CHANGED to first open the
Q book HIS deep, rich voice fitted the
musical rhythm Of the poets faucies we'll
= and he read on for perhaps an hour
These we're the last words he read ere be
i closed the book -
i "The Queen
q Looked hard upon her lover, he on her,
And each foresaw the dolorous day to be;
] And all talk died, as in grove a song,
Beneath some shadow. Of a bird Of prey;
. Then long silence came upvn the scene,
y And Mordred thought, The time is hard at hand .
i Helst the book slip from his hand upon
\ the mossy rock where he was sitting, and
there was a little time of silence both
g seemed absorbed in their own thoughts.
It Dlok was thinking, not Of the poem be
9 had been reading. but of the woman near
!. He turned, aud their eyes net.
The Queen looked hard upon her
10 lover, ho on her. quoted Lucie. Are
e you thiuking Of a 'dolorous time to be,
g Sir Galahad or shall | call you PiIleas -
which ?"
Gall me Dick-that's . good enough
nsme," be answered "or, If you'll be
Queen, I'll be Lancelot"
r Dick blushed at bis boldoess before
= the words had loft his lips.
but he was the Queens lover" said
Lucio. as though at loss to compre hend
Why Dick should wish to bs Lanoelot II
she was the Queen.
Q II know that" answered Dick "aud
r doesn't tho comparison hold good il I'm
, your lover?"
, Lncie turned away her eyes from his
face, with a strange Autter at her heart.
Was he going to propose? She knew he
wss. And she knew, too, that she loved
him; but she liked to tease him too we'll
10 tell him so just then.
II do love you. Luoie." Dick said,
more bold, now that he had gone 90 far
"You must have seen it this long time,
though havo not said anything to you
about it before"
"Are you talking to me in the charao.
ter of Laucelot, imagining me to be the
Queen p asked Lucie. STOPPING to pick
up tho book, 10 order that she might
hide her rosy face.
4 "No," answered Dick, earnestly "I'm
talking to you in my own character -as
Dick Gorham-and I wish you would
answer me seriously, and tell NE whether
you love me or not
Lucie was silent fos some time. Dick
began to think she had not heard him !;
or wss she questioning her heart, to find
out whether che loved him? A. last
she spoke.
~ think I like the Holy Grail better
than anything Of Tennyson's | have ever