Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-01-06
EGLANTINE'S HERO.
BY ADDIE.

The silvery moonbeams came
stealing through the trees, and melt
ed into silver sheen on the surface
of the ripping water. The center
of the lake was sheet of heaVlng
silver, while near the shore two
dropping willows bent to kiss the
images reflected III the clear waters.
Out from the shadows little boat
came gliding into the bright moon
light, in it were two young girls
who seemed to be dreaming so ST.
lent were they, and the little shell
left to its own guidance went float
ing along with the current. One
was sitting in the stern of the boat,
her dainty hand trailing through
the ripping water, and her fuce up
turned to the moon, whose mellow
beams fell upon its contour. Her
hair rippled back from low sweet
brow in masses of golden sheen, her
great brown eyes looked out from
a fringe of jet lashes beneath brows
of the same dark hue; the proud
pink mouth gave the only rose tint
to her face; the rest was white,
creamy, velvety. a soft white
dress of thick material hung in
graceful folds about her perfect
figure; among the folds on her bo-
som rested a white lily, and in her
golden hair was a fragrant bud
throwing still another shade of
whiteness on the pure lily face. OPP
posite her, with both hands filled
with dewy lilies, was little figure
with a regal head crowned by a
snowy cloud, which half hid and yet
could not conceal the sweet face and
clustering satin-black hair. Her
eyes were n liquid gray, with dane
ing lights and shades in their limpid
depths, fringed by thick, bright
lashes; mouth like a bow OF coral
and n check where rose had obtain
ed the mastery; pillows of rosy dra'
perry filled all of her part of the
boat. She glanced for "a moment al
the silent figure opposite, and then
said soft and low:
"'we sat in the hay when the moon wa
bright,
And our talk was the talk in which girl
delight;
Who he should be who some far of nigh
Should give us the kiss OF kisses"
'Eglantine, we don't sit in the
hay, but we are gliding over th'
water, much nicer than sitting OH 1
hay mound, or being up in that stu
pid dancing hall whirling arOuuC
with Tom, Dick and Harry in thu
waltz or galop. Faugh, how horri
BILE! Now that we are here, jus
tell me your idea of what here
should be-"
Byzantine Camethers started
slightly.
8My hero, LeUie, why do wish Il
llnow?"
"Oh, because | want TO talk; yol
SIT there as though You were solv
ing the mOlnentous problem wit
regard TO the children in the moon
"Come, tell me quickly" erie,
Leuie, with pretty imperiOusness.-
Elantine thought moment AM
then said:
'.He must be tall, with dark eye;
black hair and mOustache, statel
mien, brave, true, loyal, and in a
a perfect gentleman"
"Just my idea exactly, Eglantiu'
now there are two gentlemen her
who correspond TO that description
Hike both, but one better than til
other. One is Col. Roy VintOn, Ii
other Ralf Redmayne."
Eglantine's pure face 1ushe
slightly as she heard those words.
!Leuie," she said playfully, "te
me your hero's name; for you mu
have one selected; girls of your as
generally do, come, whisper h
name"
Leuie Rossiteur laughed gaily
she replied:
"Girls of my age generally do, e.
How many years are you older thu
l? just one year, four months al
ten days according to my accouI
You must repay confidence wi
confidence, lady Byzantine, cous
mla. III tell YOU, but you must II
repeat it," and Leuie's face gre
still more beautiful as love beaml
in the limpid gray eyes. "Oh, L
lantine, if my love should be in val
if he does not love me l shall die.
love him so, my king, he alone c.
= cause me to trcmble before him,
alone possesses the key of my heart
. 'Leuiey darling, tell me the mar
of this wonderful hero. Do l kno
n him~ and the proud mouth quivC
y y ed with suppressed emotion, and S
U bent slightly forward to hear wh
she seemed to dread.
ellis name is Roy Vinton-"
"Oh p' and a sharp exclamati
burst from Eglantine, who sar
back in her seat, paler than t
drooping lily in her hair.
, 'Why do you express so mu
= surprise, Eglantine?" said Leu
her gray eyes wide open with astC
ishment at her cousins emotion.
81 did not think that you knit
II him well enough to love him." !
" piled Eglantine in a low voice.
" at is true I've not known b