Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-03-20
A Sprig Of Cedar.

Jos iah Mildmarch rode on very moodlly
Miss Cora Richmond very contentedly
with gleam of mischief sparkling in the
corners of her eyes, but quite silent.
The way led through the prettiest forest
paths, deadened with new fallen leaves that
still showed chrome and crimson sparks
amidst the prevailing ember colors. Bright
coOred branches OF birch and gum and
beech met over their heads, and the great
oaks made another arch higher up. All
/ sorts of vague, delicious forest sounds
deepened the forest silence. They might
even have heard the woodpecker " tapping
the hollow beech tree, if their thoughts
had been calm enough to let them catch
that small, melodlOus stroke; and now and
then the fresh autumn wind made its way
through tree and underground, painting a
richer crimson l. Miss RIchm0nd's brunette
cheek.
Yet even with these surroundings to
provoke conversation, there was no word
between them for long time Presently,
half forgetting her human companion, Miss
Richmond leaned forward with little
impulsive exclamation, aud patted her
horses neck, and set her sharp white teeth,
and gave him dainty pinch. She looked as
if she would have liked to kiss him as well,
but reirained from that and then she
b,ushed little at herself, saying, apollo
getically, to Captain Josiah.
' You see he is such a darling "
The captains expression grew slightly
sarcastic.
You number 50 many darlings among
your acquaintance said he, " the term
ceases to be discriminative, or even COM
plimentary." This he added with a sort
of bilious tinge on his cheek.
Miss Richmond flushed at once, and
stole glance at him beneath her lashes.
The glance showed handsome, dark thin
face shadowei by black hair, emphasized
By black mustache and heavy brows-a
face made rather naughty by short and
curling lip, but one that promised we'll
enough for generosity and high principle,
and a little too well for high 50 rit. Just
now VI $ Cora noted also look OF pain,
uncoucealed by the more evident express
sion Of sarcasm. A singular little choking
plng caught her 10 her left side at that,
aud again higher up 10 her throat. Its
effect was that she said, again impu.-
stvely,
" | know what you mean, Captain Mid
march. You mean Charley Graham.
The tone OF these words was almost that
of apology. But her eyes flashed rebel
lious y u moment after, and sie went on.
hardly. And suppose did call him
darling? He is 4 darling. 0aIy think Of
h eye. :"
- b all means, think of his eyes, said
Captain Midmarch But let Us only
thluk OF them. Surely there are more
entertaining themes for conversation"
" And such nose pure Greek cried
VI 5 Cora, with determined spirit and
rising enthusiasm ' And such hair
ambros al cur's. if curIs were ever ambro-
SiaI ! declare ] eau1o avrO,s him the
other evening leaning in the door way
looking at the sunset his arms were
crossed on his breast, and his chin was
down-so and the red flush from the west
euveIoped him like a glory, aud he looked
yes, he did look-like an archangel
And told him so
" You told him 50 " said Captain
Mddmarch. in very peculiar tone, that
was not exactly interrogation, nor aston
ishment, nor dismay, nor repr Oof but
discreet mixture Of them all.
o. Yes | tod him -. ami then he smiled
divinely, aud looked more like an archan-
gel than ever"
Captain VI dmlrch's horse gave a spring
to one side and wrathfuI snort, wlicd
would have been quite unaceounltbIe TO
one who had not witnessed the sudden sting
OF the cruel rowel Not a word did he say,
however, ami Miss Richmond continued,
in a tone of half soliloquy,
" On horseback Charley Graham is
simply superb. If you could only have
seen him this afternoon He has gone to
you knew ?-and, poor
fellow. he was obliged to 20 alone"
lie cannot regret the fact more than
do, said Captain Mildmarch, with extreme
Politeness.
g Nor than l, said Miss Richmond,
cheerfully. lie IS always in a good hn
NOR. ana that Is 80 unusual
What a pity he did not understand
your appreciation OF his society said |
Captain Mildmarch. In that case he |
would doubtless have thought with you
that it is not good for nun to be alone
.Oh, ne did" cried Miss Cora, turning
innocent wide eyes upon her companion. |
=. But he asked me few moments after |
had said l would 90 with you. Don't you
see "
Il see. Unfortunately was little
too early-for him ;" The accent of the
last two words saved the captains reputa-
tion for courtesy, but they did it hardly. |
and the conversation having reached this
agreeable point, again silence fell.
But being silent. and unprovoked by the |
excitement of reply, self-reproach and |
shame for her unkindness read TO Miss
Cora deserved lesson full of pain. She
knew that Captain Mildmarch loved her
we'll. And she knew also that he was a
man of sense and principle, by no means
to be the less desired because he did not
always receive her teasing in spirit of
meeIness. Whether OF not she loved him
she had not quite yet decided. but she was
half conscious that the question would
have been answered in the affirmative some
time since had not his stocks and bon Is
produced upon her aunt (whose charge she
had been since her orphanage) an impress
sion so unfortunately favorable as to cause
her to revolt against the proposed counec-
ton, because, being desirable. it seemed to
be regarded almost as matter of course.
Charley Graham, certainly magnifceutly
handsome, loved her also, In a Gebonair
fashion that would never cause him much
hurt But Charley's eyes and nose and
his mustache and muscle and
imperial figure, were his sole claims to
He was a good hearted
rattle brain, an absurd Antinous, whose
praises Miss Richmond sometimes took
occasion to sound when the spirit of con-
tradiction was especially strong within. So
she communed with herself as they slowly |