Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-03-06
MISS CARRINCTON.

m13tt CAhh1NC1ONs
The girl Elizabeth Darlington sat
alone in quiet corner of the parlor-a
grave creature, with great shy, brown
eyes, and a wonderful breadth of fore
head, Outside there was merry cho-
rus of voices, and peeping through the
half-closed shutters, she could see a
laughing party at croquet, the girls
moving about like pretty blossoms, in
bright sashes and bows-the gentlemen,
in their soberer costumes, forming a
suitable contrast in the picture. Be-
yond them, the shrubbery stood up,
glossy and green, showing here and
there, like a piece of rare embroidery, a
network of climbing roses and honey
suckles.
There was nothing sad or sombre IN
the whole scene, and thinking this, with
little sigh, she drew further back in
joined them. In her gray dress, float
ing about her like cloud, she would
have been out of place-a shadow upon
the roses and lilies.
! [ don't mean to convey the idea for
moment that the heroine OF my sketch
was morbid or over-sentimental but
she was one of those women in life who
cannot be butterflies. because, from the
start, Nature intended them for queens.
| She could not talk nonsense by the
hour; but she could say arch, witty
things, and give an opinion on any sub
ject that struck right to the heart of it.
[ think because she was sharp, and
more gwen to books than to dressing
and flirting, that the gentlemen stood
in awe of her; while the girls kept
aloof, because they could not under
stand her. Where other girls names
were abbreviated into pet names, she
was always Miss Darlington. No ole
called her Lizzie, or Lib. or at bes1
anything beyond stately Elizabeth.
This particular morning of which [
write, all these thoughts came home to
her, as she sat alone in the cool, wide
room, and listened to the merry sounds
from without AS a general thing it
did not trouble her as she stood so by
| herself. What did she care for these
| shallow men-these brainless, thought
less women2 But this morning, she
knew well enough that one, at least,
among the players was not shallow, but
a true, brave, man, earnest and strong,
as some men are-gentle and good, as
are some women. @i=a ss
But-and here she sighed-the sill
est girl, with the prettiest face, held
| him captive, leading him as she pleased
in her fiowery chains. He gathered
blossoms when the game was through,
and stood beneath a trellis of roses
and banded light gay words with her.
To her weakness, he seemed only to
show weakness. The lion strength was
hidden or gone. All why did such
men invariably seek such woman?
With this question, Elizabeth turned
to the open book upon her lap. It was
that rare volume which has charmed
and blessed so many hearts, "On the
Heights" She had dreamed over it
for many weeks, and now it was as
fresh and sweet to her as ever. As she
read step sounded in the hall. The
blood qulckened in her veins, and a
bright flush came to her cheeks. All !
| how soon she had learned RoberG Bur
leigh's step how quickly she could
tell it as it sounded away down the
gravel paths! Was Jennie Locke, IN
all her soft foolishness, half so foolish
as she? And now spray of beiaria
fell upon her book-pale scarlet, cool
and waxen. What did he mean? Did
he think she was like that cold, mean
ingless thing, without warmth or fra
GRANGE? She was not quiet and cool
now; her eyes flashed, and upon her
the impulse was strong to grind the
spray to powder In her hands. AS wise
as she was, this girl did not know what
this feeling meant, or how the hand
some, grave man watching her, read
her flushed face and frightened eye as
we read the pages of a primer. Only
he read them reverently-not lightly
"You do not like the flowers ~ he
said, seating himself near her.
"All flowers are beautiful, - she an
swered, without looking at him.
"But these are SO cool and pure,
like little drops of scarlet snow; in fact,
like he hesitated.
"Like me, thank you, [ am like
snow" i d
& He smiled to himself. She did not
look like it, certainly, with her pink
cheeks and flashing eyes.
"Snow above, volcanic fires below, "
he said, Il understand you better
than you think"
"I suppose you judge me by other
women; men of your type usually say
that we are all alike 1 ..a
=" Men of my type-will you tell me
what that type is % 4' 7s
q Excuse me, [ have not made it a
study" ..-.
Just then Jennie Locke came dancing
through the hall, calling Mr. Burleigh.
He went out to meet her, and as he
stood speaking to her, through the
hall open door he saw Miss Darlington
stand with the beiaria- blossoms in. hor
hand. They were like coral in her
white fingers, and, without knowing
whose eyes were upon her, she pressed
them against her cheek, then tossed
them lightly upon the carpet, and with
her book turned and left the room. a5a
''Why, what makes Miss Darlington
look so beautiful?" murmured Miss
Locke, as she crossed the hall. 900 ~
Because she IS 6ca2uituI, answered
Mr.. Burleigh, turning back to the par
lor to look for the spray of bejaria.
| The afternoon following there was q