Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-09-13

friend, who e=cl9imad, suddenly: "There
is Banks / want 10 speak to him :" and
we perceived q talllsh man in the dis
tance, whose only remarkable feature
was wide-awake. o. another occasion.
a young lady was with us, aud she said,
with a blush and a simper; "Ilere Is Mr..
Banks - "a somebody passed rapidly and
raised his hat.
ole is nothing particular, after ALI"
said my wife, glancing back.
ooh, he is charming Don't you
know Mr.. Banks 2" said the young lady.
One day, however, when we were.nea
his house. we faw man working , the
garden. My wife said, impul-ivcly:'
''There is the gardener ] must ask
him for BIT Of that curious FERN"
She started across the road, and ! fol-
lowed hulnbiy, as am always compelled
to do. hear her make her requests in
her most gracious and bland manner; and
see the gardener turn and approach the
railing.
'You have suc! a lovely garden. II
does YOU so much honor" says she,
while examine the man.
"Will YOU walk In and look nj il, md
make choice Of any specimens you ianey!'
ne said politely and neryously, and
with slight impedirnent in his speech.
lie went toward n small gate leading
into a shrubbery at the bottom Of the gar
den, my wife skirtinv the railing in the
same direction, and / followed in a
chucklirg " Now we shall know Banks.'
"YOu may be sure he is not Mt home,
or we should not be asked in" said
she.
always say that II Ia no wonder | am
/ e.. ie npffnir
| frightfully attractive. It is quite as
courteous to the gardener rs 1t could
| have been to the euvilDle Banks himself.
$50 much obliged to you. This is quite
a paradise" she says, passing through
the gate held open by the gardener, aud
then adding, carelessly 81 suppose Mr..
Banks Il not at home T.
81 am Mr.. Banks" was the curt reply.
1 bThus nj last, we knew Banks Ny wife
was COZ f'std for mom,n Mt, during
which briel period came to the rescue
with:
"You must excuse our intrusion for
having heard Of your choice iorns, we
could no more resist their attraction than
a moth candies. My wife is the
most resolutc specimen hunter in the
world
"And we have heard so much Of you
and your treasures that we have been dy'
ing to become acquainted with you ever
since we have been here" said that lady
recovering herself. =.
81 intended to do myself the pleasure, "
began Banks, then paused.
ave have hoped and desired so long
that we have anticipated yor," said my
wife, laughing, and venturing to look al
Banks for the first time.
lie was a man of abont forty, or per
haps less, young and yet old looking
with that expression of mingled reserve
sweetuess, and melancholy which womet
call "intefrstlng." He had broad tore
head, wcll-lined either with thought o
care, and deep, expressive gray eyes
They rather like my wiie's, and ] per
ceived that when they glanced at one an
Z other, a sort of understanding, one inlgh
almost say mesmeric sympathy passe'
from one to the other.
We were soon all three engaged in con
versatioU on topics Of mutual interest
. Ile had not been overrsied, and was Ger
tainly an agreeable, clever, and IN som
sort scientific man. lie showed us HI
garden which was laid out with gIea
taste, and which he cultivated mainl
himself. Ills fencry, containing ever
specimen Of fern capable OF nearing III
English climate, and rockerY eovere
G with various slecimers of pail7ul'i
,. plants, mosses, aud uuhens thai mu'
have caused him years ol labor 20 eotiee
and make flourish. But wnut lltnseh ~
d wife aud me most, spit, Of our sclehll u
. mochvities, was "a dell outside the gaiue
which held Il rustic seat, and thrOHe
which a tiny riyulet ran. Here was eYel
Il IartefrnarE aUfsInU la
ishes upou thcunPrateful man, ana eve
IT Kid ttit sipgs I'm Erpmud's air. Crrml
yrrc v'sinc, for wn'ch vi. fuhs g.
re- eu-eI hIns,ifh saying tlHt &c hnd g
INTO inc hYhit of .trewin@ them IN "inu
IS and CONTINUED al tle yelr round.
"Thc Nightingale fvpfs me som
IA times. - he said, "anl some of the bir
are quite tame"
or A. if in proof Of his assertions,a thru
burst into song 30 rear us that turn
in surprise, and saw the bird 80 cio
Of that could have caught 1t. was
fact. about to make the attempt, b
Banks arrested me, saying, qnletlyi
81 never mOlest them, and nave ca
-. Gated Flush to respect their privileges.
. lie pointed TO n shaggy terrier lolo
Ing close at his heels.
"That was Mrs. Brownlng's dog, 81
-, nv wife, who was n devoted lover u u
en- great poeless. . 90
~ him. Mrs. Browning understood ina
~ dor was truly ones fastest iilend'
,m- r Flush, like hers, has
,u " watched within curtained room,
a., Il here no sunhenms break the gloom
- found the sick and dreary.
~ Al tho sound of his name, Flush spra
we upon his master and licked his ha
ms. whilst | remarked that Mrs. Browning
hex letters to Mr.. Wedgewood cOncern
OF Flush were almost more delightful
us earnest than her poem. .
ms As we could not remain in TINS
by chanted land forever, ge prepared to LEI
in. h NV wife's hands, and arms ev
Ne we're filled with Horticultural treasures,
icL that She might easily have bowed heri
ven oil but shake hands she woulci ana Z
and SO We all parted more as hlends u
ics We expected a visit from Banks
orr nevt dnv-at least my vile Gid-hut
ksl we're disappointed. The week passed
he had not come.
Your fascinations have failed
ius. once" | say.
ows {" shall send him that lycopodiuu
gely was asking about, and then he II
and come" she replies.
,rn " We will know Banks y l cry,
picicusly. ...
in The iycop0dium went, and mote
thanks was returned still be dld
,llv. call. But he waylaid us as we az
liar passed his hOuse-we were always =
ing his house-and graciously ackh'
wife edged the gift. Down came quleh'
be- tering, unexpected April shower, ana
rself had DO umbIella. Politeness coinp'
her him to offer shelter, ana we went ih''
liar house. ,.,..,,s,
Han Ranks -" / say. when we are happily
no waved IN surveying his small apart
ally. and vaunting our own Flush was al
! re- side.
lie looks inquisitive, my wife repro
vial fnl. for she knows me. aud expects 81
thing disagreeable but continue
s.You will not come to the noun
and so the mountain has forced itstii
-ious you. Nj wife thinks you are the
~. nerson worth knowing in sttton,
noon woman.like, she has made your acqu
-ited, ance."
was tered something about 100 much hoI
II on know ~ WIG louh'u .o,,,,,v and
n in VIII you WIZ g, 80, no,tiSur.
Hi'n have nave many pursuits in common, an
lntry have some thlngs 'nIY ~. n'"y and hav,
cause even a msriiagesble daughter"
He smiled, and his smile was WIN
. into | was conscious of being better dle
ent. :" even better looking, but could not