Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-01
WHAT n!

For dream Of the din II Dorado.
A world 10 iRhabit have we.
THIRTK-FIVE AND NEVER AZ
LOVE.
Lima Lee was pretty, blus-eyed
hoyden. From the time she was
large enough to climb fence or
ride q horse she had been = sort OF
speculative horror 10 old ladies'
who wondered "What she would
come to'-and q warning 10 little
girls; though these same glrls found
her full of infinite charms, and
could never discover that she broke
her neck, or in auywise met their
anxious mothers predictions. And
these very old ladies would catch
their breath, as ii pleasant broeze
had sInOte their faces, when she
chanced TO cross their path, and lind
themselves. all unconsciously, look
ing through the bright medium OF
her SAMMY presence, back 70 the hap
py days when they were young
There are some people who seem TO
| cast sunbeams instead of shadow
! Elma Lee was such. She was 4 di-
rect refutation OF the aphorism,
| circumstances make the mGH:"
when, considering the atmosphere
/ Of the girls home, the sunshine OF
her temperament made her posi-
tire anomaly. II was an old home
stead, built of dark, rough stone; of
/ ancient and solemn architectural de-
sign; standing in perpetual twilight,
| nader the forest trees that formed q
grove about it. The family. " nh
the exception OF the servants, con-
/ sisted simply of Miss SOphrOnia and
her niece, Elma. They were the
| sole remaining sciOus OF the ancient
stock. RumOr, or tradition, said
/ that Miss Sophronia had been dis
! appointed in love. Fr0R this same
source came the assertion that she
I had been handsome. The first, EimR
| admitted 10 herself, might have
I foundation, as disappOintments are
said to be embittering, and she had
| palpable evidence of at least the
result; but the latter she voted a.
| too egregiOus 20 admit sf consider
| atiOn. Ever since she could remem-
Der her aunt, that lady had been Ia
| boring under what she termed "con-
cern Of mind and religious conVic-
/ tiOns, and she seemed 10 consider
| that her whole life's mark was To-
cused and centered in bringing her
niece into a like frame.
Our story centers in the after
noon of Fourth of July. Down
in the village was all the stir and
paraphernalia of the day. Flags
were Haunting in the drowsy breeze,
4 y -
parading, and the air was startled
from its usual quiet by 6re-erack-
ers, pistols, and at digRifled inter-
walls, the boom of an ancient, rusty
! cannon. Elma had stood all the
morning at the gate, listening 10 the
distant jubilee. When n little girl,
she had always spent the whole hol-
iday..on the village green; but now
she was undeniably q Young lady,
and, as her aunt Sophronia SAID, was
more than that-was Lee; coBse-
quently was forced 10 be proper.-
Not even one buggy had passed that
way; she had had her morning ut
terlv alone. Now the afternoon
was wearing well aw sy, and gSTe
no better prOnise.
Elma Lee was the unQuestioned
belle of the village, and ali the couR-
try round. She.had alreadv refused
half dozen eligible offers, and even
grave, naughty Ralph Hartford had
been known to show her attention
"A man full thirty-fiVe. cold, proud
and wealthy, and who had Travelled
half the world over. Elma, in con-
sideration OF all this WAS growing
! piqued at this new neglect-a h0li-
| day quite slone-When 3 busgy
came slowly down the road.
The afternoon sunlight gliBted on
the foliage of the Wide-sprezdiHg
trees, and slid of into concentrated
brightness in the road; the girl, con
! sequently, was quite in the shadow.
The gentleman aligbted, tied his
horse, and stood within the gate,
quite beside her, before he discov-
cred her. For all bis impeFturba-
| bic self-possession, he gave the least
/ palpable start. The blue eyes dis
covered it with little fash, and IS
| she went up TO the house for her
| hat, the wicked, cOquettish thought
of a fiirt was conceived in the giri's
heart. "They say he is invincible.
I Thirty-tiye and was never III love
| 1t is time he was"
! She entered the dark aud solemn
| hall trilling gay song. Miss So
! phronia was sitting there, in her
| usual stately dignity.
"You always singing she said,
querulously.
Il can't help it Aunt SOphrOIlia,
am so perfectly hsppy,' said the
girl, very demurely.
I Tho lodi oraa1.l
That is the surest evidence you
should he praying. If you could
/ only realize your situation
! The words were still ringing in
/ Elma's ears when Ralph Hartford
/ helped her into The buggy, and then
took his seat beside her. Her lips
/ parted in = little smile at the situa-
/ tiOn. They rode the remainder of
! the afternoon: and in that ride Elma
/ Lee did what she had never done
/ befOre-sOught 10 win heart for
the fun of casting il away. Many
heart had been laid = willing hOl-
( OcaustSpn the altar OF her youth and
beauty. but they had always been
, utterly yOlmtsrily-never sought
for.
To-day, for the hrst time Ia her
life, there was a spice or the firt
mingled with her bright, sweet nat
ural WAYS. Ralph Hartford, with
his keen, quiet eyes, instantly de-
tected it. and there was an odd pIay
to the mouth under the handsome
moHstache. Elma did not discover
it. Once or twice, after some little
trihIng, coquettish speech, he raised
his eyebrows in q quiZZicsl way pc.
culiar to him; and each of such
times the girl found herself curious.
/ ly anslyZins the certain, strange
charm Of this same expression
Then went gaily OH in her winning
never realizing that when hearts
were trumps il is dangerous play
ing.
Atleugth a sudden thunderstorm
without the slightest warning
swept the sky. They were on ID,
open plain without place of shcl
ter in sight. Ralph drew up thl
buggy top, but even that was oul,
a semblance of protection, for tn
wind seemed full of contrary Gle
ments, which drove the rain nov
hither, now yOu. Sometimes dash
ing il in their faces, then veerin-