The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-12-24

along an upper path toward the
church, prsyer-bock in hand.
sit is time for early service. VIII
I you come ?"
The sole response Of Caprice was to
don q simple straw hat. WOiy
chuekIed as she watched them depart.
4 I've heerd OF white spells worked
on de very elect of de Lord afore."
A sharp vibrating bell warned the
priest to hasten his steps. Was not
my lord bishop waiting his curate
in the vestry ? and was he ever known
to brook delay In the sanctuary
With a nervous apology 10 his COM
panion, Alfred hastened on. Caprice
paused; the obligation OF duty seemed
TO vanish with the curate. She gazed
about her mechanically. A sky
serenely blue met the azure sea as it
tempests were unknown golden
rain of sunshine descended on the
snowy roofs of the houses and the
waving crests OF palm-tFees a soft
bret ze caressed the flowers. CHANGING
back at the wide PLAIN Of ocean, she
shuddered, and put her hands over
her ears TO stife the murmur of the
waves.
81 died out there" she whispered.
"What is TO be my resurrection ?'
Then she fed inland-aBy where
out of sight OF the cruel sea. a grove
of cedars, dusky, arOmatie-scented,
with gnarIed and stunted trunks, re-
ceived her. Beyond, a wall tufted
with ferns and air-plants formed the
boundary of private grounds With
out reflection the girl climbed the wall
and found herself in a wilderness OF
bloom, amid the rose flush of Oieand-
er, the vivid spIendOr of cactus, each
| fioWer-cup holding the warmth of the
I tropical sun, with the odd, distorted
plant emblemztic Of life, eramped by
| the pain of circumstance, only to hlos-
som into richer perfection than the
smooth stemmed flowers.
In her listIess mood Caprice follow
ed the path which wound over the
crest of hill, then curved into plan
/ tatiOn of bananas, the stalks rising
like trunks OF ivory, creamy-tinted,
and veined with carmine from the
ragged fringe of husk, and bearing
alOft clusters of luscious fruit. Cap
rice flung herself on the ground, with
sigh of wearipess, supporting her
sharp chin IN one thin palm. Her
gaze roved languidly over gray olives,
lines, the wide-spreading calabash,
and SuYlnam trees burdened with rud-
dy cherries. She was startled by
report behind her. 1t was some OF
natures artillery, the flower. soul
bursting its fetters. Ignorant of the
cause, Caprice pushed aside the foli-
age until she came to the entrance of
a cave, which formed an aperture in
a rock ledge, and was draped by a
mantel of convlvuluE. In startling
relief against the interior darkness
grew plant, the stem a transparent
green color, the broad leaves stretch
Ing upward as if to support q lily,
which, having spurned its sheath,
now starred the dim place, pure as
alabaster, and delicately curved like
shell.
Caprice bent the lofty plank to in
hale its fragrance, and with one read
ing crack the giant blossom. lay in
her hands. Never did more uneX-
peeted gift of fortune fall into mortal
grasp, had she but known it. The
perfume was an intoxicating delight
as her feet strayed into tue path Once
more she buried her face in the snowy
petals. Swift retributiOn overlook
the thief; surly mastiff deserted her,
and approached with deep-mOuthed
growls. On the right hand was a
house, on the left the wall by which
she.had entered. The house was the
nearest refuge, and thither she fled,
with the enemy in close pursuit. The
sunshine rested calmly on the white
walls and veranda ; there was about
the mansion an aspect of unnatural
quiet, but Caprice had no time to no.
tIce the details. She sprang through !
an open widow, with a startled
scream, just as the mastiff's teeth |
closed on her arm.
"Down, Bruno back, sir ~ COM
manded shrill voice. The room was |
large and gloomy, with floor of pol |
ished wood and ceiling of cedar beams |
mellowed in tint by time to the rich |
ness of ebony.
Caprice, still clutching her flower |
trophy, stood before a very old man |
in a wheeled chair. Trembling in /
every limit, her tongue refused ut
teranoa-- What had She done in |
gathering the magnificent flower So
heedIessly? Perhaps it blOssOmed
once in lifetime. The old man re-
L1alQeu mOllOuleSS lOi SeNcfdl luiu-
utes, his gaze riveted on the lily, then
q light came into the withered, gray |
face, a touch of the wheel whirled |
the chair to her side, and he eXclaim-
ed, in delighted accents
"Has it blOomed once more =? !
What aud you brought it to me be-
cause / can no longer visit the cave
Good child. I .aepeT forget. Where
is my nephew Alfred, that he did not |
know 1t might have vithered while
they passed by. My priceless beau
ty w
Mr.. Alfred Dearborn, having read |
prayers, listened to the Bishops |
learned opinions concerning Arian-
ism, given instructions TO the sexton |
about the parish school, came TO pay |
a morning visit 10 his aged uncle, Mr.. |
Silas Dearborn, of Mount Hill. He |
found that gentleman at table, with
Caprice seated opposite. The old |
man played the host with his grand
est manner, coaxing her acceptance |
of more orange marmalade, while a |
bottle of his rarest crusted port gave |
evidence of the esteem in which he |
held his guest.