The enquirer southerner., 1874-04-17


such an exquisite compiexion- and
eyes that seem to be looking, oh
so far beyond into the dim distance
of the Inflmte g
Bat where dil yol see him !?
qu, stone matter f-fact little rs,
ther Rowe. And how DO you
know he is Il poet
L met i1nn in Blackberry Lane,
when | went up before breakfast tl
get some fruit for grandpapa anC
he told me he had an inspiration
from the blue skies and greer
fields, the girl reverently answer,
ed.
Little Sybil looked almost in
spired herself, as she chatterec
away with glittering, blue gray
eyes, checks died with pink, ans
cherry lip apart. And like dr. I
of ice water Oh the white heat en-
thusiasm Of her soul came Esther,
one~half- laughing, significant word
Humbugr
That's just like you Essie, sale
.Sybil, with offended dignity. 'Yor
are what papa calls an-i--i-
iconocIast. You never belive in
anybody or anything
Yes do protested Essie, res.
olutely. Il believe in Vail Mark
ham. y
Sybil tossed her head and pout
ed.
But we weren't talking of him,
said she. We were talking o.
that handsome poet who has taken
rooms at the San Salvador Hotel
Vail Markham never wrote a line
of poetry in his life; ard l don't
believe he could if he were to try !!
'Oh, pshaw J said Essie, as
thorough~going little partisan as
ever wore roses in her braids; : he
could do anything he chose
Why don't you marry him,
then 2 flashed out Sybil, half play
full, half malicious.
Because he hasn't asked me,
suppose Essie laughingly answer
ed.
And Sybil Archer wenr home tc
read Byron, and dream over Ger
tain vague and incomplete poetic
VISIONS of her own.
Il wonder she thought, If /
shall meet him again ? IF shall
meet him again.
'If.r For our little Sybil was a
deal too inexperienced in the ways
of the world to dream that Mr.
Valancourt Hastings had come
down to the San Salvador Hotel
a stupid hostelry, in a more stupid
country village-solely and express
ly of making love to the pretty
heiress who dwelt among these
wildcrncsses, as sweet and secluded
as the pearl within the oyster shell
'Of course there'll be no difficult
ty,' said Mr.. Hastings to himself
: She never has seen any one bu
country pumpkins, and Ishall bt
able to walk over the course with
out any trouble
But in this mental equation MIR
Vanlancourt Hastings left out Ont
unknown quantity-Vail Markham
"A poet, is he 2 said Vail Mark
ham and a genius ? And yo'
drove out to Whitesand Beach with
him yesterday
Why couldn't ] 2 demanded
Sybil plucking angrily at the RET
coronals of roses that blossome(
along the garden path.
No reason, of course, said Mr.
Markham, with serene gracious
ness of demeanor that was rathe
aggravating than otherwise to oul
heroine. | suppose his conversa
ton is conducted altogether il
pollysyllables 2
'He is very intelligent and agree
able said Sybil; 'and he quote
French a good deal.
amy Chaldaic or Syriac 2 ask
ed Vail Markham, gravely.
Of course not ! GROSSLY retortet
Sybil she did not relish the i'm
piled sarsasm of her companion
: He has promised ro lend me hi
Diary -Isort of commonplace
book of thought and fancies, h
says; and he is going to write an
original poem in my album =
And Sybil looked atMr. Mark
ham with undisguised triumph i
her bright eyes.
Vail bit his lip and caressed hi
moustache with something of
chagrined air. Here, undoubtedly
was the weak spot in his Achillea
armor, and the mischievous littl
beauty was well aware of it. VIII
had not his auspiciors star granite
him the gift of stringing rhyme
together with a Jingle and metr
cal ring? ~ w SIS
< <
Mr.. Markham will excuse 20
am sure, said Valancourt Has
ings, with slight elevation of h
melancholy eyebrows. A goo
young man I entertain no doubt
but shallow and commonplace
Pardon me, Miss Archer, but
can hardly comprehend, how yo
ever allowed yourself to becom