Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-25
Tales aud Sketehes.
A QUEEN OF SPADES.


IN. W. Hazeton in the Overland for November
coSTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.l
We were already familiar with the Fran
COMA region, and. being minded to try
the Conway side, were not disposed to
quarrel with the accident which trans.
ferred us from rather shabby hotel to
absolute control of an old-fashioned farm.
house. We promised ourselves not lit.
tie entertainment in the naive discourse OF
our primitive host. and mytown content
ment was complete when preposterous
hair-braine6 painter-fellow, whom Squire
Allen hit of in his catalogue of curiosities,
proved to be no other than my friend Rob.
in. must say, however, that Aunt Tyr
rell seemed in no wise pleased with this
discovery, having lately contracted, as
mentioned, a prejudice against my friend;
but it was absurd to suppose q cot,tre-
temps so trivial would be suffered to de-
range her plans. Now, at least" she
said. ''that singular young man may have
the goodness to finish my girls picture
1t IS not likely many hours could pass
before Bob and l came together, and, OF
course. was speedily apprised Of an i'm
pending interesting event, and presented
to the bride-elect, before whom and her
young sister-when Robin sped away to
pay his respects to the Tyrrells-I pro-
nounced eulogy upon that artist. In the
course of the same afternoon the Misses
Lyon came to call on my kinswomen, and
insisted we should drink tea at the farm,
where they set forth all the dainties they
could think OF, showed us the fower-gar-
den, the bee-hiyes, and the chickens, and
treated US generally in a most hospitable
fashion. ~ esf
happened to be present at my cousins
meeting with Bob's fiancee, and thought J.
had never seen Clara look so well. Per-
haps she may have been trihe pale, but
her eyes were very bright, and she talked
with the greatest spirit and vivacity. She
watched Miss Lyon rather narrowly too, in
swift, observant way, but no doubt her OBJ
servations were satisfactory, for her man
ner was quite soft and kind when she took
Ruth's hand at parting zBas
But, while clear-eyed, downright Ruth
conquered the hearts of her new acquain-
tances-persuading even my Aunt Tyrrell
whose attitude at first was slightly cap
tiOus, to declare her good. active, little
body-Robin's behavior was less crafty
ing. No one certainly could have pre-.
dicted that his native air wonld cloud the
mans sunny temper, yet something of the
kind seemed to have occurred. found
him taciturn and moody, and his demean-
or at times decidedly tart. For Instance,
when he was taken to task good-humored-
ly by Mrs. Tyrrell about his remissness 10
the matter OF the picture, Bob was almost
surly, thought he must renounce the I'M
dertaking altogether, and condemned hi,
harshness in meddling with portraiture at
all. When we were alone, however, he
bore himself more genially, and this cir.
cumstance led me to conclude that he had
lost his relish for ladies' society.
OF course Bob's inclinations in this re-
spect were not abetted by me. had
brought my friends, as you know, to Con-
way in pursuit of health and the exhilara-
tion of fine scenery, and, since Ruth's
household duties would not suffer her to
guide our rambles, Robins services were
plainly indispensable. 1t happened for
the most part to be Miss Tyrelfs fate to
endure Sir Dismal's company in those ex-
cursions, and, while what he vouchsafed
to say was crisp and bright enough Dob.
tongue had pretty trick of interpreting
his eye,) his fits of silence must, know
have depressed her, although cannot re-
member that she made any complaint. i
will avow that on one occasion the young
man seemed to regain his buoyant humor,
and shone out with his old flash and fer
vor.
We had driven out that day 10 the Notch,
for, while We knew the Franconian pass.
the grandeur of its southern namesake
was yet strange to us. 1t was afternoon
when we reached the middle of the gorge.
and we fingered there until sunset, heli
and mastered by the scene. Who that saw
ii forgets the desolate ravine choked with
boulders and bristling with dark pines.
the giant walls black and bare that seem
to bulge and topple and hide the sky, and
the puny, shivering river flung headlong
down the jagged steep? There is, YOU
know, a contaglon in strong feeling, and
the glow on Claras cheek fired us all.
No wonder Bob, then, watching the girls
kindling eyes, shook off the weight upon
his spirits and gave himself to the empire
of the hour. The Notch, and the eager
talk of my companions, and the drive
homeward in the twilight, wrought me
up to so romantic mood that sat smok.
ing in the 'squire's porch until late hour,
and, even when retreated, single eau
die was still cleaning from Bob's studio.
why VOuiu bO uol stay anu SIlOkc u
cigar. and what in the world could Robin
find to do alone in that grim and comfort.
less chamber Was he going over, per-
haps, the pleasant day, and yielding anew
to the sweet sorcery oil an emotional ma.
ture, which had quickened and compelled
his own7 Or did he check those thoughts
sternly, and recognize with sad sincerity
that such companionship was not for him.
Must his days, then, know no storm, no
torrid sunshine, but be always cool and
sober and calm ? Could he call il u living.
the pale, spiriiless existence which
stretched before him and Ruthp Poor
Ruth No, upright, noble Ruth--who
was he, to pity that true heart? Had he
forgotten what her life had been-the pa
tient, cheerful seli-surender, the long.
meek sacrifice to duty? and was the fault
hers ii her eyes, fixed on that mild star,
had missed the hectic splendors of the
west? Was he not man enough to love
her for what she was, and mock and stifle
the mad thirst for sympathy That holy,
mystic charm of sympathy, truly potent
spell in Paris saloons but such simple
words as gratitude and honor may ont.