Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-04-01
Il watched them for a time NOV

NdIcneU Lncfn lot 4 Jine move
slowly and with a rude dignity
through an intricate dance, which left
one couple almost hidden in the dark
ness of far corner. Suddenly this
couple came swiftly down to the cen
ter of the group, and stood almost di-
rectly before me.
'1t is with these we have to do,
gentlemen. One of them-the lady,
if Imay call her thus-was the most
beautiful creature l ever saw. So
young she seemed to me, / involun-
tarily smiled upon child. She wore
simple bodice over blue petit
coat Her arms and neck were COW
cred by chemise puffed and starched.
and white as the snow it was bleached
upon. Her hair, only bound by a
chain and silver arrow, fell far below
her waist. It's color was hard to de-
fine, but seemed in the smoky glare
of the candles, yellowish, creamy
white.
"tHer feet beneath her pettieOat.
Like little mice, stole in and out,
And oh, she danced in such way,
No sun upon an Easter Day,
Was half so fine a sight
"Yes, gentlemen, she was a theme
for poesy. / watched her with mute
but expressive admiration, so that
when her eyes met mine l fancied
there grew a gentle recognition in
them. She looked up to her Titanic
partner and smilingly drew his atten-
tion to me. | can not describe the
benevolent patronage of his manner
when, as if taking pity upon my lone
illness, and apparently pleased with
my evident appreciation of the love
ly being that seemed in some way to
belong to him, he brought her to my
side, and with noble hospitality left
her, as he said, to beguile the time of
the stranger. Good fellow that he
was, l hope this kindlytrust betrayed
did not impair his simple faith in hu
manity.
"sHer name is Lulu he said, and
mine JEAN
'And while cast about for some
thing to say to this little maiden in
the patois of her country, she began
herself, in a voice sweet, low, and
sonorous:
"'It is, then, your sleigh in the
stable below? How beautiful it is!
1t is shaped like wild goose, and so
light can lift it, even l And the
skins they frightened me, they were
so like pretty, crouching animals;
one Of them had eyes, in truth, and
mocked me as | peeped into the
sleigh. And the horses, they are like
deer, so small are their heads, and
so slim their legs. Jean laughed at
them He said they were good for
nausiit-but to take in ones arms and
pat like kitten
"sThere your Jean is wrong l said,
quickly, not overpleased at this sim
pie irony. 'They are good to get over
these dreary wastes of yours, and l
wish you could just once enjoy ride
behind them, and know what swift
ness means
II wish / could she said, under
the pretty skins, and all the lovely
silver bells jingling.'
'''Why can't WEI" l pleaded, coax
ingly pressing the little unglOved
fingers in my own. we could get
back again before our friends would
find out we were gone, and then you
could tell Jean how'wrong he was
can arch smile moved her beauti-
full lips and frightened the depths of
her soft black eyes; her foot tapped
upon the sanded floor, and her white
hand futtered in mine. 1t was the
sweetest moment of uncertainty with
which l had ever aught to do.
"'Come, Lulu l whispered. You
don't know how happy it would make
me-
"'And l, too she said, looking up
in nv face with innocent candOr. Il
also would be happy
at was probably the first tempta-
ton offered to this child of nature.
She yielded to it with guileless enthu-
Siasm. ....s
Shortly after we were bounding
over the snow with the speed of the
wind. My gallant grays, rested and
refreshed, and seemingly conscious of
the lovely burden they bore, so swift
" flew along that at times we were
lifted from the surface of the earth
and drawn in mid-air, while l tugged
at the reins and endeavored to re-
strain their ardor.
"Lulu's eyes shone like lambent
stars; her hair hoated out on the
night wind.
@Are you happy, Lulu? 1 said.
"sBut yes, she replied, quickly.
And you?
mAh, Lulu began, hundred
delights pleading for utterance; but
in that supreme moment of joy l was
checked by group of fir trees that
rose before me, Immediately barring
our further progress. They were
strangely unfamiliar. Afar in the
distance I saw the shadowy outline
of a forest. reined in the painting
animals. My heart grew cold within
me. An icy dread paralyzed for a
moment even thought and feeling.
had mistaken the way. We were
lost! And to be lost in this Cana
dian waste was simply death in a
slow torturing, terrible form.
"To turn back and traverse the
way that it seemed we had come was
my first effort.
ayes, we will RETURN said Lulu,
beginning already to tremble with a
vague fear. jean will become anx-
ious.'
"Alas for poor Jean! he was at
that moment securing the white des-
q Al -