The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-20

them, accepting the situation, trying to- fine
excuse for him in her own heart; theD sh,
turned away and passed ont OF the garden a'
slowly as she had entered.
. As mipht be guessed, Emilia had playiully
4 chidcd Jack for ms sins, received his comics
! SION. and granted ahsolullon gracefully ant
lack had groaned in spirit, but had borae his
nart in the Grand tableau with tOlerahlt
effect, AS sc have seen. 1t So happened tina
I tbc home in which Dawn had found shelter
WAS neiphhOrlng 10 the domain OF the Bcl
pIaylss the gandens led into each other II
friendly wise and each household was nj lib
erty to make itself at home IN either grounds
hni Dawn never walked in the Belgravias
garden again after that morning; yet, as hcl
own AS well us the schOOl.roOm where she
taught the Young Deuceacres to put girdlC
around the earth looked out broadly upor
the empowered paths, she must often have
seen the two walking there IN the tender dusk
and starlight; she must often have leaned on
| from her window, longing to catch the strains
of Jacks flute or the sound of his voice.
! One night there was midsummer mask a
the Belgravias', and the air reSounded with
jocund mrth and music. Peas blossom and
Mounshinc tuttercd among the shrubbery, Is
much at home as their namesakes; tht
grounds, illuminated with colorcd lights
made fairy scene tit for whatever cnchan'
nents. There was dauceing in the house, and
Jack, as Oberon, left Titana tripping on the
fantastic toe in the arms OF Starveling and
walked forth by himself, with eyes dim with
selfdistrust and dissatisfaction; but not heed
ing whittier he went, involved in his own
thoughts, he left the gay group behind him
and only stayed his footsteps when he was
suddenly confronted by wan, wis full face
] l,nt
the Deuceacres' darkened mansion, half con
ceaed and halt revealed, like spirit.tace
looking out of cloud But Jack was not the
man to entertain ghostly fancies II that was
Dawn's face, glowing and Frightening above
him, she herself must be there too. In u $40
ment he forgot his part and place, the time
that had elapsed forget that Cobwcb was en-.
tangling Thistle in filtration just across the
hedge, that Lysander and Helena were love
making under cover of the fountain trembe
forgot everything but Dawn and his love
Dawn! Dann! he cried, stretching his
arms toward her; have the heavens tall
en-? Is it yos, yourself? Come down, come
down to me, darlingn he pleaded in breath.
4 cannot 90 down to Miss Belgravia's low.
err sighed Dawn, drearily. In the play, you
know, it Is not Oberon who is ,nconstan,,
oh, Dawn, il you have any pity in your
gentle heart, come down and let me speak
let me make my poor excuse, and then call
me inconstant if you can. Come, while they
are all intent on their own little schemes
don't let us waste our words apart-thereS a
whole lifetime for that awaiting us
Hush! somebody will hear you"
Then come, and let me speak In whispers.
4 dare not Ihave no mask. five should
meet your sweetheart
Il have no sweetheart but you, Dawn.
Thank Heaycn that you need wear no mask
Come down quickly, or | swear l will come
to you And through the glimmcring dusk,
over the abandoned vine-enangled staircase
tina, led from the balconied window to the
dewy garden below stole Dawn to meet him,
81 will just stay 10 hear what he has TO say
she pleaded with herself; that will be only
fair; and it will be such a comfort to Know
that after all he didn'r mean TO forget mep'
And wandering with Jack through the dim
garden maZes, where the pale flowers hung
their heads as she brushed by, lost in the hap
piness that would end presently and forever,
she did not heed the light footsteps of time
till some far.ofl clock tollcd out the hour, and
as it ceased two other voiccs-was it the echo
of their own took up the strain; two voices
strangely familiar to Jack, standing there IN
the shadow of the lindens, whose tones gave
him great thrill of enllghtenmenta as Tianla
and Starveling, tired of dance and mask,
paced up and down the sweet, secluded tryst
and opened their hearts.
"Emilia,' Starveling was saying, whom
Jack had recognized earlier as the handsome
cousin of his .fdncee ARE you still bent on
feeding your pride and starving yOur heart ?
Isn't love better than noble birth, older than
birth, older than the Oldest famiies?'
II don't KNOW answered Emilia, lightly.
1--WE Know what love is like, you and |,
Franz; but the trouble is, We can climb this
family tree of ours far without coming upon
u hornets nest. II our greatgrandfather had
traded in the Indies and lost every cent, in
stead OF sitting on his bench and pegging
shoes and laying by treasure, why in that
case, my dear Franz l should prefer you to
all the Jack Cheseldens that ever brcathcd"
Your pride is yet no mate for mnc
Too proud to care from whence | came
quoted the lovesick youth as they passed on
through the treacherous shadows. The hand
that Jack was about to relinquish was pressed
closer rs the tunetul voices died away in
whispers; the farewell he had been about to
utter tainted on his lips; there was no reason
under heaven why he should marry Emilia
since she did not love him. He drew Dawn
toward his heart; the adagiu of flutes and
violnS drifted down to them us if blown from
some other world.
Puck has been playing pranks with all of
us; but the spell is broken said he I'VE
belong 10 each Other"
And so the midsummer nights mask
or ded.
Miss Cabot SAID Mrs. Dcuceacre, next
morning, II understand that you were seen
walking in the shrubbery last night with Mr..
Jack Chcscden. II this Is true, permit me
to say that your services will be no longer
needed in my house
at is all quite true" SAID Dawn. II am
going to marry Mr.. Jack Cheseden, '--Har.
pci's Bd-dr.
aKIng Down u Peg.
According to Rapin, the Saxons were ad.
dicted to drink, and used such immense cups
that King Edgar, to check this evil habit, or.