The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-04-16
~. ~rssted you VIA, q sy before snt

She meant 10 weave me snare
of some coqucttish dcceit,
clcopatra-Iite o. Of old,
To en,snrle me when ve met,
To have her Hon In dikes net,
And fasn 9, vicior's fcet'"
lie said the words slowly, and kept his
dark eyes fixed on the bright face before
him. 80 he must have seen the warm |
blood rush 70 cheek and brow.
"Of course that will not do either" she
said, hastily. ii
1sTSsn I don't iutsnd 70 Try sgain,"
ne replied, with a sigh OF resignation.
Nothing ] say seems to suit yen
but"
Lets 20 back to 'Grandma's Warn
ins,'y she interrupted. - venture to
say that will have more effect upon the
spirits than your words, OF Tennyson's
ether, gsfiln faE'n shA
Every we'll. M rat.sg IA.
n the boys and the girls had s~sys been afraid,
rhss usssns hessii would have bssn an old
maid" a..
The words died away, and thcy both
listened with hated breath. Bun nothing
broke the morning stiffness, save the rus
tie Of the wind through the leaves.
"How stupid We an" said Nellie, sud.
denly. /" 1t sens TO be rather The echo OF
! an echo. Don't you sect said the
worda you echoed them, and then they
were echoed again. Are you tired Of
trying to rouse this coy spirit, or shall we
make one more attemptr
"Oh, try again, BY all meanAv
$50 be il, then. Now | will speak
first, you must echo my words, and then
we will see Whist happenA" sslrri
In a moment it was done. She had
said the words, he had echoed them, and
a second echo, seeming to come from be-
low, had followed. Nellie shivered in
the warm sunlight. -.--.
"Do you not believe now" she said,
speaking in a low tone. re5H
-"Of course not" he replied, strange
light in his eye, ait will require more
proof than that, before become a be-
lever. Will you try It once more, Miss
Nelliew
al would rather not" she answered,
the faintest Of faint colors surging to her
face.
"But why' Surely no harm can come
to you while / am with you? Do you
not think me protection enough, even
from things uncannys And remember
how anxious am to satisfy myself Just
once more, please?" s,lgt.
avery well, then, but it must be the
last time" iit.f
agreed" 800.
"'If he boys and the girls had always been afraid
Thss grandma herself would have bees an old
maid"
For the third time Nellie repeated the
words in her clear, pleasant voice.
Harry Staunton echoed them, and then
came again that strange echo Of an echo.
But when its last faint sound reached
them, Harry had thrown one arm around
the graceful form beside him, and was
holding both her hands in his firm
grasp.
Little rogue! little ventriloquist"
he said, tenderly, "did you think to de-
ceive me, even when the whole town is
ringing with stories Of your mischievous
pranks? Did you want to punish me
for being unpunctusl, as you fancied
Poor Harry Staunton! to be SO treated
by"
Here she interrupted him quickly,
striving with all her womans. strength to
free her hands, but in vain.
"Mr. Stanton, you quito forget your
self! Must I appeal to your honor as a
gentleman to release my handsr'
"You may so appeal if you choose"
he said, merrily. But have them
safely in my keeping for once, and l defy
any one-even that fearsome spirit you
moment ago conjured up-to take them
from me-" And his voice grew very
tender and earnest. "May i not call
their owner mine :"
The little hands had ceased struggling
now, as she lifted her eyes to his
Do you really want met Remember
how faulty am. ! was provoked just
now, because thought you were not
here in time, and hoped to worry you
by my changed voice. was very cross
when you chose to repeat those lines /;
and am always impatient. Are you
still brave enough to take me2"
"Brave enough? All, little one, you
don't know the strength of my love (!
But you shall learn it,"
Instead of my German lesson" she
said, lightly, though her face flushed
crimson, "do not those books lying for
gotten there reproach US with their pres
enceg'
81 do not feel reproached," he an
swered, with a smile; "and l think we
have done one thing, at any rate, we
have proved ourselves 10 be Of the boys
and the girls who have not been
afraid-.'"
"Speak for yourself" she interrupted,
a smile dimpling the flushed face. "As
for me, am sure ! shivered and shook,
and tried to show signs Of fear when
that-that spirit echoed our words. Con-
iess, am | not good actressf'
Yes, you are a first-rate little act
ress; but l was one too many for you
this time"
And just as he finished, thin, piping
voice, seeming to come from the tree
above, mimicked;
eyes, you are a frst-rate little act
ress; but | was one too many for you
this time"
Their eyes met, and, with merry
laugh, he said
"When law fails me, and am left a
beggar on the face of the earth, will
only have to take my little ventriloqui-t
wife around the country, and show her
off tO make NV fortunen