Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-07-24
RALPH BENEDICT'S EYES.

"Take care ! Flora, take care. You
are playing with edged tools. You may
offend Ralph forever"
"Ofend him, indeed Don't talk to
me, Kate; tell you he is perfectly
hateful. have firted with him till my
head aches; played with him, sang at
him, romped or been dignifed, till my
wits were fairly bothered how to create
new sensation and yet the wretch
sits staring at me as if his eyes were
made for nothing but to see with"
"Well, what are his eyes made for3"
"Such eyes as his were made for a
thousand things great black ones, with
such long, silky lashes Why, he could
make no end of a commotion in the
feminine fancy with his eyes alone.
What are they made for1 They are
made to say unutterable things, to look
o million varying emotions, to raise with
fervor, to cast down with modesty, to
melt with feeling. or fash with pride.
And, upon my word, don't believe the
man has the slightest idea that they were
made for anything but the convenience
of seeing. And to think that am en-
gagged to him !"
8" thought you could break the en-
gagement."
eyes, and lose every penny of my
property and bring the whole family
about my ears. No. Uncle George
portioned off Glenville to us if we took
it together; if not, it was to go to some
distant relatives who live in Philadelphia.
So, down comes my sharer of this
worlds goods, and, in most matter-of-
fact way, says: Il think we had better
be married in the fall, Flora. And I, like
an idiot, said very we'll"
1" He is certainly very handsome,
Flora9"
eyes; so is uncle's bust of Napoleon.
Looks like him, by-the-way, and one has
about as much animation as the other.
The most provoking thing about him is,
he will never do anything that is not
strictly proper and dignifed. I never
saw him take glass of water without
desire on my part to tip the whole of it
down his neck, and see him jump.
Though for that matter, he wouldn't
jump if did. 1 haven't done harem-
scarem thing since he came that he has
not caught me i'll the act. never scram-
BILE over fence that he is not on the
other side with profound bow for my
especial benefit, and as sure as I dare to
climb tree or undertake the least bit
of frolic, his most magnificent high
ness is the first object to meet my eyes,
Kate, | wonder if [ couldn't make him
jealous9 I mean to try. Harry Vane
came home yesterday and is all ready to
fall at my feet"
Harry Vane is brainless fop,
Flora"
"He knows how to use his eyes, even
if he is, and he is the best fun in the
world" "Eal r.-.-.
"And would you offend Ralph 2"
81 tell you I hate him l'' and Flora
dashed out of the room, leaving her in
valid cousin and confdante aghast OF
her sudden outburst.
In the parlor the merry beauty found
her betrothed, his large eyelids closed
ovor the useless eyes, and apparently
fast asleep.
81 wish could play some joke and
see if it would astonish him when he
awoke," she said.
"Not in the least, if I knew it before.
hand, said Ralph, lazily opening his
eyes.
GLOW dare you pretend to sleepH'
cried Flora, Indignantly; 81 might
have talked secrets.
ThenI should not have listened. y
Oh, of course not; nothing half SC
naughty could occur to you," she said,
rather sneeringly.
1 trust nothing dishonorable could,
was the quiet reply, though for a mo-
ment his cheek crimsonod with vexa
tioI.
81 ask your pardon, did not NEAR
to be so rude, /" said the frank little peni
tent, holding out her hand.
He only bowed gracefully, and, snatch
ing away the rejected hand, she threw
herself down on the piano stool ant
dashed off her pique in a stormy polka
The polka went off into dream-ike
waltz; and one of Beethoven's sonata'
followed; TILL rs the rsom grew alnos
dark, the subduing influence becam,
stronger, and, MS the last note died away
she began to sing, not as he had hearc
her sing before, in dashing opera airs
her voice rose clear, but subdued, in saC
melodies, old ballads, and those LONGING
airs of ''Auld Lang Syne," so seldom
heard nowadays.
The tea-bell broke in upon the pleas
ure, and the light dining-room fount
Ralph as dignifed and Flora as saucy q
ii no music had stirred their hearts int,
new and strange communion.