The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-07-30
RALPH BENEDICT'S EYES.
BY L. A. SMITH.

|
BY L. A. SMITH.
"Take care ! Flora. take care. You
are playing with edged tools. You ma,
offend Ralph forever"
"Offend him, indeed Don't talk t,
me, Kate; tell you he is perfectl,
hateful. have firted with him till M!
head aches played with him, sang a
him, romped or been dignifed, till m,
wits were fairly bothered how to create
a new sensation and yet the wretch sit
staring at me as if his eyes were mad,
for nothing but to see with"
"Well, what are his eyes made for 2
"Sach eyes as his were made for {
thousand things; great black ones
with such long, silky lashes Why, ht
could make no end of a commotion IL
the feminine fancy with his eyes alone
What are they made for? They are
made to say unutterable things, to lool
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 con.
venience of seeing. And to think that
I am engaged to him "
81 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 Chenille to us if we took
it together if not, it was to go to some
distant relatives who live IN Philadel-
phia. So, down comes my sharer of
this worlds goods, and, in a most mat
ter-of-fact way, says, think we had
better be married in the fall, Flora.
And I, like an idiot, said very well. "
"He is certainly very handsome,
Flora? ?"
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 a 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 I did. I haven't done
a harem- scarem thing since he came
that ne has not caught me in the act.
l never scramble over fence that he is
not on the other side with a profound
bow for my especial benefit, and as
sure as I dare to climb a tree or under
take the least bit of a frOlic, his most
highness is the first object
to meet my eyes. Kate, wonder if [
make him Jealous / mean to
try. Harry Vane came home yesterday
and is all ready to fall at my feet
"Harry Vane is a brainless fop,
Flora"
"He knows how to use his eyes, even
if he is, and he is the best fun in the
world"
"And you would offend Ralph ?"
81 tell you I hate him !" and Flora
dashed out of the room, leaving her
invalid cousin and cOntidante aghast at
her sudden outburst.
In the parIor the merry beauty found
her betrothed, his large eyelids closed
over the useless eyes, and apparently
fast asleep.
81 wish I could play some joke and
see if it would astonish him when he
awoke," she said.
"Not in the least, if I knew it be-
forehand," said Ralph, lazily opening
his eyes.
"How dare you pretend to sleep ?"
cried Flora Indignantly; 81 might
have talked secrets"
''Then / should not have listeneI."
sob, of course not nothing half SO
naughty could occur to you," she said
rather sneeringly.
81 trust nothing dishOnOrable could"
vas the quiet reply, though for mo-
nent his cheek crimsoned with vex-
ation.
81 ask your pardon, l did not mean
20 be so rude" said the frank little
1enitent, holding out her hand.
He only bowed gracefully, and,
;ratching away the rejected hand, she
hrew herself down on the piano stool
md dashed off her pique in a stormy
1olka. The polka went off into a dream
ike waltz and one of Beethoven's SON
.tas followed till, as the room grew
llmest dark, the subduing influence be-
anne stronger, and, as the last note
lied away, she began to sing, not as he
lad heard her sing before in dashing
,pera airs her voice rose clear, but
in sad melodies, old ballads, |
md those longing airs of 'Auld Lang |
Syne," so seldom heard now a-days.
Lie I6d-D0lI UEOho LII upOn buS
pleasure, and the light dining room
ound Ralph as dignified and Flora as
aucy as if no music had stirred their |
hearts into new and strange COM
nunion.
Kate heard, day after day, with pain,
If the marked GOODNESS between Ralph |
md Flora, and of her increasing firta-
ion with Harry Vane.
AT last the crash came.
=" I am free !"
Flora threw back the door and rushed |
n, with burning cheeks and flashing |
yes.
81 am free, Kate. My charming
,ousin came to me one hour ago and |
Lsked an interview-a private one
which I granted, of course. He in
ormed me that when he graduated as a
physician, with his heart full of the |
glory and responsibility of his pro-
essiOn, he had come here trusting to |
ind wife who would be his companion
md true helpmate in the arduous life
,efore him. He had hoped that my
ivehness was merely youthful spirits,
nut finding me heartless and frivolous