New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-09

with tho greatest spirit and vivaeity. She
watched Miss Lyon rather mario WY, too, II
swift Observsnt way. but no doubt her Cd
servations were satisfactory, for her manner
was quite soft and kind when she tool
Ruths hand at parting.
But, while clear-eyed, downright Ruth
conquered the hearts Of her new acQuaint
ancos-persuading even my Aunt Tyrrell
whose attitude at first was sliGhtly cap
tioue, to declare her q good, active little
bOdy-RObin's behavior was less gratifying
No one certainly could have predicted thai
his native air would cloud the mans sunny
temper, yet something Of the kind seemed
to have occurred. ] found him taciturn and
moody, and his demeanor at times decided
" tart. For instance, when he was taken
to task good humoredly by Mrs. Tyrrel
| about his remissness in tho matter OF the
picture, Bob was almost surly, thought he
must renOunce the undertaking altogether
and condemned his hardness in meddlinG
with portraiture at all. When we were
alone, however, he bore himself more gent
ally and this circumstance led me to c.
clude that he had lost his relish tor ladies
society.
OF course Bob's iDclinations in this re-
spect were not abetted by me. l had
brought my friends, as you know, to Con.
way in pursuit of health and the exhilara
| ton of fine scenery. and since Ruth'e
| household duties would not suffer her to
guide our rambles, Robins services were
plainly indispensable. 1t happened for the
most part to be Miss Tyrell's fate to endure
| Sir Dismals company in those excursions,
| and while what he vOuchaafed to say was
crisp and bright enough (BJbs tongue had
pretty trick of interpreting his eye), his
! fits Of silence must, l know, have depressed
her, although l can not remember that she
LII Ill 81,
one occasion the young man seemed to re-
| gain his buoyant bumor, and shOne out with
| his old fash and fervor.
We had driven out that day to the Notch,
| for, while we knew the FrancOniAn pass,
| the grandeur of its southern namesake was
| vet strange to US. 1t was afternoon when
we reached the middle of the gorge. and
We fingered there until sunset. held and
mastered by the scene. Who that saw it
forgets the desolate ravine choked with
powders and bristling with dark pines, the
| giant walls black and bare that seem to
| bulge and topple and hide the sky and the
puny, shivering river flung headl0ng down
the jagged steep9 There is, you know, q
contagiOn in strong feeling, and am sure
| the glow on Clara's cheek warmed US all.
| No wonder, Bob, then. watching the girls
| kindling eyes, shook off the weight upon
upon his spirits and gave himself to the
! empire of the hour. The Notch, and the
eager talk Of my companions, and the
| drive homeward IN the twilight, wrought
me up to so romantic mood that l sat
smok ng in the 'squires porch until q late
hour, and, even when l retreated, single
candle was still cleaning from Bob's studio.
Why would he not stay and smoke q
cigar, and what in the world could Robin
find to do alone in that grim and comfort
less chamber! Was he going over, per
haps. the pleasant day, and yielding anew
to the sweet sOrcery of An emotional nature,
which had quickened and compelled his
Owp9 Or did he check those thoughts
sternly, and recognize with sad sincerity
that such cOmpaulOnship was not for himl
Must his days, then, know no storm. no
torrid sunshine but be always cool and
sober and calm! Could he call it living.
the pale. spiritless existence which stretched
before him and Ruth! Poor Ruth! No, up
right, noble Ruth-who was he, to pity
that true hear,l Had he forgotten what
her life had been-the patient, cheerful
self-surrender, the long, meek sacrifice to
duty; and was the fault hers If her eyes,
fixed on that mild star, had missed the hec-
tic spiendors of the west! Was he not
man enough to love her for what she was,
and mock and stife the mad thirst for sym
patty! That holy, mystic charm of sym
patty, truly potent spell in Paris salOons
but such simple words as gratitude and
honor may out-coniure il amid Yankee hills.
On the day following our drive to the
Notch-it was just . week, as l remember,
before Bob's wedding-Clara and strolled
stunning the piano and Ruth busted about
many things
Where's Robin! inquired.
Nobody knows" said Nellie, laughing,
"he was providing up and down his den all
night, and, this morning, he went out at
day break.'
In that case" suggested, suppose we
avail ourselves of the priests absence and
invade his sanctuary. There are many
art which shall be happy to expose. Like
wise, the business of an unfinished picture
seems to require investigation
There is NO doubt that Clara looked in
uuisitiye and Ruth at once volunteered to
show the way.
You would never know my trim store
roOm," said Ruth, as she let US into the
atelier and indeed it was chaos of dis
order.
Bob's easel was near the window. Nellie
ran to it and gave q cry.
Look she said and stared in stupor ut
the canvas.
We looked. My cousins figure was still
there, but some studious stroke Of the brush
had totally erased her features.
HuNO! cIloO' wnSts tuo moauiuS Va
this!"
Claras face was very pale. She did not
speak.
ut MEANS" said Ruth, with q quivering
lip, lit means We had no right to come
here And she led US silently from the
room.
/ do not claim to possess the fine intui-
tions Of some gifted natures, but l confess
that Master Bobs performance provoked
sundry reflections, which l was shrewd
enough to keep to myself. and think it
regrettable that another member of the
company, having less experience of the
ways of men, failed to exhibit an equal dis
erection. l had strolled into the garden,
having observed that the ladies we're drift
ing toward feminine topics, and was rumi-
mating over q cigar, when Miss Nellie,
equipped with basket. intent on black
berries, came running out aglow with mis-
chief and hiarity.
"Such fun" she exclaimed between
peals of laughter 1--WE were in the paror
just now, Clara and 1-sbe was teaching me
q waltz-when Bob came in, glum rs .
ghost. So, of course, began to tease him
about spelling that lovely picture, and said
he just wanted an excuse co putter over it,
and then he grew white and Clara was in
a futter, so l left him to defend himself
Won't she soold him, though !" and the pic
ture of BOb's predicament afforded her in
finite delight.
was not quite heartless enough to be
carried away by the damseps merriment,
and opining that the presence of third
person might be grateful under the circum-
stances, set forth to break the tete -a-tete.
But veranda skirted that side of tie
house, and window of the keeping room,
which adjoined the parlor, standing open,
glanced into it as passed, and stopped.
There was Ruth, half-risen from chair, in
q strange, irresolute attitude, her work