Fair play., 1876-06-08

wearer thoroughly uncomfortabie.
Other slight mishaps beiell the party.
but they forgot them in the fragraLs
blossoms and keen sweet air.
Nelly had filled her basket to the brim
with carefully chosen sprays. fastened
= bunch Of the deepest hued At her
throat and another in the jet buckle
that fastened her feather ha,-band. I;
was no special vanity in her, for they
Were all adorned with their >poils. Even
the gentlemen were decked with but
ton-hole bouquets. But nobody looked
Ike Nelly; and Mr.. Fearing thought
So too, Is she stood on
the brow of the hill look
ing over the long valley that ran
northward, threaded by 4 bright stream.
and closed a, the end of the vista by
grea, dark mountain. Behind our little
girl a deep green growth of young
pines made vertlant shaded back
ground. Her black hat hung On her
arm; her face was full of keen pleasure
and simple fresh beauty; the red lips.
warm color, open innocent eyes, dark
sweet Is panSies are, and the fluttering
rings Of hair, wEich the sun threaded
with gold, furnishing its deep brown rs
the wind brea,hed gently among the
shining tresses, played over Il low white
forehead. The artists eye took in the
whole picture and remembered it, bu;
the mans heart took IN more vivid
and lasting guest: for here he found Il
real woman-not :, doll If fashion or Il
queen Of society, hut bright, pure,
tender creature, fresh and sweet Us the
blossoms she wore, unaffected, sweet
tempered, delicate. yet withal piIuant
in her manner and speech from native
wit and quick perception.
L; may be inquired. naturally enough,
now Mr.. Fearing discovered all this in
the course of one morning. confess
ii seems Improbable, but lovers have =
wonderful insight into character some
times. II does not always verify itself
on further acquaintance, but this time
the judgment WAS true. s'More by
good luck than good guidance" rs the
Scotch say; and if Mr.. Fearing did lose
his heart suddenly and hopelessly. he,
at least, never regretted it thereafter.
But the day WAS over now. They went
back TO the station, tired bu: merry.
AMI far less elegant in aspect than the
party who came down the road in the
morning. Their baskets, emptied Of
provisions and bottles, We're overiiowed
now with exquisite bloom and perfume,
that filled the crowd Of dusty travellers
among whom they entered with long
ing and envy.
Nelly was tired, but she did not find it
out ut once, for Mr.. Fearing carried her
basket home for her, and asked leave to
call on Monday, with Lima Holdridge,
and take Nelly to the Falls.
"Oh, mamma, what 4 lovely day I've
had!" said she, Us s.,e entered the small
parlOr, where her mother waited for
her by the window.
"CalicO dress and alp" significantly
inquired Mrs. Day.
"That was quite the best part of it,
dear. was so glad l wore it," And
for the next hour Mrs. Day was enter
tanned with - history of the excursion
the mishaps Of finery, the beauty Of
every thing, and just slight mention
of Mr.. Fearing in every other sentence,
till her motherly eyes began to look
anxious, and her heart to give warn
ing thrOb, for sine remembered her
youth.
But if Nelly had not mentioned his
name, the widow Days eyes would have
perceived one side of the question, at
least, the next Sunday, from the fire.
quent and ardent gaze this young fellow
directed toward the singers seat, where
Nelly sang the quaint old hymns in a
clear fresh voice, and looked as angelic
as a pretty girl could in black silk
dress and white pique jacket, with pop
pies and daisies wreathed about her lit
tie black hat. 1t is true, Mr.. Fearing
wen, back to New York after that walk
to the Falls, which took place Monday,
but he reappeared in Beckett more than
once or twice the ensuing summer, for /
Lima Holdridge, who was his fast friend,
contrived to let him know Of every pic /
mic. and he was available for almost all. /,
Then there were bits Of scenery he must |
paint, and autumn colors were proverb- |
tally splendid about Beckett. But why !
need recount his excuses?
''Brea:hes there a man with soul so dead"