Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-27

Auuc y ptTAtCtiuus anu ne prOuuceu III
sketch book, going to work with grea
energy. At last he finished il, and sh
was free 10 change her tiresome position
as he gave his picture few last touches
! writing Echo" in corner where /
would not be noticed.
/ wonder If he has il yet-the arch, in
noeent face with its half wistful, hal
mOcking expression, and the bright heaS
crowned with a flower wreathed hat.
"We must go new" exclaimed she
breaking the irksome silence.
"Oh! not yet," pleaded Sir Lancelot
''It is so pleasant here"
"I'm tired of staying alone" protest
ed the wilful girl; whereupon the knigh
said, with a reprOachful look: "AlOne
must have been very stupid" But Mis-
! Tudor had her own way, as was general
/ ly the case, regardless Of any one else:
/ pleasure.
When they returned they found tht
! party grouped in various attitudes under
| the trees. ''Where have you been p
was the question with which they were
| greeted.
"Skipping pebbles in the Brawl," :" an
swered LancelOt promptly.
..InTelleetual amusement, Snesred tbs
-sardonic Reginald.
"Well, but we were studying the hab,
/ its of insects, such as mosquitoes anC
6AtAtog @AAs OAOnh ANAAyAAGALulCu L4GAlO
| trying to look solemn. Reginald subsi
ded, and ths graeelsss couple seated them.
selves under broad beech. Presently
/ they heard Reginald's voice say, "And 81
! you are pOetess, Miss Lavender ?''
"Yes," replied the pOetess cOnfidenti.
ally, ~ have written poems on The
Death of Columbus and THE Rose and
Observation-Disclosures" p"
"She must have exhausted those themes,
commented Echo.
''What a varied genius - was tho
knights equally unkind reply.
As the day wore on, Echo neglected
Laneelot, flirting shamefully with Vie
tor, who was in the seventh heaven OF
delight-a proceeding at which LancelOt
grew justly indignant, and tried to re-
venge himself and pique Echo, by flirt-
ing with Lucy, casting the NEST tender
glances, signing, etc, all the time secret
ly hoping Echo was watching him; but
finding that she coolly ignored his at
sulky. Meanwhile, Echo, who was as
capriciOus and as hard to catch as her
namesake, was amusing herself very
pleasantly; she smiled sweetly, and even
went to the length of giving Victor a
flower tied with knot of blue ribbon,
which he Immediately kissed and put in
to his pocket.
ooh, you silly Victor!" sighed she,
rather softly.
81 am no sillier than any other fellow
would be under the circumstances, said
Victor-Echo raised her eyes, and for n
moment looked into his face, then drop
ping her long lashes, she bent her bright
head, and affected to arrange her flowers.
"Fhat an awful hirt that girl is ~
thought LancelOt glOOmily.
20 man cares how much of dirt girl
is, So long as she turns her attention to
himself; but no sooner does she toss him
smile, and cry, ''AH rerOir, DsORSieurf''
then what says his lOrdship? a
shameful nirt she isr'
When the time came for their return
home, LancelOt and Victor each begged
TO be allowed to carry Miss Tudor's bas-
ket of flowers.
(Which shall choose? ~ she asked,
looking from one TO the other, in pretty
perplexity; you, VictOr!' giving him
the basket with her brightest smile, re-
gardless of Sir LancelOt's tragic glance.
The four lovers fell behind the rest, lin
gering TO whisper and lOiter as only low
ers know how. As the party neared
EchO's home, Victor was Obliged to tear
Mmself-away, rs Mark Townsend "wish
ed 10 speak - him for a mOment;" so
Lancelot was left TO carry the fiOwers.-
Nellie and her lover strolled along farth-
CT OlAs AAA NAAt kA0 n tlC NAOltG at kAlC ZslNts
'sGOod-night." she half whispered
"Sir Lanceloti'' letting her hand rest in
his for a moment.
"Inever knew before that my name
was so pretty" he replied seutimentally;
"Call me Sir Lancelot always, will you
nOtg''
Certainly, if you like it, she laugh
ed. Goodnight, again"
Goodnight" he responded, and as
shas IL 1Hs Il.
and seeing him still standing there, flung
him flower; then without waiting for
his thanks, she ran into the house, en-
cOuntering Mrs. Tudor at the head of the
stairs.
''Who was with yoH, Echo?" she ask
ed.
''OnlY Mr.. Verschoyle, mammal Echo
replied, dropping her eyes.
''But where is Nellie?" inquired mann
ma.
ooh! She and Dick walked on little
way
LaneelOt often saw Echo after this
Nellie, who was soon to be married and
to live in pretty little house on the hill,
asked her sister one day if she would not
walk with her, as she was going to see
about some of the arrangements in her
future home. Echo assented, but being
ready sooner than Nellie, grew impati-
stairs, ''Nell, can't wait any longer
III walk on, and you can join me-"
Every well-and wait for Inc in the
churchyard; - so Echo turned her foot
steps towards the hill, where the brown
church stood distinctly against an in
tensely blue sky, its golden cross glitter
ing like a star in the afternoon light, and
where lowering tree, like cloud of
purple bloom, shed its petals on the grass
,.I . L
walked in; but the first object that met
her eyes, made her stop and stare in a
maZement; it was LancelOt, evidently a
sleep, bis hat off, his closely cropped
head pillowed on his arm, and his clear
ly-eut profile in relief against the grey
stone. AS she paused, uncertain wheth-
er to come in or to turn back, Lancelot
lifted his head with jerk, and exelaim-
ell, "By Jovel Miss Tudor"
''Sir Laneelot sleeping" laughed Echo,
mockingly-"TIis knightship In new as
pect."
IL assure you, wasn't asleep; just
Strolled in, and it was so quiet and sun
shiny that | flung myself down on the
grass, and cOgitated, until heard the
gate opening" asserted Sir Lancslot.-
Then they were both silent. A wild pas
sion flower trembled ia the sunny glare I;
Il shy little brown lizard darted along
the fence, aud rustled into the leaves TO
hide itself. The wind shook lightly the
purple blossoms overhead. Ii was all so
still, so bright-EchO was vaguely touch
ed and stirred without knowing wby.-
Such golden moments come into our lives
sometimes, and often slip by unnOted.-
All! if Lancelot had only spoken then,
what trouble they would have been spar
ell.
''Echo," he began in an agitated tone,
and suddenly broke OF.
''Ohi there is Nell; good afternoon Mr..
Nerschoyle,' she cried, and was gone in
moment, leaving him standing discon-
solately among the graves.
That very evening as Echo sat alone in
the parlOr, by the open window which
faced the street, she saw several men COM
ing toward the house. The room was
dim, and where she sat in the shadow of
the curtain, she could not be seen; but
/ she could hear distinctly what was said
outside. As they they passed they were
/ evidently rallying one of their party on
/ his devOtien TO some one. With surprise
Echo heard her own name mentioned,
and then yoice-LancelOt's Voice-eX-
/ claimed impatiently: "Nousense! she is
only Il nice little girl, very pretty, and
/ pleasant enough to tlirt with, when no
one better is present" Their voices and
! footsteps died away in the distance, le9v-
ing the street quiet and deserted. But
| EchO-my poor EchO-tkere she stood
I straight and slim, with burning cheek:
and heaving breast, one hand grasping
the window-sill fiercely.
''The wretch!'' she mutterod, between
her teeth. ''To speak of me in such
way after looking and acting so. Stop
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