New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-19

i
. "But Why do you stopi mean, what di
}, you do 1t fort" asked Thomas.
"For fun" said Orlando; I'VE have bee
j; discussing it for the last week"
Q Thomas said NO moro. He was siler
. while they went through locks, and eve
4 while the veteran spoke Of supper. 81
|. seulied mechanically. and wondered VII
! and why, If the world Of romance was
FOOLS paradise, it was slwsys his lot to
+ the fool.
"WronR, - usual" he muttered, -
tied up the boat, and - his eye caught tn
futter OF . gown, he added, "Thanl
I Heaven" 1t was clear that the tale mus
lind some other end.
CHAPTER ".
For tits . question loft us yet to prove.
Whether love led f0lt tune. or else fortune love-"
The impressionable Thomas did not sleel
we'll after the shooting OF the weir. He wa
abroad early, saw the mist rise slowly from
the river, and felt the chill air of dawn. Al
he walked briskly toward the house Or
land0 stepped through . window with I
great towel flung across his shoulder
selzed him and carried him off for . dip.
"Look here" said the young hero. a.
they went toward the bsth house, II must
90 away to-day"
"Go away :" echoed Thomas, blsnkly.
"You can stay, of course" said the other,
but Why do You GOT"
"The complicated nineteenth century has
intruded on me. My mother has sent for
me-"
"And you don't much mina going ~
asked Thomas, with hesitation.
"Why should mind ~ aeked his friend,
with curious emphasis, ss he pulled of his
flannel shirt. Thomas sat meditating, with
bis mouth open and boot in his hand. Or
lando laughed aloud, drew himself up,
stretched his shapely arms above his head,
leaped like . deer, and flashed like Leander
into the cool stream, After . few minutes
he was back again, brilliant, glowing and
cropped curls. Thomas was sorely puzzled.
Certainly this strayed athlete belonged to Q
| time when romance was not. This creature,
shouting, singing and laughing in the fresh
sunlight, was NO lover just summoned from
the side of his mistress. And yet, how pull
. girl out of the water and not love her
He began to feel very sorry for Miss Jeanne,
had cleaned with his blue eyes and his
careless heart. up Dor child" he murmured
to himself again and again, surprised at the
tenderness Of his own pity. He could gym.
pathize with her; there was . melancholy
pleasure in tho thought. At breakfast he
was very uncomfortable. When his friend
announced his approaching departure he
dared not raise his eyes. and yet he seemed
to see the trouble in = sweet young face.
Az he was staring 1T his plate and feeling
very hot, he heard her speaking in her us-
ual tone and saying how sorry abe vas He
was lost in wonder ut her mOdeety and solf.
control. He could not help looking ct her,
and he hoped that his glance expressed
sympethy without giving odense, but she
only thought that he wanted his tea.
Must You go, tool" she asked. - she
mo; Yes. mean think had better
I'VE shall be sorry to lose you both at
once" said Mr.. Dorian, looking obviously
at the young man.
II am afraid l should not be much good
alone. mean shall be better away" and
he gave an appealing look to Miss Jeanie
her cup with great earnestness. 1t was no
part Of her duty as hostess to press young
men to stay. So breakfast passed with less
than the usual gaiety, and Orlando having
exhorted Mr.. Dorian to try pair of clubs,
and advised Miss Tubb and her pupils to
devote their whole minds to their shout
ders, entered his boat. Miss Dorian was
with her crisp gown gathered carefully |
about her. THANK You . thousand times" |
he said, as he pushed of. "for the most |
splendid fun" As he swung out into the |
stream, Thomas came running from the
house. chi" cried he, II am going with |
you"
mo, you are not" said Orlando, unable
to row for laughter. Thomas was seriously |
annoyed. He was unable to Gee the humor |
Of this schoolboy trick. 1t was embarrass.
ing to be left when the hero had gone out |
of the story. The romance was to end. a. |
some romances do, with Q woman's sorrow |
and patience; and this was clearly no place |
for him. He humbly asked pardon of Miss |
Dorian, and prom 'sed to 60 away by train. |
He went gloomily into the house and sat
down to Bradshaw; but - he found himself |
after half an hours study earnestly en-
deavoring to reach the Isle of Man, he
abandoned the book and turned to packing.
Having packed until he felt silly, he left |
the task to the f0otman, and went out to
have Last look ct the place. There was
nobody about. Mr.. Dorian had gone to
town for the day. Miss Tubb IVES doing
the elegant English hour With tho Misses
over, and all the vitality of the place
seemed to have gone With that frank young
creature, who was far down the stream
poised ON extended SOULS, and laughing to
himself
Thomas went round the lawn and through
the shrubberies, visited the stable, where
he cast an unfavorable glance at the
ponies-and the farm, where he chucked .
stone ct the turkey cock. Thence he saun.
tered into the country lane, and strolling
onward, entered the path which
leads up to the easy -sloping downs. The
path passes through wood of beech trees,
which for the most part meet above it. On
the left these trees are q mere belt, and |
Thomas stopped again and again to look
with wonder at the visions of sweet country
framed in leaves. In come places the land
eloped gently downward from the wood.
and was heavy with upright wheat or bar
ley glancing in the sun like polished silver
floor; in others it fell sharply away, and
the gazer saw the country below
like another world in which were no
unquiet thoughts and longings. Sunlight
lay broad and deep on all the land,
and far away the blue-gray earth and gray
blue sky melted together as thought and
dream. Thomas sighed as he saw below
him the smoke rising straight from the hid.
den house. He was in . very sensitive
mood, and some deep feeling Of sympathy
was stirred within him as he watched the |
brown path culver with light and shade.
He saw the sunlight tangled in the beech
leaves, and started as long shaft slipped |
through and touched his upturned face
He was alone, and yet about him was
presence and . power. He passed the old
gate, which hung idle on it's rusty hinges,
yards from him Miss Dorian was seated,
and, as she turned with . start, he saw .
tear upon her cheek.
II did not know you were here. am
afraid startled you"
"Oh. no; but / am 60 sorry that ell the fun
is over"
Tney both spoke very quick, as if eager
4.