The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-18
FOR THE LAST TIME.
From the Atlantic Monthly.
MISS HARDY To JACK DESMOND.

trust you not TO misunderstood me!
thank you thousand times for the way
in which you have accepted my letter;
but why-why ask me now TO keep that
old promise Of nine? You, a man, can
afford 10 speak with sneer of the "bends
of conventionslity;" but L
NY window has just blown open and
food of sunshine has rushed in,. chased
by the soft spring wind. The world is
warm, and smells of violets. After all,
why not take that zone last ride" with
you? Why not bid pleasant farewell
70 my Bohemian days? Let our little
Roman world talk if it pleases! l will
go! Get my fsvorite Olga, and let the
horses be ready tomorrow moning at
eight o'clock. / take you at your word
and go, feeling quite safe from my allus-
ion TO the past.
Your friends as long as you like,
ELEANOR HATpY.
Late! OF course you are lateW said
Jack Desmond, at hslf.past eight o'clock
the next morning; but why should you
mind that? Punctuality Is at once the
most masculine and the most unsympath-
ethic of virtues; how can punctuality and
Miss Hardy be anything but inconpati
BILE terms? Mind you are light with
your curb to-day, Miss Hardy. Olga has
not been out for a week" He swung him
self lightly Into the saddle; the two
horses threw up their heads impatiently,
scrambled down the bank by the road
side, and started gsyly off in the morning
sunshine. The old carriage road to Ostia
i. out OF the Porta San Sebsstiano. On
either side of the way the high Roman
walls shut out the Indiscreet gaze OF the
passers by. Here and there an arched
stone gateway, surmeunted by two moss
covered granite cannon balls or half
broken Greek vase, shows a grim of some
old garden with. stately cypress trees and
avenues of trimmed and fantastic box at
farther end of which some shattered
marble figure CLEANS whitley through the
shade.
Eleanor glanced shyly at her compsn
ion. ais there much of this pavement
shelssked, with an elaborate attempt ut
establishing their conversation on an easy
and impersonal footing; IL always felt a
wild desire to gsllop my horse over the
stones, in spite of every ones warnings.
Look at that dear Olgsl she finds it as
tiresome as do, and is quite longing to
make bolt, at the risk of breaking both
our necksW
AS you are strong, be msrciful," said
Desmond, lightly. Olga and yourself
are both in my charge to-day, please re-
r,a,,hor .nJ H. Van HorJ,Iand. ,yiIl
hold me responsible for all your joint
misdemeanors. Try TO curb your imps.
thence as well as your horse until We have
reached the church." he added, pointing
forward with his whip; "there's a glor-
ious place for canter after that"
In a few moments more they had pass
ed the rich facade of San Paolo fuori
dele Mura, and had clsttered along the
stone colonnsde; they settled themselves
back in their saddles, the road gave a
sweep, and in another instant the horses
were canteriDg wildly over the strip of
short daisy hitened turf that boarders
the foot path.
"Ah, this is what like!" said Eleanor;
now We are out Of Rome" The fresh
morning wind blew back the blonde
masses of her hair and brought peach.
blossoms bloom TO the pale, flower-hKe
face. Isn't this glorious, Mr.. Desmondl
feel like an escaped prisoner. Think
OF all the poor people who are just getting
up to dismal and tepd cups Of coffee all
over the town.
Dismal? Perhaps! The san is over
cast enough TO make an apartment in a
narrow street, the reverse of cheerful this
morning, but why should all the coffee
be tepid, Miss Hardy? Is there any
thing in your being on horseback so
I early TO account tor such n change OF
| temperature N every body's breakfast?
Or DO you refer dguratively TO the blight
under which Rome is lying when you
leave it?'
You are pleased to be sstiricaI as we'll
as literal minded, Mr. Desmond" retort
| ed Eleanor. "As though you could hope
to understand what feel at the prospect
of forty miles on horseback, and not q
call to make not note TO answer, not q
stuped person 10 entertain, and, CROWN
ing JOY of all, the whole day id riding
habit without ones dress to changed"
But how you will miss your aunt"
said Desmond. They looked 1t each
other and both burst out laughing.
That is exceedingly wrong of you"
said Eleanor, becoming suddenly grave
81 only laughed because you took me by
surprise. My aunt is yer, good"
Very" said Desmond, quickly; IL
am sure no one can doubt that Ms. Van
Cordtlandt is 8 most interesting compar =
ion, and an invaluable authority in case
q csrd is not returned in time, or the
Van Rosevelts Of Albany are in danger
horrible thought of being confronted
with the old Van Rosevets OF New York
There is nothing narrow minded, of
course, in such q view Of life"
Indeed that Is more than can be said
for YOUR ideas Of life" said Eleanor, flush
ing little as she spoke. ARTISTS, and
people generally who go in for being 'cul-
tiva,ed,' always pretend to be such broad
minded, tolerant men, and l don't be-
heve l met one yet who could endure for
half an hour q conversation on subjects
of general interest without being bored
YES and showing It too!'
subjects OF genera ihteiea' eAio
Desmond, inquiringly; and this includes
all the artists and Gterateps OF your
acouaintarssl Now do you know,
Miss Hardy, I've always noticed that q
voman's most sweeping attack, her mos,
crushing generalization, is aimed at some
r.,t;cul.S man. i wonder ii il 10 only
nv guilty conscience which makes
me remember thst last reception At the
WHITES, where had the pleasure OF
meeting you. and where that prs'sy Mrs.
Dulmsn's dress, appearance and manner,
and the uomentous question Is to vheth-
ar that exquisite complexion Of hers is
ov;nv 70 cosmetics or 70 natura were re
w;avsd and criticised all the time We