Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-09-19
ONLY L SUMNER DREAM,

u June morning all DrlSntneSS, ana
gladness, and sunshine, and a young
girl tripping up green lane edged with
trimly-clipped hedge, her berry bask-
ct swinging from her arm, and her dim
pied face crimson with health, and ex-
ercise, as she danced into the door-yard
ola cosy farmhouse, singing as gaily as
the thrushes in the dewy meadows by
the river side. Her blue bingham dress
was damp with dew, and chung to her
figure like wet rag her hat was bat
tered and torn with brambles, but un-
derneath its tattered rim danced a pair
Of blue eyes that shone like stars, and
curling down about the ivory-white
throat were rings of hair that looked
like waves of yellow gold. She was as
lovely picture Of beauty unadorned,
as one could imagine 4; but when is a
pure, supplemented young girl not
beautiful And Jessie Harper, in spite
Of her seventeen years, was as guileless
as little child, and as the waxen lilies
she loved to gather from the perfumed
waters of Lilly pond"
Mother" shouted the fresh young
voice, as she entered the breezy hall,
''there's not berry in the clearing {;
but the lily buds are just open"
Jessie paused in charming confusion {:
for stranger stood in the cool hall
talking to her mother-a stranger,
young and handsome, although his deli
cate face lacked the hue of health.
This is Mr.. Jannings, our summer
boarder, my daughter" said her gentle
faced mother, with a disappearing
glance at her daughters flushed face
and dew-wet garments.
Mr.. Jannings!" cried Jessie, with
the frank impulsiveness Of child, as
she laid her dimpled fingers in the thin
palm of the stranger, why, I thought
Mr.. Jannings, was old, and"
Ugly" laughed Mr.. Jannings, as
he gazed admirlngly into the lovely
face, thinking in his heart what very
sweet and piquant face it was.
Yes, just that" laughed Jessie,
withdrawing her hand with vivid blush,
and darting out through a side door like
a frightened bird.
she is such child" was the quiet
mothers apology, as Jessie disappeared
among the vines that cluster about the
kitchen porch, singing, whistle and
I'll come to you, my lad land the only
comfort we have"
Mr.. Paul Jannings gazed at the quiv-
ering vines that hid Jessie's sylph-like
figure from him and thought 1t must be
rare comfort, indeed, to have such a
face as that forever at ones hearth
stone. He had more than once rebelled
against his physicians orders, "a quiet
summer at some coantry farmhouse"
but if this young girls company was as
charming as her face, he did not dread
the languid days and silent purple
twilight hours that had been such
horror to HIM.
AS for Jessie, she was too much
bewildered by Mr.. Jannings' youthful
appearance to think clearly on any SUBJ
ject. She had expected him to be old,
ugly, equity and whimsical-all her
mother former boarders had been that
but instead, she saw tall, graceful,
youthful man, with the most bewitching
velvety black eyes in the world, not too
ill to be cross, Or helpless to excite all
her womanly sympathies in his favor.
But she resolutely avoided HIM all that
day, only singing softly to herself, when
she knew he was resting on the lounge
IN the parlor ; and when her evening
work was done, went off by herself,
down the path that led to the lily pond,
leaving Mr.. Jannings to enjoy his cigar
on the shaded portico. But Paul jan
ning's sharp black eyes caught a
glimpse of a white dress disappearing
through the shrubbery, and in an instant
his cigar was flung into the grass, and
he was following Jessie at swinging
pace.
Il declare feel stronger already"
he SAID to himself, as he drew in great
mouthfuls of the delicious evening air.
An increase Of strength he rejoiced in,
moment later for when he reached the
bank Of the pond, Jessie was standing
upright in frail shell of boat, which
by some mischance or other, struck
projecting root, and capsized, hurting
Jessie into mass of water-lily plants,
whose fibrous roots held her down.
Paul leaped into the water and drew her
out, painting and half-smothered.
"What did you follow me for !" was
Jessie's petulent query, when they
reached the bank.
''To save you from drowning, I sup
pose" was Mr.. Jannings' reply, as he
leaned against tree, for the sudden
fright and exertion had almost mastered
his strength. Jessie was vigorously
wringing the water out of her dripping
garments, but she glanced up earnestly
into his pale face, the, weakness in
his voice alarming her.
Forgive met" she said, pitifully.
"You are wet and chilled. I ought to
be thankful you were here. l believe
those roots would have held me down
until I would have smothered. What
lovely shroud | would have had !"