Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-03-10
Fancies from Life.
By J. X. PRESTON.

at is no use, brother, you must qui, the
terrible habit Drinking and gambling have
ruined thousands; therefore, | implore you to
stop ere i, is too late" The speake. a lady Of
perhaps twenty five or ihirry years. Eat EARN
e.,Iy pleading w..h a youth Of nineteen or
twenty summers.
Tall, dark complexioned, black, piercing
eyes, squilinc nose aud mouth that ex-
pressed dcterminat on-such is Arthur Han
ley-in his hands he holds a copy Of Green
leafs Evidence-s apparently q lawyer.
He had entered the great field Of life seethinx
and swarming with Sretche humanity.
The old year was .obbne itself into the past
the new year W - standing imparirnty on the
threshold OF time, waiting to whiri itself into
the present with gay, glad rush OF fea'hery
snow.
The sister gazed fondly on the face OF her
idolized brother, and bright visions Of the
future disPeIIed the gloon Of the present.
Her fancies painted the path Of the future in
COLLEEN hues-he should he an orator. In
years to come words Of burning eloqutnce
should trembie from his dear fps; laurel
crowns OF fame should rest on his dark brow;
his hand should be clasped by esrths greatest
men aLd fairest women. Earnest words
would bless him; sweetest words would
praise hm. Thus the sister unused on until
the sinking sun sent slanfns shadows a,hwart
the dreamers face; aud the dark black eyes
OF Arthur gszed questoninSIy into the sisters
face.
Years sped away; there came one bitter
day in Clsrice Hanley's Iife-Clsrice, such
was the sisters name-one shadow Of q com
ing future. In those Yeas none read its
darkness; only Clarice felt for a moment its
gloom. l was at picnic in the woods.
The tall forest trees stood stately and motions
less in the sutry atmosphere Of a summers
day, and 10 their shadow, where the
sofiest grasses yielded to the foot aud velvet
moses grew about rocks, where the delicate
gray lichens swung. A merry crowd of
youth spotted through the day. Among them
Arthur Hanley: his companion girl Of six
teen or seventeen bright years. She was
small and delicate as some wild wood flower,
bot gay aud wild as gay-winged bctteray.
Katie (such they called he'), and a rlhur, two
years her senior, REGARDED her with an intense
though timid admiration Nothing could win
him from her side. He played no game save
rs her companion; he crowned her fair head
with forest wreathes and scattered flowers
about her mossy seat. When evenin. shad.
ows sent the pleasure seekers bomeward the
girl cheek burned with cainaton hues at the
thrilling words Of love lac was so ardently
speakiux.
Years have passed since Arthur HanIey
and Katie met last A destiny uncontrolled
by the si-ters love awaited Arrhrr. Katie
came one moonlight night back into the
memory Of the young man Ii had Ianed sii
day, and the very earth sem out a sweet in.
cense upon that summer night. The air was
heavy with the fragrance o; meny flowers,
and the rich, spicy odors Of dripping foliage,
with all the lrxuranse OF the summer nigh,
intoxicating his senses. there came to him
vision OF rsrest iovelin~ss. Among a gay
throng Of votsries OF pleasure he saw her.
clad in a dark blue robe, white trimmed, like
foam cresis from the oceans biilow, suTropn-
ded her; golden b'own hair fell over her
shapely shoulders. A face as fair aud innO-
cent. and scarcely dnged with color;ns, as
one Of Rsphsels angels, wooing crimson lips,
soft, earnest voice, eyes gay and lustiOus,
burning into mems souls, had this woman.
Half an hour Cf that summers night " as
heaven itself TO the man who stood a Kstie 3
side, and let her eyes bun into the pu'ay Of
| his heact. Half an hour-and the low kyood
night and sligin caress Of hands that euded il.
left blood. scorching like fire, rioiing through
| the veins Of Arthur. Through the long sum-
mer days he, with his qs'ief MANAGES, earnest
face and thoughtful eyes. proclaimed: Love
is real! love is earnest!" and the woman,
! sweetest Of sorceresses, were continual COM
paoions They wandered in the forest, hand
in hand; they sang so2ttber in the moonlight,
and talked Of love, ethics and seiisioa under
| the ho,rhs of the sre.t onks There was m
need to speak OF love; Katie knew that she
| held the man sool in her keeping; and be
knew no life but the d,su.h Of bliss she held
to his lips, and then in coqnetry dashed for
ever iIom him A purple haze rested on the
hillS and the oaks cnm>oned and paied in
the October ssnsbine Katie we1t ba;k To
her home and other love,s.
:. Arthur bcc.m. i'll Ciaiice vas ooce more
the pecesssry be..g in her bGo,hers life. She
asked no questions she knew without any
revcIssians thas . hs.ssless woman hasi
played whh costly edefiae, thea rushlesely
cad 4 sside. She nusssd hin hseh - ife
/ and 6ssed sp,ss isso his EaIe cheeka When
lagnia wsIl - diapPeascj- from his hasnis
! az.:eaG ftieodb. Thea came ruu~ behad
enns EatG and had married . d1o 81
sosrow and srush his Sasmss love-64 &
vain ...e
EnaRds1 eqnssssiep i s(5psR 7
;El.ra. LESfNszs~. - 49,
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