The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-12

was the snowy coth, the glistening
coffee pot; at the other end, bright
cover that | was sure would reveal ham
and eggs; there was the golden butter,
the delicious-loOking crusty loaf; and
neat-handed maiden, without any fuss,
placed an extra knife, fork, plate, and
cnair for me.
E'rell Miss Laura breakfast is ready"
said the Old rector. "She Is in the gar
deD." Then turning to me: "a word to
put you at your ease" he said, sadly.
"My poor dan inter suffers from a terri
Bile mental tf1tctiou. Don't speak to
uer. Sac would not answer; she rarely
even speaks to u.s."
was quite prepared to see the lady /
mad encountered in the wood glide into
the room and take her place opposite,
ant thi, she did without noticing me;
aud though l had been rayenou,l hun
cry just before, somehow her presence
SO affected me that l made but poor
breakfast.
AS We finished, the poor girl rose and
gllded away again, shortly afterward
followed by her mother.
"Pool girlv l said involuntarily, and
then l started, yeXed at my indlscre-
ton, for the rector laid his hand upon
my arm, saying softly:
"rhank youp
He looked at me as interpreted it, as
il he would like to be Questioned and l
Yentured to say
"Has she always been sop
"No, No." said the old man sadly !;
''tne hower was bright and vigorous
once, Dut d blight came upon it, ana
since then it has faded slowly till il
drooped as you see it now. Thy king
dom come, Thy will be done.'"
Il
lnaudlble tone, but l caught two o.
three, and was able mentally to ill in
the rest.
81 can hardly think it was that" said
the o.d rector sadly, but she has faded
away ever since this time three years
ago, when gentleman OF about your
| age was down here fishing"
"rne old story" said bitterly.
"No, my friend, no; he as staying at
liLlle tar:n close by, and asked leave tO
| fish, just rs you have, and L showed him
lrltie uf hospitality. 1 believe him to
have been IL gentleman in every sense OF
the word, and at times | tank he must
have made strange impression on my
poor child. He was only here Tor three
days, and we nave never seen him since
Perhaps it is only fancy, and my poor
glr1s's ailment may prUceel from other
|
| water"
| Leading the way the old gentlema
| took me across the slOplng meadows,
and left me at last by as Deuu iiui little
trouJ.stream as ever aw.
| "Inere," he said, 81 won't stop, but ii
there is no gu Of rise, come aud have
a bit OF luucn. We shall diue at two, 81
as to leave you free for the evening
wnen tue trout are sure to come on.
| Before | could utter word Of protest
he was gone; and then with that NJ
| UiOus tIout-sLream before me, my lack
IN my hand, and The May fl es darling Vi
| ana down, L, an ardent fisherman, Tor
got all, and sat down upon an OLD stump
trying 20 bring up oId memories hall
/, rgotLeu story told me Uy quaint RALPH
barley, my old Trend and com
panIon, who mad told me to go and Try
this water; old Ralyh, the mi7ogy mist
inc dry, grumpy fellow, who had tolr
me one Night in his chambers in the
Temple, in one OF his rare bursts OF cunh
| uence, as we sat at tue open WlnooA
| smoking, how he had once seen elrl
whom he could have loved with all III
neart, but poverty, dread OF refusal ant
moral coward4ce mad kept him back.
Il have got itn said suddenly, alte
sitting there Tor quite an hour, ant
jumping up l looked at my watch ant
tue leai OF a lime. able. Yes. l coult
lust do it-catcu The tram up. Blu
could l get by the rectory unseen?
| tried, and found another way acros
to The lane by whlcn l came; aud making
all the haste l could, just painted up i
the little station as the up-Lrain crawIe,
in.
Two hours later / was in Ralph
room, where he was pouring over u Dr.
briel.
"Hullov he said. looking up. I"
thought you were of ii ti,hing."
Eyes" said, puJlng ON tue gross de
ceiyer; Il did ruu down to tue plac
you told me Of"
! "Iudeedw ne said, looking interested
: hut sinking back, nall closing his eye,
with a sad smile upon ms lip, wuic
seemed TO say, "An! If that could haV
been"
Yes" l continued, "the trout are o
h wonderfully, May y-hres in abundance.
hadn't the heart though to tisn alone, &
8 | | came back to you, without Wetting
| fine, Come, let's start by the first IRA
A in the morning. You make plenty
, money now. Have day"
HIS eyes sparkIed as he grasped N
| hand.
"rhis is kind of you, old fellow.
, SHOULD enjoy it above all things, and,
i Ives, | could spare day. But no-no
, lie said, sadly, IL won't co."
"Nonsense!' cried, "yOu SHALL"
/ "No," he said, "that place is assoc
ateu with something very depressing
a INV mind. l can't go"
4 aMy dear aalph,"l 1 said, II have con
4 back on purpose 10 fetch you, and {
| you must"
My persistence prevailed, and trer
O Dling ior the success OF my plan to sue
I an extent mat lay awake all night II
lear should mss the train, | rose al
3 took my bath at four; got kalpn off; ar
/ we ran down by the same Lraih vs. L III
IS gone by on the previous morning, vii
my friend growing more silent and d
, nressed as we reached the s alton al
: walked across toward the reetory.
"lps Just three years since L WI
down here, he said sadly, as we q
> preached the copse, show sweetly u
birds singW
1 maneuvred 80 that he should 90 frs
a having ior excuse the narroWness of tt
dew-sprent pain; and as hopea, SO
y fell about, for letting him get a Jew yart
in advance, hung back as Ralph turnt
, the corner by the stile, When there vi
a wild Cry, a sharp ejaculation, and
r saw door Laura literally leap to h
5 breast and nestle there, exclalming, 81
last! at lastP'
r "My poor GIRL" he cried in falterir
t tones, astounded, delighted, and enuir