The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-12-19
AT LAST A HERO,
By NIXIL DUHRlNG.

81 wish could see real live hero"
and Frederetta Floyd closed her richly
bound Tcnnyson and leaned back in her
chair. "If | had lived in those days of
knightly chivaIry, how proudly | should
have bent my head to wear the jewel OF
love bestowed upon me by such as
Ceraint, LanceloJ of the Lake, Sir Gala
had, but the signing swans of to-day
substitute words for deeds, ard, if tested,
would not turn a finger should it en-
danger their precious lives. Pshaw; it
makes me impatient to compare them ~
and she rose from her chair energetically
and walked across the room to the west
ern window, where the mysterious,
silent beauty of n September afternoon
wrought itself into the surrounding land
scape,
And do you think the nineteenth
century deficient in heroes 7"
She turned quickly at the interroga-
ton from the reclining iOrm on the
lounge. She may have felt slightly
guilty, for her remarks had been a tact
condemnation of that person. But she
flashed out excltedly:
eyes, do think the present age de-
fCient in heroes | am firm believer
in the good old times"
A pair of deep blue eyes looked at her
with something of admiration in theil
unread depths, aud a gentle, with a
rather pale but handsome face, and a
slight, elegant figure, rose from the so'a
and walked across to her side at the
window. Sac looked almost scOrniully
at the-it ieemed to her--eii9minate
man beside her. Would he ever drop
this unrufliad mien and do something
she did not care what-that would be-
token energy?
"Well, there is no use in getting Cross
over it," he said, coolly; well have to
take the world now as we find it. Come,
get your hat and walk with me" laying
his hand on her shoulder halt caressingly.
"rhe.e rare days will pas all too soon,
and we shall not have erj'yed them
thoroughly"
Something in his touch shot through
her little electric thrill. Sac did not
know the latent power he held over her /;
dimly Swallowed forth as yet, it irritated
her-when he willed, it would control
her. A casual observer would pro-
nounce her the most positive character
of the two, physiognomist would pros
nounce differently.
They stepped out into the golden air,
and walked leisurely to an arbOr at the
foot of the garden. He was lriend of
her brothers, and Frederetta wondered
what Will found in him SO attractive
Only few days OF their vacation re-
manned, and then they would 20 back to
the city.
Everett Reynolds had found his
friends nome singularly attractive, made
80 by the presence OF tredereLta, whose
Maynard moods he loved to study,
though he knew it not.
Her book which she had brought along
with her lay on her lap. She threw off
her hat on the rustic seat, and Everett,
looking at her with half closed eyes,
thought within himself how fair she
looked with the checkered sunlight
caressing her low brow and bright brown
hair, her white dress and pink ribbons
investing hei with tine charm which be-
coming dress gives to woman.
"Won't you read to me ?" he asked at
length.
"You do not admire Tennyson?' lit.
ing her lashts to let her eyes resi- upon
his face. "You always rate him low when
| speak in his favor
"You are mistaken do admire him,
and | think nothing finer than The
'Idvis'"
He took the book and began to turn
the leaves. Frederetta eyed him anx-
iously; it came 10 her suddenly that
more was here than met the eye. lie
pissed the book to her 0, en- at "Enid."
u HYou like that ?" she asked; "the