The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-01
THE TWO ROBERTS.


of air was stirring in the branches Of the
trees. Now and then an invisible night birc
piped solitary note to keep him company
and soft waves Of light streamed over the
hills as the queenly moon, well attended by
her guards, rode indolently down the broad
highway Of heaven. The blue dome, looking
soft as velvet, was, like the tabled path Of
love, strewn thickly with the golden kisses Of
the stars
AS he gained the last hill, whose summit
gazed on the little watering place which was
for few weeks to be his destination, he in
voluntarily drew rein and sat silent a moment
enjoying the moonlight scene On his left an
old-fashioned brick house reared its twisted
chimneys aloft So close was he to it that its
sharp gables seemed to cut the air over his
head, and only strip Of green lawn, Dor.
dered by horse-chestnut trees, separated him
from the windows, cleaning In the moon
light.
Sceptre and crown I'd fling them down.
If / might
Robert Edbury hushed his song when he
perceived for the first time his very close
proximity to the house and the windows.
"The substantial home of some substantial
move on, or his daughters may think / am
Serenading them
Too latel Just then window was opened
softly overhead, and lady's face appeared at
1t. In the rush of bright moonlight Robert
caught sight Of the long ripple Of gold -gleam
ing hair, and was sure that the face was love-
Iy. At any rate, the voice was.
Robert dear, Is 1t your
For half a minute Robert Edbury was mute
with surprise, and made no answer
alt is you, Robert. Why don't you speak,"
He spoke then, low, and with hesitation.
''How did you know it was I?'
"Of course knew it was you" There was
dash of petulance in the sweet voice now
who else but you would be riding and sing
ing in that absurd way at this hour of the
night, and halting before the house2 Have
you cold, Robcrt2 Your voice sounds diff
ferently from what it usually does.
Perhaps IL is the night air." answered
Robert, wickedly, and getting his wits par
TALLY together. cor | may have cracked it
with singing" But still he spoke in the most
sure of speaking with you
The very idea of your coming up on horse
back at this night hOurl You know you
ought not TO be out Why did you do it?
Where are you going? Into Spafield2"
"But what for?
$40 see II friend"
"Who is it?' came the quick response.
"Not-not Nelly Cameron shade of
rons receiving this EVENING"
mot that know of, returned Robert Ed
bury, promptly. 81 swear to you ] was not
going to see Nelly Cameron. i have not
spoken with a single young lady to-day, ex-
cept yourself"
''Poor Robert and n little laugh rppled
lightly on the air. But do go. You know
what your health Is, and that you have no
You ought to take better care of yourself.
You will be laid up tomorrow; your voice
already. sounds strange and altered. Good
night
estly, as ne leaped from his horse, fastened
the bride to the gate, and stepped inside be-
meath the window, where cleaned that mys-
FERROUS, enchanting face. Won't you give me
n flower? You can easily reach that cluster
ing vine by your easement. Perhaps
haps / shall wish to ask you some time to for
give me for some great offense. Won't you
give me a Hover for a token2"
"How strangely you talk. OF course would
give you Hover: but these are only honey
suckles, and you know we promised to give
each other nothing but roses. But stay!"-
the pretty voice caught itself. 81 have a
bunch OF violets on my table. Would you like
themW
Anything anything, that comes from your
hands whispered Robert, more sincerely
than he always spoke.
The bright face disappeared q moment from
the window and then returned white hand
"There, take them, and now you must go!
Quick / hear some one stirring. Suppose 1t
should be mamma Good night, dear Robert"
The window was softly closed, and in an
Instant after Robert was CROPPING for the VIC
lets in the wet grass. He found them where
they fell. But, ~ they were falling, the quick
eyes of Robert Edbury had discerned some
thing, bright Ms star, falling too. The small
strip OF grass where he had stood was en-
tirely in the shade, hidden from the light by
the large horse-chesnut trees, and he had to
grope in the dark for this gittering thing
An inStants search revealed it to be what he
suspeCted-a lady'S bracelet 1t was slender
circlct of gold, studded with crystal The
quick movement had unclasped it from her
arm, and Robert, with a smile, put it side by
side with the wthered bunch Of yiolets in his
pocket as he rode away.
Seeptre and crown I'd fling them down,
sang Mr.. Edbnry as he rode swiftly on in the
purple dusk of the trees ''Sceptre and crown
II had them, I'd fling them down for the one
bare chance Of hearing the lovely voice once
again"
He was alone; there was no one to see him:
and taking the violets out Of his pocket he
kissed them tenderly. 1t was most absurdly
silly of hun to do it; but who of us does not
do silly things in the heyday OF youths morn
ing? Silly things that we blush for after
ward, perhaps; just as Robert Edbury blush
cd when putting the violets again quickly
away.
IL,
Ii / might
But his song got no further than that; it died
away in thought.
Passing arm-hnd-arm down the crowded
dancing-room of the Spa the next evening,
with his friend Norton, Robert Edbury's
quick ear was caught Iva note which at once
arrested his attention. He had said that he
should know that divine voice again, hear it
wherever or whenever he might, and he was
not mistaken. cert ain remonstrance lay in
its tone. not to say llGbpllpf
But who could e been, Robert, II it
was not you? 1t ing lens me to think of it,
lit was somebody of your height and fig
ure. 1t must have been You, Robert
"Rut tell you IL was not Jessie. | should
like to know who it was
HE was a gentleman, | am sure''-with a
stress upon the word. You need not be put
out, Robert"
Robert Edbury turned and saw close beside
him, leaning on that other Roberts arm,
young girl surprisingly beautiful Roses
mingled with the bright gold of her hair.
shone in the bosom of her dress, and bunch