The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-08
4 STORY OF
PASSION AND JEALOUSY.
BY 5. c. A.

The sunshine fickered through the
leaves and played on the tangled ferns
and maiden's hair. The birds sang
sweetly as they hoped from branch to
branch. The tall pines nodded their
proud heads as the breeze passed whis-
pering through them at their feet, the
proiusion Of tsH grasses denoted the
dAmpness Of the shady woodland In
the distance a low, musical murmur
betrayed the fall of a-eascade- Orerbead
the bright, blue sky was dotted with
heecy clouds, waiting for the SUMS sharp
needles TO knit them into shadowy
blankets for the hills below Allnature
seemed at peace.
Suddenly, low laughter rang through
the forest and was echoed from the hills
behind. The noise Of cracking brush
and the rustling of dead. leaves sti'led
the song OF the merry birds as a youth
and maiden appeared and stood beneath
the waving pines.
What beautiful spot, Ed! Spread the
shawl, and let US rest here awhile" said
the girl in joyous tones.
The young man took the shawl care
lessly from its resting place on his
shoulder, and spread it out, stretching
himself at full length thereon.
The young girl stood leaning against a
tree, hat in hand, looking wistfully
through the long path by which they
had come.
"I say, don't you think it rather
damp here ?' interposed Ed.
But the girl did not hear. He turned
and glanced curiously up in her face
the face of his fances, noting, as he did
so, with the true Characteristic of a
critic, the lack Of regularity in her
features, the pale complexion, the thin
cut lips, the dark eyelashes, shading the
expressive grey eyes.
While he mentally took in these points,
she turned quickly, and, looking him
full in the face said Well, what do
you think Of me ?'' He flushed slightly
as he answered, Pm afraid my opinion
would not interest you"
" No but can easily guess it. 1t
would not be very difficult" she retorted
bitterly.
A long pause followed these words,
broken only by the renewed twitter of
the birds and the measured stroke of a
woodman's ak in the distance. Ed
braided and unbraided the fringe of the
shawl. Marian, for so was the young
girl called, tied and united the strings OF
rhat
Finally Ed. broke forth, ''I say, Ma
rian, why do we always fall into this
strain of talking when we are alone ?"
81 had not noticed that we did, but If
it bores you we had better bring Aunt
Mary next time we come" interrupt d
Marian.
The young mans face clouded, but he
only said "Perhaps it would be better
to bring Aunt Mary. and leave me be-
hind"
Marian's eyes flashed; color came to
her pale face, as she answered, That
arrangement would please me very well. :"
Ed. rose, and bowling low before her
said, Perhaps Miss Gray weuld prefer
Aunt Mary's society to mine now"
"I certainly would at the present mo-
ment," she said, hastily.
The young gentleman raised his hat,
and with a Z" Good afternoon" he walked
quickly away into the forest, and was
soon lost to sight.
Tears came to Marian's eyes when the
last footsteps had died away, and she eat
down on the crumpled shawl.
"He Is very unkiud to go and leave
me like that. | do believe he is jealous
because Harold Watson paid me So much
attention last night" Her thoughts took
another direction, and the handsome face
of Harold Watson came before her eyes.
How warmly he had pressed her hand in
the Lanciers at the party the night
bsfore. He was going away, ne mad said,
hut hoped to return soon, for the little
town of N had many attractions Tor
him. The tears were dried, as she