The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-02


do anything for her. She looked up at
him, revealing bewitching face dappled
with tears, and between her sobs told
him that she was wading in the stream
when horrible fish-hook caught in her
foot, and that while she was trying to get
it out it twitched two or three times, as
if there was something pulling at it.
Victor became pale. He knew all, and
he asked the lady to allow HIN to re-
move the hook. With feminine modesty
she refused, and Victor contented him
self by going for carriage. When he
returned he found that the fair sufferer
was named Beatrice Beaton, and that she
was a boarder at the pension where he
himself was stopping, and that she had
arrived that morning during his absence.
Mile. Beaton recovered rapidly from
the effects of her accident, but not too
rapidly to prevent Victor from becoming
well acquainted with her during his Wis
its of consolation. He became the at
tendant of Mile. Beaton and her mother,
widow, during their walks, and finally
was the sole companion of Beatrice on
almost all occasions. 1t was not long be-
fore he seemed to have fallen heir to
natures greatest and most troublesome
legacy to man.
One pleasant moonlight evening Beat
rice and her mother stood arm-in-arm at
a window as Victor sauntered toward the
house after stroll. Nine. Beaton's gaze
rested on him.
Beatrice, my love-" said she, "you had
better sit ON the veranda, where it is
cooler. ] am going up stairs for few
minutes"
The two exchanged glances, and as
Nine. Beaton moved off in one direction
Beatrice foated toward two chairs stand
ing so close together that they seemed tc
have caught some of the loving spirit Of
the happy couple who last occupied them
Before Victor had reached the house the
young girl had concealed theunromantit
form of one of the chairs behind her
gauzy but ample skirts, and was already
become part of the scene. As Victor
ascended the steps and his eyes met those
of Beatrice graceful yet slight move.
ment of her hand seemed to invite him
to seat by her side. The chair was still
close to her. She did not move It, mol
did Victor as he seated himself. He no
ticed the calm repose with which the
moonlight invested the girls form, save
that the amber beads of her necklace rose
and fell as lightly as when they were
kissed by the waves of the Baltic Sea
and he became so absorbed that h,
started when Beatrice said, awe 60 t.
town for few days"
$50 so0n!' exclaimed Victor.
At- @s "Yes," Beatrice replied sadly, yet
like this place SO much. Perhans-oer
haps it is because of the pleasant ac
quaintances ! have formed here"
Victor sighed.
81 think l also will be obliged *
leave" he murmured.
"Oh, will you" cried Beatrice, eager.
ly. will you go to town with mamma
and meY
ooh, yes; certainly" answered Victor
"Then that is settled" exclaimed the
young girl as she arose, shook out hel
skirts and with them cloud ef perfume
Let us then go down to the brook once
more while tits moonlight"
Arm in arm they walked slowly dowr
the path that led to the stream. The
touch of that soft hand lying on his arm
and the sweep of the light skirts abou'
him as they moved gently thrilled Vic
tor, and he f"lt ina mat aitt; it Z: @'l womer
would average better than men, and that
the airy, gentle creature by his side, font
of Irritation as she might be, would neet
to be wooed shyly, and won almost il
spite of herself.
As they reached the creek Beatrice
seated herself on the grassy bank, anc
Victor reclined lazily beside her Oppo
site to them the. moon was going down
and its reflection on the water scemeC
to he a gently-swaying bridge of silve
inviting them to pass over into lover
paradise beyond-albeit it might be
fools paradise.
Il shall never forget this brook wher
you caught me as ii | were a mermaid
Monsieur Parlcnon," said Beatrice. "Yol
must have thought me silly that day"
Victor raised his hand deprecatingly
"Ah, confess" continued she, "didn'
) you think me silly?
{ Remember my infrmity, mademoi
selle," answered Victor sadly.
f "Pardon me-" she responded, 81 ar
: very needless. You are the last one t
whom | would give pain"--and sh
/ paused. Then she continued, "But i
seems a. if | had received more ligh
, within few weeks"
"And sweetness too" added yicto
"And light and sweetness, according
the poet, are all tho... a modern sol
/. needs"
0 IT II see" Us to me-" murmured Beatric
aS :. there were something more needed
"And that isl"
h "Why, love. Don't you believe
n love- Monsieur Parlenon"
10 "Oh, yes, of course. Everybody doe
YOU know. Are you in love, mademt
le selle?'
e. "Yes--why---I don't know. What
ID YOU mean, monsieur"
Iv Victor made no response, and Beatri
fe continued:
W "You startled me so when you ask
* me that. Somehow, l am not my oN
e. self tonight"
d "Who's self are your" asked Wet
- "Some ones else"
Her beautiful eyes met his gaze, so
ii ly murmured eyes" escaped her lips, a
H. she half put up her mouth for kIs
,is the most delicate way in which a won
let can express her love, as Beatrice W
.ly knew.
m There was no need of further lingeri
lar by the creek, and the piar took their v
81 Innfringr v