The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-23
window now and then with "Aran't you COM
ing, pnpn2 You've been such u long time ~

ing, pnpnP You've been Bueh u long Time NJ
your dlnnarl'
Toward the left Of tho IIlnxmhns honss Tho
ground began rising on lta why To the NOUN
| tnina and across IL couple OF mohd6ws you
| came to IL stopping iield. shaded on one hlun
| ~ lreen, where ths pent w,B burning. lh"y
| Ill went along merrily. tho children. In f1il
zert uf rnftanimrHt after their long waiting,
| wheeled and uttefol round tho elders llto u
| lnck ur pigeons Emily mud Albsftn hhd rnh
HhnwIs % over their evsninH dist#nM. anu u
basket nnd novels "a rend. II thoy preferred
| nitting down Nv md ~ It Wns nh exquisite
evening, bamly and freah. md tho smell OF
| tho psht. mingllnH with the sweet mr.. Whh
nonrthina W Gull forth pnn"gyrirh every mo.
mcnt.
| Emly hal accepted Mr.. triehton'B arm 70
nArend tho side oi tbs rugged field Rk'rtliiE ith
| hedge. M llnxmnn tnoh Alberta 'oLhd
| about among the pnLt, now explaining ~ hff
how the wehther had hern too damp to ~ thlt
burning sooner mud how tho iinld would now
be IN prime condi tlon for tho autumn HrttihK
az corn. they wore generally pleasant coin
pnuiona fo sheh ether. bat to night AlbHithh
heart waa "Lhrobblng with the May" aud ~
| secret hhn gave only ii Kind Ut h1ct mans All
trntlon To hin farming plan.
| Presently they rrlOtnnd tho others. ana
| niooI nttnirnE the pretty srnln and ths
beauty of thn evening Now md then they
| played with the rhlldrol now hiI Lllsii
ntrollrl round tho field, for the dew WAS fhi-
Ing too thtckIy under tha treea for tho pro.
| Jertn E,miA aud novels. The smell nf thh
peat waa delicious. Al the al,tl'lsn dnepen"d
The t~ cnine ott brighten; SPARKS ana
linmea now burning ntm,Illy. now ran.
Ming round ~ fresh piece or pfni, Of ishE
In the air. Tho wholo field whh 2
dnrtina like lirn=iltoa. nnd full Of mrhfsiy
mud rolnnncn. They were NJ getting oflld
| 18Th and merry. aud the children were hnlI
beside thfmt.nlveH with the fascination md
4 adventure nj H. nil Something of Last
yrnr'n cof,tlnlity flashed out again boLwesn
| MIR. Criehtun nnd Aihertn In tho nngunIaad
EnyeLy Of tho moment. Ii was much too das
| ilghtlul ~ In left but ths night was drawing
OIL ana after rapehtad rcpIlavrb thr children,
| H.. ana excited, were collected tuacthsr. and
| the homownrd journey begun.
| vi returning, tlir gnntlatnni running rhcea
nnl playing with lhs ntlll excited children
| Emily and Aibnrtt fell bchlnd. nud reneh"d
| thn hall door alone. when they found that
| thrr btntrL hnl bcen left behind. Moth
Ing would ~ for Alberta but - fetch IL her
| SELF nhp nlld nhe hnd wanted all along t. 4en
| That H.ld agnln. aud forbi,llng EmIly 10 nnF
| whore she had gene, she wiK otI round tho coz
| nor of tho huuer. ~ WAS mol inr 10 70 only
| "A shot' cat ncro#R Two or tlr,ss of ne liridA,
| and the gate WAS Reached. Alberta hntl como
10 laRt Alln wnr fnln ~ stop aud reat half Why
np Tho accent. lnosng once ugaln nj THU fna-
tinatng pcrna around. aud burpff@ed toiteo
how tho moonlight. which, had in,n 30 ehnd
oWy nWhiir ago. Htrrpcd tho country now In ~
perfect ball, OF light Presently Hhe became
aware that ono VI the gentlefnnn Ind followed
her. she atoud III the dark end OF the lintd
nn,Irr the trees, from which the moon nsnt
tongues and shtLlts and trembling myAterleB
81 light across tha nhnduw Her white dress,
howcsor. betrayed her, ana much u her AM
noyaucn, l,Ht Ahs should have besn eupposed
~ ior.nr1 thle consequence Of hei coming. Mr.
Grchton In Il few steps was NJ her aide.
II an rorry Wy, should y. have tnit1n the
moi Ia say that hnd come buck to fetch It"
"Ilua somnthinK been forgotten ! have
MOI spoken 10 Mrs. Hinxmnn since. hut seeing
you return Ia tho ied In u hurry, Thought
you hhd lost something and that ] might be
or tIBc.
"Thnnk you, II iH tho bl.skct, but know
exactly where to find H."
They went n few stepb further on and found
u duly awaiting them In nil innoennce In tho
hedge. Mr.. tIinhton took IL mp and they
tuili;@i their steps homewnrd, almost In
all'ncs,. Alberta walking very fast Once Aho
gave u little slip but recovered herself.
Tho ground IL very slippery with the dow. |
Won't you take my arm = said Mr.. Crchtnn.
''No. thank you. shall got along very
WE'LL" enld Alberta, slipping again Ia proof
OF IL.
'Is there any Occasion to NO quito 40 fnst2'
he asked; "thr night alone deserves some no
tlcn. One could rarely sea II much liner
MO" admitted Alberta. IRA they btoppad
Atill under the LrceH, "in moonlight, shine and
slada." 70 look III II. Tho fairies were busy
fl their rvves. no doubt, II ono but coula have !
seen them. Tho peat fires smouidered IL little.
All tho open country WA YplrltualiHad hv y
moonlight, dew and moonlight were every.
where.
Alberta and Mr.. Crlchton resumed thclr
walk after ii few vague conmonplnc"H OF adj |
mirntion, now in hiencs, now with COLI /
strained word or two that showed TINT silence
noticed. Then Mr.. CrIohton said. rather I
abruptly:
"fou lire going away tomorrow, and II | /
We're Wise mhn should be gald of 1t. That
suppose nm not for | am too horry to beLr
H. quits IN silence, OF admire tnls moonlight, |
or enjoy tho present. MS | might, for thinking I
how aoon II Is 10 end.
Il ~ not SO why my going should make
any difference hhe said.
.Potlsihy not" he answered "Posslbly |
you do not understand either. how u man
can get to care for II woman that no ahrrA |
for little eIss bosldes Forgive mo, however.
for saying this. | have no right To trouble |
you laid upon mo to leave Lhls subject alone. |
II 1t had not been for them | should have
much 10 say tonight, but no doubt you wis led
them obeyeh.
"Of course did, she answered..
t'Ihen you wish 1t still?'
~ 40"
"fhen that " enough for mo- said Mr..
Crehton, with such Il depth or endnesA In his
voice, AZ he held the gate Of tho prntlield
open for her to pass, that the painful contrast
to Ills merriment with the eh'idtcn 80 short u
while ago WAS more than warm, but Wlllful
heart beside him could stand.
but. btEul hlDfIlht HIlH LUHn EL1UphI
short, with her face In the moonlight grown
suddenly as hot as the peat brands
But WHAT" said Mr.. Clichton. gravely,
for there had been a few minutes silence, and
hlA thoughts had been full OF gloom
"But." repeated Alberta. with IL ripple of
laughter somewhat in her voice, ''suppusing
there had been no commands, what was IL
You would have snidy'
rs that q fair question:? he asked, hating
and locking At her ina mixture or surprise
hnd doubt
Quite falr,' said Alberta, looking any
where but at him
Then | should have asked you once moro
To be my wife, and give me love for love, II Iii
over 80 small degree. lo answer. II you
please, Miss Graham" concluded Mr.. Crich-
ton, with ii smile upon his own Hos now.
"As you like 1t, then, said she, steadily,
for she knew her own mind and his we'll ut
last. Aud with II tervent Good bless You for
thatl" Mr. Criehton drew her closer to his
Side.
Perhaps the moon had never smiled upon