The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-03-11
JACKSON, OHIO THURSDAY, MARCH IL, 1880.

SQe WOulu nOI nave liked UldU. cf-
haps the suggestion that it was not
safe to walk about alone might have
offended her. But she did not look at
all like one Of those women who as
sert a right to walk alone, and to do
whatever pleases them. Anyhow, he
would not let her escape him so an
other time: and N doubt he would
meet her again. After this he was
continually haunting the lime-tree
walk. The last day of the skating he
made an excuse to return early, but
she was not there; and, indeed, he did
not see her again till his heart had
been sick with disappointment on two
or three occasions. The frost broke
up; then came a day or two of rain,
and all the bondage Of the ice melted,
and the paths ran in little torrents,
and few feeble spikes of snowdrops
began to come up in the empty flower
beds. The weather grew mild all of a
sudden. And one day the hounds met
near Daintrey, and all the party went
out. They came back in the after
noon, tired, and damp, and soiled with
the mud; but when the others went in
to be warmed and dried, and made
comfortable, having had enough of
air and exercise for the day, Edmund
fingered outside, as he now always did,
as long as he could get any excuse for
doing so. And this time he was re-
warded. In the middle of the lime
tree walk he saw her suddenly coming
towards him. One moment there had
seemed to be nobody about. He turn
ed his head to see what was meant by
some little stir behind him; and when
he turned again she was there, walk
ing towards him, with her soft, gentle,
composed tread. Her hands We're
clasped before her. Her white dress
trailed little behind her, but seemed
to have no stain upon it, or mark of
the wet. Her head was little thrown
back. All, yes! surely they were blue,
those eyes; they could not have been
anything but blue. And she had very
little color in her face, just enough to
make it lifelike, and give an appear
ance Of health and perfection: no sick
illness, no incompleteness was in the
hue. The soft little half-smile was
still upon the lips-lips that were like
not very red, but warm and
soft. She came ON without paying
any attention to Edmund, as if. in
deed, she did not see him. And this
piqued him little. But. his heart
leaped so at the sight OF her that he
was not capable of cool judgment Or
criticism. This time his mind was
made up. If it was rude, he was very
sorry but he must speak to her, what
ever happened. He stopped suddenly
when they met, and once more took
off his hat. And then, in a moment,
Ike the sun rising, that expression Of
pleasure came to her face. The smile
grew brighter. She stopped, too, and
looked at him with such satisfaction,
such tender interest in her eyes, that
he was utterly confounded. and stood
gazing at her, the words that he had
meant to say failing him. Rude! no,
evidently she did not think him rude.
A gentle delight seemed to spread over
her-affectionate pleasure, as if of a
happiness she had vainly expected,
and for which she was thankful be-
yond words. After all, it was she who
spoke first. She said, in the softest
little musical voice, little thin, but
sweet, like the cooling Of dove; and
what she said was as remarkable in
it's simplicity as the fact that she was
the first to begin the acquaintance.
so you see mer' was, in tones Of gen
tie pleasure, what she said.
''See you!-indeed this is now the
third time that | have the pleasure of
seeing YOU" said Edmund eagerly.
The last night I could not forgive
myself for not asking if | might walk
home with you. It was very late for
you to walk alone across the park"
To this she answered nothing, but
looked at him with the softest, caress-
ing looks, as if it were a pleasure to
her to hear his voice; and yet the per
feet modesty, simplicity, and inno-
cence Of the virginia. countenance up
lifted to him, made every thought but
those Of respect and even reverence
to Edmund. At the same
time he was slightly abashed by this
stcadfast look, which might have made
a vain man complacent, but for some
thing in it of unapproachable purity
and isolation which gave the beholder
q sense Of awe. Edmund did not
know how to 90 on. It was more DIFF
icult than could be told to proceed in
the conversation. Phrases about the
happiness Of making her acquaintance
the desire Of the ladies at
Daintrey to know if they could be Of
service to the stranger, which he had
though totally without authority
conned and prepared, no longer SEEM
ed within his power of utterance. He
forth something about
Lady Reresford-wonld be glad to
see you-to be of use" To which she
shook her head half sadly, half with a
kind of shadowy amusement. "You
have come to the neighborhood late
ly?" he said at last.
No: oh, no; I have been here
about Daintrey-a long, long time"
These strange words were interrupted
by little faint laugh like an echo,
like a laugh in music, the most spirit
ual liquid roll Of soft words. Il have
been long time here
Edmund grew more and more con-
fused. IF that was so I must have
seen you" he said; but perhaps you
think a little time long. It would be
natural, you are so young"
"Nneteen," she said; Il never was
any more than nineteen; but it is a
long, long time ago"
Then it began to dawn upon Ed
mund, though it was an idea he re-
ceived with the greatest reluctance,
that this tender. beautiful creature