Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-10

project he had written about.
~ suppose it was about as wise as
such things generally are," continued
he; cit may have had its little grain of
sense somewhere, and all it's disadvan-
tages required time to develop. He was
a shrewd sort of fellow that William
Hope-that was his name; he borrowed
twenty pounds of me, and he sent it
back too, and a very pretty writing-desk
to Marion, and box of books; and he
said he'd come back some fine day and
see us, but he has apparently forgotten
that, and it's now two years and a half
we have never heard of him. Is is not,
Marion?''
"Two years and eight MONTHS" said
she calmly; but her lips trembled in spite
of her.
/ was not sorry when our chiboucks
were introduced, and the young girl had
fair preteXt to steal away; for l saw
with what struggle she was controlling
her emotion, and what a relief it would
be to her to escape notice.
The Consul was so pleased to have any
opportunity to relieve his mind that he
talked away for hours, and of his most
intimate concerns. In inveighing against
the hard lot that sentenced his wearing
out his last years of life in such place,
he told me his whole history. Marion s
mother had been dead some years, and
he spoke of her with more feeling than
he seemed well capable of showing. She
had died of that peculiar form of disease
which is found in the low-lying lands of
Greece, and the seeds of the disorder he
had already detected in Marion. ''There
is little short cough, without effort, but
when hear it, it goes to my heart. said
he, "for l know well that there turks an
enemy nothing can dislodge. You hear
it now, listenr' cried he-and he held up
his hands to impose silence, but heard
nothing.
1 sat on till evening, chatting, as
smokers will do, in that broken and I'M
connected fashion that admits of any
thing being taken up, and as lightly
interest in man whose mere incongrui-
ty with his station impaired strange
turn to all his opinions and judgments,
and who even in his banishment tried to
follow the events of world he was des-
tined never to share in. For many a
year he had thought of nothing but how
change with anyone and for anything;
Uut IOW WIFI IhC a I'll Cdl VI
civilization he hugged himself in the
thought of his exile, where he could be
as barbarous, as neglectful and as degen-
crate as he pleased.
Of this same savagery one trait will
suffice to indicate the extent. Prevesa
was formerly yacht station, where men
frequently came in the woodcock season
or for the quails; but terrible brigand
IL ~
English naval officer were killed, put an
end to all such visits. Lydyard declared
that he never regretted an incident that
freed him from all intrusion of stran-
gers, and averred that he at least owed q
debt of gratitude to the Klephts.
When | wished him goodnight he was
far too deep in the gin-fask to make his
words impressive; but as he told me he q
like me to come up often and sit with
him, determined to accept his invita-.
ton SO long as l fingered in the neigh
borhood.
CHAPTER II.
I STAYED on hve weeks at Prevesa, fol
though gave my evenings to the Con
sui, passed every morning with Marion
/ never saw girl whose society had the
same charm for me. Heaven know.
there could scarcely have been so dreary
a spot, nor one where life had fewer
pleasures; but there seemed capacity
for enjoyment in her mind, which
whether for sun or sky or shore, fol
breezy mountain or dark nesting wood
could extract its own delight and b.
happy.
had seen enough even on the frs
day met her to be aware that Hope hat
not made merely passing impression
upon her heart, and l was cautious t.
avoid all that might revive the memory
of his name. This reserve on my par
seemed actually at length too much fo
her patience, for in one of our long walk
she suddenly asked me if had neve
known him.
"No,' replied I, "never; and 1 hav,
been guardedly careful not to ask yol
about one of whose intimacy with you
feel jealous
elbow do you mean jealous?" asket
she, turning on me those large, full eye
that reminded me of the Homeric smile
the =" ox-eyed."
perhaps my word was ill chosen,
said /, in some confusion; ''but what
tried to convey was the discontinue
felt on thinking that there had been on
who walked with you where we ar
walking, and whose words, it might be
interested you as much, or more, thai
mine.
Yes, it is true,r'' she said, softly.
(Which is truep' said I, in loy
voice.
"That he loved mer' said she, in tn
same unaltered tone.
"And you but caught mysel
at once, and, shocked at the ungenerou
daring, turned it off by saying g 1 shoul
like to hear more of him; tell me whs
you know of his history or belongings.
81 know nothing, except that he wa
poor as ourselves; that whatever b
should become in life must be his ow
achievement; that he was friendless an
| alone.'
'He was gentleman?" said 1, inqui1
ing.
ssWas he not a gentleman! Was nc
every word, every opinion he uttered, tn
soul of honor and high feeling! Whe
he spoke of what he read, he knew no,
to praise all that was noble, and truth
full, and worthy, and to decry whateve
was ignoble or mean. When he helpe
a beggar on the road, he gave his aim
like one whose happier fortune it was t
aid brother, and who might himself az
cept assistance tomorrow. And S
through all he did, the world SCENE
like some f1owery meadow, where, if W
would, we might stroll or stretch at east
each happy with each.''
.Was he ambitiouspn
elf you mean of honor, fame and goo
repute, yes, as 1 never heard of any one
but of that success that includes wealt
and state, luxurious living, and the re:
of it, he could not have been, for he hs
said over and over at our homely boart
That is indeed what delights me! 1t
here begin to feel how unworthy al
the vulgar slaveries rich men subm
to.'''
'.He had, then, some experiences {
the life he censured?"
81 don't know that he had, excel
from hearsay; but he had read, and col
versed, almost as much as he had read.
''Had he served rs a soldier?''
'.No; he could not bear any settle
career. He called it a bondage, and tn;
all men who followed any distinct cal
ing lost their identity in the craft;
would laughingly say, they becom
smaller than women"
"He loved you very much, Mariol
and-''
"Why has he not returnedp' said sh
nc bor ouoS Aocbod faroolv ssSav n,