The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-07-21

HGHIDE open blue eyes, fringeC
wv with jetty lashes-a LITTLE
cYseyt,. slender nose--a mouth Fl
&SSS for Queen Titania-whit,
brow, on which clustered rings o
gold, in a fascin alton of disorder
a cheek exquisitely fair, with tin
upon it OF the sea shell-two little
soft, helpless hands-two little
slIppered feet, and you have the
picture before Roydon Howard's
gaze, and the inventory successivelJ
dotted down by him in his menta
diary.
"Awfully pretty" was the verdict
rendered, absolutely good for moth
ing else. All, if life were all sum
mer such women would make per-
feet wives"
An audible sigh followed the
latter thought of this mos, grave
philosopher; sigh so deep, so pro
found, that it started the girl from
her reverie.
"Ae penny for your thoughts.
Major" she said in low, musical
voice.
The voice suited her, it was like
all else about Fay Richings-in
perfect attune.
"You bid too low," answered the
man; "and yet too high, since you
ask upon subject of whose reply
you must be conscious. You forget
that, spending the last hour in your
society, my thoughts could not
wander far"
"But you sigh. Must l hold
myself resposible for the sigh, toop'
81 fear so-in remembering that
my furlough is rapidly slipping
away, and ttat with month must
join my regiment on the plains,
leaving my charming companion OF
this morning. Do you still bid a
penny to inquire into thing so
deep as a sigh2"
The color deepened little on the
beautiful cheek.
"His charming companion of the
morning." This was how he re
garded her-this mar, whose brave
deeds had preceded him, until, be
fore meeting, had assigned him
something akin to hero worship.
A little, sharp stab of pain shot
through her heart, but she smiled
bravely.
Call that was scarcely worth a
sigh from you," she said. "It's
never those who go amid new scenes
who feel most keenly the parting,
but rather those who are left be
hind, amid the old familiar sur
roundings, and say, Yesterday he
sat here or yesterday we heard
his laugh or perchance find glove
that he has dropped, or a cigar half
smoked-to them it is something
felt, something tangible"
"Do you think so? Does the
sand sigh for the retreating wave
when already one coming claims
its welcome2 / should be glad to
feel that Miss Fay sometimes gave
me a thought among the many new
asplrants for the hour she has
sometimes bestowed on me. A sol
dier's life has many charms, spite
of his hardships, and there Is some
fascination, spite of its pain, in the
long, solitary musings he holds sit
ting at the door of his tent, when,
instead of the plain stretching be-
fore him, he views the mental pano-
rama OF his past. I'm afraid mine
will confine itself to one figure,
Can you guess whose, Miss FayP
There was an instant's pause-an
instant when something stirred
within Roydon Howard's heart,
prompting the impulse to cry out:
"Who bu5 yours? Make imagina-
ton q reality! Come with me!
Share a soldiers life, and let our
love smooth the rough places!'
But scarcely was it born than he
strangled it. He had no reason to
suppose that this girl cared ior him ;
but even 50, at best it was but "a
passing fancy.
And in times of real danger where
would she be2 How would she fit
him to ride forth to meet a toeT
Either with by ysterical weeping or q
swooH. No, no! Here under the
green trees, in u ballroom, at the
head of a luxurious dinner table,
such women were charming enough
to turn mans brain; but in mo
ments OF perils, when death, no
longer clothed in the poets ry thin,
stalked before them, bare and un-
gainly, it was little wonder that they
fed shrieking from his grim pres
ence.
Therefore the pause lasted an in
stant only, then Roydon answered
his own question with laugh.
al declare l am almost growing
sentimental. If in anybody's pres
ence but yours, Miss Fay, should
apologize for SO unwonted mood.
But you are wholly responsible tor
it, and it must be with you 50 old
a story to inspire 1T that l will not
waste the words. BY the way there
is my horse. / had no idea it was
late. AureVoir! Remeln Der, l have
the first and last waltzes this even
ing"
The girl stood motionless. watch
ing him rs he strobe away-watch-
ing him vault upon his horse, his
tall, superb figure showing TO such
splendid advantage, watching horse
and rider as they cantered out OF
sight, the latter turning first TO give
farewell salute with his whip.
So, in scarce a month, will be
ride out of my life," she murmured
to herself with white lips. ooh,
Roydon, is it that you are too proui
TO ask me to share the peril and
privations of soldiers life or that
IT would give you no pleasure TO
have me share itr'
"Will you go out on the lake with
me this afternoon, Miss FayT
asked Maj. Howard, week later
alt looks little squally, but We
will keep close into shore, so as to
run home il the clouds thicken."
sOf course / will come" assented
Fay, "and as to the clouds, don't
watch them too closely. l rather
/ Ike sforrDs -