Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-11-10
A MIDSUMMER DAYS DREAM.

NOon-the sun shining down hotly
on the golden grain, western WIND
stirring lazily the pearly pink cups OF
the roses clustering over the back OF
an old-fashioned summer-house, IVY
covered and moss-grown; and under
the shade of the low stone wall, where
the broad leaved ferns sway istlessly
backwards and forwards, / lie at ful,
luxurious length, half buried among
the cool, softly-lapping leaves. 1t IS
the only shady place to be found in the
grounds at kesteven at noon on such a
day AZ this. Fair white hydrangeas,
big red roses, ard paler-hued carna-
tons, with one one or two delicate
: ferns roughly gathered, fill my lap.
| clasp my hands lazily behind my
head, to the terrible arrangement OF
that wonderful labyrinth Of twists and
braids which Annettes skiliful fingers
have woven, looking up dreamily to
where, amid the tree-tops, | can catch
glmpses of the glorious blue sky.
Even the birds have found it too hot to
sing, and have gone to the leafy shades
among the grand old elm trees that
bound the south side Of the park; what
wonder then That l. Hilda Mayne,
should have wearied of my self-imposed
task of filling the tall, ruby vases, and
have flung myself in incident, luxurl-
Gus laziness down in the first cool place
| have come to?
AS | lie listening to the hum
of the insects and the jubilant
buzz of big brown bee, as he buries
himself in the cup of a stately white
lily, u drowsy smell of mignonette is
waited over me; had it been the UNI
mistakuble perfume of a cigar | could
scarcely nave felt more annoyance lest
the sanctity of my retreat should be
invaded, and, with quick, petulant
movement, | plunge my elbow into the
thick grasses and raise myself to look
around me.
"Well, Miriam, you know best; but
! must say | think you ought to exer-
else your authority. Such a child as
she is to be allowed to do rs she likes !
If she were my sister, | would send her
back to school for another year"
They are talking Of me. | spring
from my recumbent position and creep
softly nearer to the summer-house.
Yes, there they are-my sister Miriam
and Beatrice Lloyd
draw aside trail of ivy and apply
my eye cautiously to little chink be-
tween the boards, There she is, cool
and serene, without shadow on her
brow r ruille ON her beautiful fea-
lures, with an Odious little branch Of
mign onette Mt her waistband. Ugh
| wonder why she must needs choose
my pet flower to carry about in that
ostentatious way, even if, by dint of
loudly admiring and openly coveting,
che manages to exact daily boquet
from Hugh my Hugh Il never
nursed a dear ga2elle," etc, | say rath-
er savagely to myself; but do know
that will never gather n bit of migno-
nette again-never not if | live to be
as Old rs Methuselah
But Miriam is speaking, ] withdraw
my eye and substitute my ear; | mean
to know what they are saying abolt
me. Child" indeed ! was II my
last birthday
81 don't like to interfere, Beatrice.
for believe that Hugh really cares for
her"
miriam, you are dreaming p
Once more my left eye is in danger,
as | screw it up tightly that | may have
the infinite delight of beholding Miss
Lloyd's wrath. Alas, | am disappoint-
ed ! 1t is another Instance of the folly
of jumping too hastily to conclusion.
Her tone sounded well to say the
least of it, aggrieved; hut her face is as
smiling and sun.shiny RS ever, and pos
itiyely there is a rosy blush creeping
up from that detestable dimple in her
chin. 4 most becoming blush steals
over her whole face, and a knocking
light shines in her eyes-those Won
drous mystical eyes, into which how
many men have plunged their hearts
and senses?
you are dreaming !" she says again
and breaks into a perfect little thrill OF
melody, as suppose Hugh would term
1t. "How you can have thought any.
thing SO ridiculous | don't know; but tC
disabuse your mind, once and for all, Of
such preposterous notion" here sh.
coos-oh, how | wish she would talk