Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-28
The MYSTERY OF PINK WATER
LILIES
BY MRS cLARKE-LAwRENcE

II was long. broad lagoon, lying
suany teet below the sweep of orange
4nd citrun crested hills THE shores.
heavily wooded with mangroves and
stately palrnetios, cat dai k shadows far
out iniO the waters. while The To-, K trail
ing drapery of Spanish moss hung like
mourning veil from the branches and
fioated over the lake with every passing
breeze. The setting sun cleft path way
FOR himself between the hills beyond,
and long rays of rosy light rested in
opaliDe Iusters down the center of the
sagoon casting into yet deeper gloom
the dark -fringed shore.
The quiet was ubbroken save at inter
walls by the sharp note of heron, stand :
ing on one leg in the shallows, mo,ion
less as u statue. or bv the low twitter of
s,me bright winged bird as he darted
over the surface winnowipg 1t into
ripples with his rapid wing, and then
f4sht d back into the somher rece-ses of
ne wood Sometimes fish Ieapitg in
air sent shower of silver spray back to
the waters, and, flashing down in the
cool depths Of his native element, left an
ever. " idtniDg circle of wavelets dimp
ling the else unruffled calm Looking
very iniently up the lake one might
discover what seemed merely tiny
rOve, the bending trees of either bank
meeting acrtiss the water; hut it was
really ~ narrow inlet iutO q larger lake
beyond
Suddenly gayly painted boat shot
out of the inlet and moved down the
pathway of light that Jay on the middle
of the lagoon. There were two in the
boat-young mau and maiden; he tall
and sinewy and dark. the clear olive of
tropic suns tinting his cheek the glow
of the tropics in his lustrous dark eyes.
hat seemed in their eager gaze almost
devouriDg the young girl " ho sat in the
prov, one hand guiding the rudder, the
other plashing through the water, as
their light craft drifted on. Well was il
there we're no swift currents or sudden
gales that golden October evening, for
the young man had neither eyes nor
houg BIT for any thing but his com panic
who at length broke the silence, and her
voice was SO sweetly cadeuced it seemed
only an accompaniment to the musical
dip of the oars Ta 80.
See. Leon there are the lilies lying
like drltt of snow quite at the lower
eud If the lake. the waers are always
calm, scarcely ruff1-d have thought,
even by storms, and the loyeIiest lilies
in the world grow there II is not far to
row and We have plenty of time"
''As though l could not gladly row to
the end of the world with YOU. sweet
heart" returned the youth. his .,ark eyes
8 ill fixed on the girls face, into wbicn
flushed n faint piuk like the tiuge of y
eea-sf.ell ,-
Leon, you talk onsense!" she ex
claimed, but she smiled as though not
i'll pleased
why rot, my love p he returned
again. You know / love you 80
would die were we to have to part.-
Near you I1care- not for any other thing
his side of heaven. Ob! Stella, I am
afraid; am afraid! Love is such u
terrible th'ng-surh love as I have for
you-it tOrnents me with fears and fills
me with forebodings. Why did We
come here into these still shadows p
Unreal a~ phaDton,s. they yet oppress !;
they sppail they fill me with i know
not what of fear nga7 49, a.i.t. =. II
Leon. you frighten me! See, the
sun has not quite disappear red, and the
light fingers far down the lake but let
us Y, back
chose hat Dan,e for you, MY bright one,
my star p the lilies are pearly within
reach, now we will gather them, aud
to night you shall wear the loveliest =
You viii, be al Undine fairer than any
chiid of fancy s brain"
Stella laughed lightly, clear. silvery
laugh Shadows had no terror for her,
or only f1.eting terrors; che was SO
you g. SO bright so full of vivid life
YES but remember, only you are in
my secret. Mamma wanted ME to be
Miranda, but would not without q
Calioan, and could not find any one
willing 10 he go ugly What! You ?
You could never have made yourself 30
bid-ous; Leon, You are far too hand
9. me; you should be Adobis or A polio "
The DARK, handsome face flush+d d with
pltas at the caressing tones rather
than the words If the speaker He was
well used to compliment, nut 1t is sw e+t
to have even triie praise from lips we