Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-25

Sappho:
twill not the honeyed lip of Thalia
read her own poem to us?" insinuated
Eugenius.
Acquiescing Alicia opened the postfo-
Ito in which she had left her sonnet.
But it was gone, and in its place lay an
unpretending sheet of note paper. on
which she knew no verse of hers had
ever been transcribed. Nevertheless a
sonnet was there. and it was signed by
the name of Colin Clout.
"Something very strange has hap
pened," cried Alicia. 81 cannot account
for it Or explain it, but it is most extra
ordinary. 1 placed sonnet of my own
in this portfolio this morning; it has
been spirited away, and 10 a sonnet Of
Colin Olout's has replaced It'll"
81 imagine that Colin Olout is an &C
quaintance of Thalia's," observed Ola
rinda frigidly. Probably the explana-
ton is in that fact"
st do not know him. have never
seen him. I do not even know his real
NAME" cried Alicia. "Loath as I am
to admit the possibility Of miracles, I
own I regard this occurrence with super
stition. But the sonnet, however it
came here, is unsurpassed. Let me read
it."
She began to read hastily, lest Euge-
MUS should again quarrel with the ad-
jective she had adopted; but all were
spell-bound, for the sonnet was one of
Incompatible beauty; and so graceful
was the tribute which Colin Clout there
in paid to the poet souls at the moment
assembled that even Clarinda and Daph-
ne murmured applause. The little
burst of enthusiasm awakened Florimel,
who sat up with a start and asked what
time it was.
Sappho hastened to explain what hap
pened, and then Alicia, at the instance
of Florimel, read the sonnet again.
Beautiful /! beautiful p said Flori-
mel, with sigh. "My own chorus
would not be supportable after it"
"But do read it." said Alicia, gently.
"No; it would be too humiliating,"
said Florimel. eve must sink when
Colin Clout is present"
CT feel it." said Alicia, fervently.
She rang for tea, and the poets began to
talk in groups.
"Thalia," said Eugenius, coming for
ward, 81 am quite willing to sign the
memorial now. After hearing that SON.
net, admit that Colin Clout is an I'M
surpassed poet. Ihave written nothing
to compare with il"
81 imagine not, " said Florimel, dryly.
"Narcissus will sign also," said Eu-
genius.
eyes, yes," stammered Narcissus; eff
the ladies do so, I'll do it,
81 sign, of course" said Alicia, in a
clear voice "and Sappho will sign too,
I am sure; and, dear Clarinda, you and
Daphne? ?"
The three ladies advanced.
"Until the Remains I mentioned
before are published" said Clarinda, 81
consider Colin Clout's poems to be I'M
surpassed. After that publication,
things will wear different aspect; but
at this hour I sign without reluctance. )"
"Then we are all agreed, said Alicia.
And the real business Of the meeting
was concluded.
When the guests had departed, Mr..
Little ventured into the drawing room,
where he found his wife looking flushed
and fatigued.
Ell am afraid you are very tired, my
darling" he said, taking herhand. "But
I hope you have enjoyed your friends.
Tell me how you got on.
"Weil, they all agreed to sign the me-
mortal at last" said Alicia, somewhat
dejectedly. "But they disappointed me.
Their conversation, was not a bit more
poetical than-than yours, and their be-
havior was less so; for you are always
agreeable and polite, and they were
either rude or awkward"
Mr.. Little smiled. "You must expect
eccentricities from born poets," he re-
marked.
Nonsense, my DEAR" cried Alicia.
"They are no more born poets than you
are. AS for me, I am never going to
write line again-never
"Well, was the sonnet of Inaugural
ton appreciated asked Mr.. Little.
"That is a great mystery" said
Alicia, in a low voice. "My poem has
vanished, and in its stead I found the
most exquisite sonnet of Colin Clout's.
How could it have got into my port
folio 2"
"I put it there, dear one"
"You?"
eyes" said Mr.. Little. st know
Colin Clout very well, and I got him to
write n sonnet, on purpose to please
you. You had better give me the mem
orial to make over to him."
"What |" cried Alicia, OF last finding
words. "You know Colin Clout? Why
have you never told me so before, O
most unpoetical husband? Why, why
have you never introduced him to me %
because he is not the sort of a man
you like"
Chow do you know" she asked i'm
patiently.
"He is very like me, dearest"
Impossible p
''Indeed, it is true. We are as like as
twin brothers.
ST cannot believe it, said Alicia, EN-.
phatically.
"But, my darling. listen to me. I
have often been on the point of telling
you before, but something has always
stayed me. know not whether poets
are born or made, but have written
poetry all my life, and now I am proud
to tell my wife that her husband is
famous, for--he is Colin Clout T.
And the poet kissed away the penitent
tears that started into Alicia's eyes, aud
the Denitent words that rose IN her Inns