Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-07-27

| "Oh, yes; they do that sort of
thing, l believe. l had forgotten.
Is he handsome?'
! "Divinely so."
| And good to flirt with?"
go Jessie, you don't flirt!"
"Oh, don't l, though? That's all
you know about it. If your poet is
all my fancy paints him, l intend to
have one glorious Irritation before ]
settle down into quiet, matronly,
married woman"
"If that is your little game, to use
an elegant phrase, l incline to the
opinion that you will find your equal
in Mr.. Harvey Ranger"
II am much charmed to hear it;
it will break the monotony of life IN
the country, which is the most de-
lightful thing in the world when one
has somebody's heart to keep. Now
do let me sleep; you have frightened
away the balm of hurt minds, and 1
shall have to spend a half-hour in
wooing it back"
1 spent about five minutes, think,
and then, with that total unconscious
ness peculiar to everybody of the ex-
act moment when one falls asleep, I
sank easily and most delightfully."- into
a most profound slumber.
Ididn't dream-I slept too soundly.
suppose I should have dreamed of
Harvey Ranger, but didn't. 1t was
sufficient that was to dream of him
all the rest of my life.
How distinctly l remember that
first meeting!
1t was the evening of the next day !;
and Lucy and l were out in the gar
den cutting flowers, and arranging
bouquets for the vases in the front
room.
/ A richly musical, thrilling, vibrat-
ing voice not clear and strong, but
deep-toned and sweet as the falling
of waters, spoke over the gate.
II wish you good evening, Miss
Lucy it said.
"And l think l have as good an
evening as even you could wish me.
Is it not charming-not too cool, nor
too warm, but deiciously pleasant.
Lift the latch and the gate will fly
open, Mr.. Ranger
The ranger lifted the latch, and the
gate flying open, he entered and came
to where we were.
This is my dear friend, Miss Jes-
sic Fairbanks,' said Lucy, who never
presented people to each other in the
form that other Christians do.
He bowed, aud then the voice that
already had power to stir my heart
spoke again; and an arch smile played
about the exquisite mouth and laugh
ed in the eyes.
"Miss Lucy leaves it to me to say
that l am Harvey Ranger, now and
always your servant
In token Of which the proud head,
with a curve of the superb neck,
turned away as he stopped to examine
a moss rose that was struggling its
crimson way through the green leaves.
With sudden movement he put forth
his hand and snapped it from the
stem, and. looking at for a few mo.
ments, handed it to me with a half.
proud, half-timid grace, the most
beautiful l have ever seen. l took
it would not have refused it for 6
crown; and to this day / have the
dried dust of its withered leaves in :
tiny, snow-white silken bag, which
made purposely for it.
1 had no thought of loving thai
man; l never, in the least degree, in
tended to do so. 1t was, indeed, az
said to Lucy; 1 didn't think it pos
sible for me to feel an intense ani
profound love for any man; but
didn't know myself. AS suddenly
as strongly as thunderstorm il
summer, burst upon me love pure
as the angels-strong, intense ant
tender as heaven-for Harvey Ranger
/ saw him but little while tha
evening. He refused Lucy's invita-
ton to enter, and stood only abou
five minutes, during which time h.
said as much as / have heard othel
men-learned, sensible men-say il
two hours. He didn't speak rapidly
or rattle over his words; it was i'm
possible to conceive that quiet, easy
liquid voice hurrying over anything i
said. 1t was music too sweet,
melodious to be rapid-even th'
speaker must have been conscious o
that and pleased himself by listening
to it. Every six words he spoke sug
gested whole train of ideas-ever,
sentence was beautiful, breathing po
etry, and equisite harmony of rythmi
' cal, musical words.
Then he went away, and l watched
him till he was out of sight, forget
/ ting that l was not all alone, ant
r turning away with deep-drawn sigh
Lucy then exclaimed:
$50, so, Jessie, has my poet awak
, ened the grand passion already"
: The merry words and the gay ant
careless tone smote my heart like
pain. 1 could make no reply; ant
taking up the flowers 1 had been cut
ting, turned away without wor,
and entered the house.