St. Landry democrat., 1883-10-20
"as you are a man o.

science"
We walked back together to the little
inn, and presently was shaking hands
with a beautiful and stately woman,
whose bright, dark eyes flashed with the
strange intensity and fire that | had
never seen in any other eyes but those
of Mabel Byrne.
She greeted me very cordially, and
after we three had taken an evening
meal together there followed delight
full evening in the little parlor that Tom
and his sister had secured.
For once in my life felt myself quite
at ease in a lady's society. In the first
place there was Tom to keep me in
countenance by predominance of my
own sex in the company, then Mabel
did not expect me to talk of airy moth
ings, that light foam of the social whirl-
pool which never vet had been able
to skim. She spoke first of my scientific
pursuits; she showed so much knowl-
edge of the subject that I really found
myself talking with earnestness and
enthusiasm of the formation OF the
country, and especially of the glacial
| system and the curious marks of it's ac-
| ton borne by the specimens l had col
| lected.
She, in her turn, contributed to the
evenings interest by telling me of her
work, and showing me her sketches,
which were really Of very high order
of artistic merit. There was no school
girl weakness in her handling of the
brush, but a force and poetic thought
that had won her already honorable rec
ognition in the world OF art.
s.And you have never heard of,.Ma-
bells paintings until nowp" asked Tom.
"No," I confessed. "You know
have been quite absorbed in my special
studies
Yes. and you have not seen Mabel
for ever so long. have you?'
NO. l replied, mot since that..sum-
mer ten years ago, when Twas at my
grandmother -
''Jolly times we had, too," said Tom.
refectively. Remember that party at
Mrs. Edwards ?''
A sudden rush of blood to my face
utterly confused me. stammered
reply, and Tom, to my relief, went on
with some rambling "reminiscences. 1t
was some seconds before I dared to
look at Mabel. Surely she was blush
ing, too.
The mex. morning we all went on
trip up the slopes of the mountain.
Mabel in short, gray suit, alpine hat
and stout boots; Tom carrying her
drawing materials. Thus we made
this any many another delightful expe-
dition.
Life took on new colors for me.
There was a radiance and glory about
it that [ had never dreamed of before
Every day l found fresh reason for adj
miring my beautiful companion, and
our walks through the deep valleys and
up the rough mountain sides were to
me like enchanted journeys through
realm of fairies. In this loveliest coun-
try in the world, with this most
glorious woman by my side, was, in
deed, as one TRANSPORTED by the light
Of the grand passion that took possession
of my soul.
At first knew not what had befallen
me. | thought only that my pleasure
in MabePs society sprang from SINH
larity of tastes and pursuits and the
charm of her conversations; but gradu-
ally woke to the overwhelming fact
that I loved her with the one great love
of my life, that seemed to me now to
date from the days of long ago, to have
been always with me, and to stretch
out into the future to make it transcend
emily glorious, or a long despair.
And vet as soon as had learned my
own secret, my former bashfulness came
back upon me with tenfold intensity,
and found myself often embarrassed
in her presence, while at the thought Of
telling her my hearts story, though my
brain was smitten through with dazzling
delight at the dream of successful WOO
ing, yet was SO overwhelmed that ut
terance would, as [ was sure, be an inn
possibility.
And Mabel? Her eyes were very
kind to me. They turned to me with a
softened luster that thrilled me with
hope: and yet if attempted even a
compliment, I blushed, foundered, and
was lost. II
One evening we were talking of all
manner of subjects, grave and gay, and
so strayed to marriage, in general, and
especially to the matrimonial lot OF
some of our old friends
You remember Boyd, don't you,
Hill?" asked Tom.
'sTall, bashful fellow like me, | adj
ded.
Yes" replied Tom, laughing. "He
married Miss Cutting, our former school
teacher. | always thought she proposed
to him."
Sensible girl!'' I exclaimed. 81
think it is positively a woman's duty
sometimes to help man out. You re-
member that book of the late DR.. Hor-
ace Bushnell, published some years
ago, called "A Reform against Nature?'
In it he denounced the whole woman's
rights movement. but maintained that