Daily Republican., 1883-11-03
[ORIGINAL.]
AS BY FIRE.
by RYE ROSSE

bH NJ = huoSh
It was four O'Clock on . July after
noon, and Mrs. Derne was standing on
the piazza of the Ocean House, gazing
dreamily out over he level stretch OF
land ~ where the blue water OF the
ocean glittsred In tn sunshine.
What o gloriOusly beautiful day 1t was!
Tho great golden ball Of fire riding 10
the heavens WAS no longer at thezenith,
and u gentle breeze had already sprung
up from the ocean, Grating soft inur-
murs and whispers among the leafy,
over hanging boughs Of the trees.
Hue rolled the ocean,
Blue the SKY hung,
Like a canopy spread on high.
All natur-'s handi work seemed In a
state of restful repose.
Looking out over the level expanse
of water 10 where 1t was met by til
blue skyline, watching the picturesque
little skif, and yachts that rocksd idiy
on its shining surface, and listening To
the mournful melody OF tie swelling
surf against the golden sands OF the
beach, one might wonder how the scene
could ever rchange-might wonder why
life could not always be made up Ut
such days, and existeuce one long Dolce
far m'ent4.
an ljor, my wife Helen, this is my
friend, Major Varley, OF whom ! have
often spoken. He will care for yon dur
ing my abs snce, and know you will
find him an agreeable companion.
Mrs. Derne broke from her reverie
with a start, at the sound OF her hus
band = voice, and turning, held out one
slim white hand in greeting " the
stranger at his side.
I" l am happy TO meet you, Major,
she said in a clear, sweet voice
trust you may not find me a trouble
some charge | promise 70 try your
patience a. little as possible.
=" IL will be simply the greatest hap
piness | can know 70 be Of service tc
you in any way. lam yours to com
mand," and the Major bowed gallantly
over the white hand still resting in his.
A few minutes con versation, and theE
Mr.. Derne, pulling his gold repeater
from his pocket with jerk, be ex-
claimed:
"a quarter Of Ave. actually shAl
have D make haste or risk losing ny
train, 10 o.nething II would decidedly 5
vex me to do NO I fear must betakt
myself of. lfyou have anything IT,
communicate to me, Helen, dur ny my
absence, you know my address shal
probably not be back before the end Of
August, but In the meantime, tfus
you will enjoy yoursslf-and-xood
bye"
He shook hands in y hurried fashion
with his wife and friend and fastened
away.
Mrs. Derne leaned carelessly against
the piazza railing and watched his re
treating figure ; and the Major, left Il
himself, looked at Mrs. Dsrne.
1t was a face well worth looking at.
an oval, creamy-tinted face, framed II
by masses of loose, shining black hair
A dimpled chin and vivi scarle
mouth, two soulful eyes Of darkest grey
with long, friuged lashes, and the
straightest OF jetty eyebrows.
1t was a face that most men woult
turn twice to look at, and one that, hav
ing bee looked upon, could not eastly
be forgotten. 1t was not simply
beautiful face or one that, knowing 1T
loveliDess, turned to you for admiration
The dusky eyes, capable of expressing
the most intense feeling would neve
be raised to yours in search OF compli
ments, or the mobile lips open to breathe
honeyM words Of tlattery.
There are many beautiful ia res in the
world, and yet they are NOS attractive
faces. There Is no soul in them. The.
are vapid and meaningless, and in tim
grow repulsive to those who once fount
them beautiful.
Mrs. Dcrne's was not one OF these
There was no lack Of either soul or ex-
preston in II.
Neither was it weak or pevish, o
acilliating Instead 1T held depth anC
Iower and pathos. But despite all |
was not a satisfied face. In the eye
there was u w.stful look Of sadness AM
an eager longing for something bet
ter than she had known
Aronnd the mouth an expression a
ifthe hungry soul with in were stirring
to cry out in passionate pain for tn
food denied it.
AS Major Varley watched 1t ne camt
to very nearly the same conclusion, ,and
his unuttered comment was:
| "What under heaven did a woman
with a face like that marry such a mar
az Derne! Not but that George Dern,
Is other than an honorable and uprigh
man and all that, but ~ he though
Of the bankers portly figure, tlorid fac
and bald head, his interests in sick
and dividends, and his general detest'.
ton of poverty and sentiment" but
there can certainly be no sympathy be
tween him and this charming woman
| "Why, she babe him farewell al
calmly as If he hal been going for I
stroll, and she stands there without |
particle of regret in her face. Oh, well
| suppose it's the old story ; she married
him tor his gold, and yet she does no
look like a woman who would sell her
self for money"
| "Rather au exciting scene, that,
said the Major, turning to Mrs. DerDe
and motioning with his white, aristo
cratic hand toward the beach drive tina
was now alive with stylish equipage
and high stepping thoroughhreds.-
"How well that lady sits her roar
steed. There is nothing admire rnor'
than lady on horseback, provided sh'
has good figure and understands thu
management of her horse. DO you ride
Mrs. Derne ?"
! Yes," she answered, "but hav'
not been out since l cane here. My
idea of riding does not consist of a can
ter along the beach with crowd o
people, but ofa wild gallop across coun
try in the early morning, when every
thing is fresh and Just awakened. A
half sigh accompanied her words, and
she had not once looked toward Varley
"Your desire can easily be gratitied, y
he replied quickly, "you have only t.
name the hour and the horses, and my
self will be in readiness to take yol
wherever your fancy may lead. What
do you say ,"
81 should like it," she answered sim
ply, and looked up at him for the first
time with an eager interest in her dark
ewes,