The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-01
tined me for the church but the restricted life of country minister being not much

life of country minister being not much 10 my taste al that period had con- tented myself with rambling about ia the open country. reading. fishing. dancing occasionally a; the country balls. and. as had some iaeult, in scnbbling. writing tnasAflne article fiom time 10 tune. The sue cess oi one or two ot my lIttie pieces had almos; turned my head. and began 10 indulge in fantastic visions of fame and fortune. Ia be won only with the pen. wrote inlessantly. and vent backward and forward 10 A little town, about three miles distant from the village in which we lived. 10 see the periodicals as they were published. and to glance eagerly over ,hear page. for my own lucubrstions One evening. however. AS was returning from one of these es- petitions an incident occurred which. from that tune 10 this, changed the whole carren, of my existence.
 My neares, way home from the town led in one place almost directly under the ~lndo~s of an antique mansion. that had for many years been ruinous and unin- habited bu, II had been lately taken by French family and repaired and beau tined. had always taken fancy 10 this old place, |, was so Ney quaint and picturesque. and commanded one ot the loveiiest landscapes ,ha, could be found in ,ha, par, of England. Often, as l passed by the old house. l had specu. lated on the character and tastes of the inmates
 The particular nigh, speak of the moon shone brightly ,-s vas just emeig lng from a little wood near the house. when was startled by an unexpected vision. From beneath the drawing room windows balcony protected standing on thls balcony 1 now observed beauti- tul female nguTe. Had the form been the glowing creation of Greek sculptor |, could no1 have been more perfect or have stood m a more perfect attitude. approached ! li.tle nearer to the spot so Is 10 obtain yIcw ot het features, yet so softly as not to disturb Ter redlta.Ions l WAS indeed surpised at The marvellous beauty of her coGnienanCe. \ me oval iaee with deep. lus;feus eve. Il command lns yet perfectly wHmanlt brow Was shaded by protgs on oi dark atir. fottn- .ne strong con,tas, ,a hei h'll! aut com pleN,on. which told i> plAr, II verbal description ni the sarny south oi Ian ( The dreamy gaze ot ;ho>e large Aquid eyes and the ideal eNpfes sio;s oi her ogn- tcnanee told hew ier 9his >he VAS s,ruek k with he beauty ot thc moanll shl N3eH Wha. wonder ~as |. thAt l worshlped the unknown dnlna,y iren thAl moment
 could l help :. when Qpon he d'mness oi county iiie ,, ttse and ier,s ne@ rose h.ef. atrt=N s, dreams Thinking ouN ai her tf.tns5 end ani beauty was uaciiy los; ta everything CSC ard gradually W4ndetci neafcI an ret',f ,o the b4l upy, unii |; .enSih be- eaa9e aware .kai s,s 1il>fsnetly seen ant the young beauty saiaealY 1rouscd from her rcNe erlc. tct.rcd 'ntn thc aaHse N NBt fo4id her dream haze aeea ..sked
 myself {, thousand tune Had >hr been thinking Q. some absen' .e.er ,,f A \ among the yinevafds ani has oi her at- usc France 0s had h.s spift 'akcs flight. and vas her gaze dite ted tea tfds ihc llhuAlab.e eNpanse as ;hogSh to pierce ,he s,ari, canopy, and des Y kiul among the whiie-robed wor>hipers Of was !; on the glad communion ot otyoeih and beauty wi,h the spells of nature These and na4uy other ,aeofies ii Gpei and Aaulshed sleep from ney eyes ;ha, nlsht CT several suoocsslte days passed and repa ssed the old mansion bu, without seeing my InAmoti,a. Bd, l d,d no, ggve Up though Love is fertile n e ped eg,s Among my other aCcomp, shmen,s ~as a grea; love ;or. and skill n efawius Ihls faculty no~ de;erin.nei 70 buns into il!. pay. knew how common I, was among the cultivated Irct. h people To md taste io, skctchns and d:asing and ll,;!e doeb,ed hu, ,hs, ne bea4ty of the balcony hat also su'iit len. .n.e If art ,o appreC ae ny e.sotts. so pro- cured ma.eIiA!s ln aAendanee. and IF spite oi my tn le il4,sg.sl1Es who began 10 iear .n he fatic'y ot 'ay tastes and pursuits ;ha, ! sn@4id nevef do mu | fredit io hls teaching Of example ire
 isenty pa-l ,ist 70 any spo. 0muand- ing Tica 0i tae o.i mansion and ske,ched. as vel as n, lmps'.ence would alloS me. seiue oi me prominent ieatares ot inc beaesiiul seenefy around. :. Aad uled ;hIs r-se for sesera. days 'host ct feet, wher oae day handsome .ttu. 4 .i;Le past ,ke p-iEte ai lie ba, s,sl. Ish, and active F h.s pl .1ncr. esine down 70 -AtI attpk sfEiF V ss SFA-sift Aa#Aa AI VT looking -,ienu.e.s |, ny s.etc hes for some moments .,nd lares3H, ne lr,a an agony of wonder ss % tae possibility of his being me father Q; my unknown ti- vin.,y. aecosled me n bfoser rgi,.h
 oe vi. sell ee ? e'are. atie
 Non NioHs.ea, sad l. fst :ftu. 4p ihe few :en ! so-ds .ree ard a- ~ardly !aa en'ns my iSnofaace of iae lAnguage. a8. on.} an aia4'e-1
 He bowed ap. aa began. half r freneh an4 hal l. kn.i.,h ,o a,tef j. 'housAue apo.9s.c, E., sooG maze hs'n or1e ,rofe a: ease U, 5~yg1ng .f4 70 4ecep, ;he drawing
 " lie d,d so ai once ~IiA mary thanks aiding. 10 isay srea; dcligh' lo4 snail corne c.s eyening. and ma T Ie m ehlld Ag.ae sill CT r1o~h tank yo- a.so-
 promised n to 90 and you may 5e sure did n, ia. to keep li ! ~ea, nome over oyec