The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-04-04

Ills Slue ne InlSnC uely age. 116 Hdu
never before counted up his treasures
thus-whence, too, came this odd sense
of power and mastery over fate that
10 sovereignty, and must take the brag-
CARTS loud pitiful pride in itp
Dear to him were those peaceful
brrathings that, ascending from the
village below, spoke Ofduteous toll, fol-
lowed in its turn by grateful rest. Not
"a 81 ,ht or sound met eye or ear but
spd ie OF happiness in the past. OF sure
",uting peace in the future. Content
/, he To dwell among clods, so he might
re the c,ois' noble portion of air,
-" enrt',.
"A sweet withous snare-a pleasure
that brings no pain-tO SOW and plant
in hope, waiting in the rainbow promise
that harvest shall never fail, he said,
thinking hale out of his own mind, and
half from a well-loved book. And
there are those who pity us, Madcap-
who smiled at this rich attendance on
our poverty and who would beckon us
out of our content to the feverish de-
lights that would please you about as
well as a jewel would in comparison
with this"
He turned aside to pluck pale earth
|
within herself from the too vivid, volup-
tuous life around; for they were pass
ing just then between hedgerOws spark
ling through spring shOwers--hedge-
rows upon whose banks the season met
and clasped hands, the bright young
beauties of month ago standing brave
ly up in their faded smOcks side by side
with the bold, gay newcomers, about
whose skirts the breath of early sum-
mer chung. And these wistful eyes, that
seemed to say, do not pass us by be-
cause we wear so happy mien, but
gather us for the sake Of the yesterday
In which we and you were so happy,
and that perhaps will have no morrow"
are Madcap's so that it was tiny knot
indeed that at length she placed in her
breast.
land love to see you So" said Mr..
Eyre, with a simple flower in your
hand, and your hair with only its own
every ornament with which a foolish
woman thinks to adorn herself but an
imitation of those natural ones that
adOrn our birdsp"
And how much less beautiful" said
Madcap, looking up to gOld-crested
wren who sang at ease, swinging amidst
the yellow tassels of the hazel: while,
hard by. as if in mOckery of the tiny
creatures SOulleSS Splendor, russell
thrush poured out his song-the care
full thrush who
Sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could re-
capture
The first fine careless rapture
and whose song, when we are happy, is
the song of our own hearts, and it is
the bird who is hearkening, and we who
are pouring out that triumphant, throb-
bling joy.
"What were you thinking, Madcap?"
said Mr.. Eyre, struck by something in
her face.
THAT if | were not happy, such a
song as that would break my heart"
She was trembling violently, and
though he caught her in his arms, she
trembled still, then sat erect, and pass
ing her hand before her eyes, gazed
around.
"What was it?'' she said. "Some-
thing-some One-and yet / saw only
demonstrating all the beauty on
which you looked because was not be-
side you'll"
That's true enough" said Mr.. Eyre;
mot twig, leaf, or blossom pleased me
on my way home this morning; all /
saw was Madcap at the end of my ride,
Something that could think of you,
not them, if"
Madcap," he said, as he held her close,
land, like Sir Thomas Overbury's milk
maid, have good store Of flowers to cover
you; well, you'll let me creep under the
same coverlet, | hope-but no, not even
for you will submit to be made ridicu-
lOus. Two sculptured lovers weeping
under willOw-tree never inspired me
with anything but disgust; they ought
not to have died-had they ,oilled to live
they must have done so"
But, before now, lovers have willed
each other to die, !" said Madcap, dreami-
ly; land all-for love!'
"No-for jealousy" said Mr.. Eyre;
land what man has reason to be jeal-
Gus of, is not worth killing-he should
equally scorn to harm, as to detain her."
And so you could not be JEALOUSY"
said Madcap, some of the old color and
mischief stealing back to her pale face.
Not II DO you mean to try me?"
'LoOk!" she said, as if in answer; and
they turned on the brow of the hill, and
together gazed down on the vast woods
of Lowell spread out below--woods upon
had encroached little by little. like the
sea upon coast set thick with little
iSlets and promontories, till at length,
growing bold, it had overspread all, and
now lay pulsing. in the sunlight-a tide
whose ebb anu flow bore mysterious
whisperings with it, rising at moments
to song more sweet and human than
ever yet was reached by oceans lullaby.
ut is like birds variations on the
one note that he has by heart, and ex-
presses so perfectly" said Madcap
dreamily, her eyes fixed on that ex-
qusite green.
And do you wish him back?" said
Mr.. Eyre, looking keenly at his wife.
Indeed do" she said, looking to-
ward the distant turrets that rose gray
ly out of that shimmering light. mot
a day passes but think of him-poor
Frank"
And do you think he has stayed
away these six years on your accountp"
II don't know" said Madcap, turn
ing her head aside; "only you see was
Franks first, his only sweetheartl'
And that is better than being
mans laSt.v said Mr.. Eyre.