National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-16


the rooms were; how dreamily the sound
Of tho mowers" camo in through the open
window; how motherly Aunt Ruth ap-
pearod in her big apron, rs she greeted
him with cordial simplicity, touched with
slight awe of his city origin; how charm
ing tho table appeared to his hungry eyes,
with its healthful country farol
"You had better sit down-.you and
Lisle," said Aunt Ruth. Joel will be
Rettin' off TO town now. about O, he says,
IL it'll accommodate you any, and the
men'll be hore in few minutes, so it'll
be pleasanter for you to have your tea bo-
fore they come"
And Richard sat down TO o teto-a-teto
tea with Lisle, in her print gown and
with her slightly sun burned face, guilt
less of powder, and enjoyed 1t more than
any stately dinner which hc ever
attended, whore ladies lured him with
beautiful faces and sumptuous costumes
and glittoring jewels.
Then in came Uncle William, with his
loud voice and his burly frame, to break
tho spell. and half dozen red-fsced and
perspiring farm hands with him.
storm coming up fromthe nor'west,"
he said. "Guoss my hay'll catch 1t, but
Two only hnlf-day's moving down. All
the rest up in snug stacks OF noon.
1
yet. I'm lucky for once. Whewl there
comes tho thunder! A regular night of
It, guess we'll have"
So IL proved Joel could not 20 to
Gown" as tho little station five miles
distant was designated, and tho night set
in storming furiously.
| Richard, not at all reluctantly, &C.
copied the cordial invitation to remain
until morning. A train went to Lake
Resort ut Q, but as at that hour IL still
rained he turned over upon his comfort
able couch and concluded to wait until
evening.
He was in no haste to leave Lisle Ash
ley's sweet presence.
He idled away the day in delicious
fashion. Lisle sat over a great basket
mending, while he read loud, or talked to
her in his rich, thrilling voice, of foreign
lands and people.
How we'll she listens. So few people
possess that accomplishment, too" ho
thought, and he found she had read q
great deal, and had been several years at
school in distant city.
When he went away that evening he
asked her II he might send her some nice
books to read.
II have stacks of them" he said,
(which it seems selfish in me to keep In
trunks, now l have read them. You
might as we'll enjoy them, and / would
feel then that was doing something to-
ward return for all your kindness"
So he sent the books, and note with
them, of course; and of course Lisle re-
piled; and letter followed for several
weeks. And then he ran down to Benton
station to pass Sunday at Uncle WILL
Jams farm.
After that he came down every week
or two until October. They read, and
talked, and walked, and drove together,
and it was all Heaven to Lisle and q
veritable Eden to Richard. He was
deeply in love with tho girls innocence,
sweetness, and unaffected good sense.
He was fascinated with the repose and
restless rush of his whole life. He felt as
II he could live and die happy and con-
tented man with Lisle his only companion
II he could remain here.
But the world, his business duties, lay
elsewhere-in world of commerce and
fashion-and he did not ask Lisle to share
that world with him.
He went back to Albany in October
without having committed himself, yet
knowing that he loved and was loved by
Lisle.
All his happiness he found in her let
ters. Other women seemed false and fic-
titious when compared to her.
Il Still he could never think of her in
these circles where he had been reared.
Her simple grace and unaffected manner
would seem like a lack Of polish there.
She would DO cruelty criticised, and how
would sho ever manage n train2
All, no! he did not feel equal to the
occasion, and yet he was wretched with
out her.
He wrote her tender letters, full Of
love and respect, and he called her the
star of his life and the light of his heart.
He spoke with eagerness Of their next
meeting-at holiday season-but he never
intimated q desire or intention to have
her with him in his eastern home.
As for Lisle she poured out her heart to
him-all its wild sorrow, terrible loneli-
ness, and sweet affection thrilled through
her written words.
Her letters were source Of mingled
delight and despair to him. To DO
loved by SO charming creature was the
most exquisite happiness, yet his heart
was tender, and he could not bear to give
her pain. He could only pray time to fly
that he might seek her presence.
He passed the holidays with her. In her
neat cashmere dress and with the sunburn
all bleached away, she was prettier than
| when no had parted with her. And before
q blazing wood fire they passed delightful
hours with books and each other.
All, yes, 1t was q beautiful dream. But
would it not become painful reality II
he transplanted her from her native soil !?
She was sweet rather than handsome /;
she listened rather than convorsed she
was simple and unassuming rather than
picturesque in attire. She would not be
at home in his world and constrained
they not BIO o laughing stock for all his
circle
Yet how could he leave hor again :?
Still, he did leave her, with only "be true
to me, little sweetheart; shall come
again in few weeks" as a promise asked
or given, or o hope to Tighten the dark
gloom for Lisle.
He felt unhappy and miserable as soon
as he left her. Yet he would go again
soon.
1t was, after all, very delicious to have
such sweetheart hidden away in o sly
nook where no one knew of her-where
their wooings were as sacred and as free
from gossip as the twittering Of tho birds
in leafy forest.
Would 1t not be cruel to drag her out
before the cold-eyed criticism and vulgar
comment and merciless dissection2
He half dreaded opening her first letter
after his return. He felt sure it was one
agonized cry of loneliness and despair.
Yet he was conscious of keener sense
of disappointment than of relief when he
he found 1t was, instead, a very pleasant,
friendly letter, relating occurrences at
home, books she had read, and her ideas
OF them, with polite reference to the
pleasure his visit had given hor.
Not letter which he could find fault
with, yet not q satisfactory letter at all.
In his reply there was perhaps more of
ardor aud warmth than ever before. 1t
was long time before he received re-
ply to this--so long that he grew almost