Daily Yellowstone journal., 1884-05-15
WHITE GRAPE.
Felix GRAY in Times Democrat. !

sidewalk, and the little strip OF yard
between 1t, front door aud the gate was
waste Of grass and weeds. IN UNI
brclla china grew beside the gate whose
prnclpal function seemed TO TIC the
holding up to view red placard set-
TIM forth that the premises were " or
Rent
/ They had been for rent for three
months at least, and the red placard
was well.nigh washed away by the win.
ter storms, before it met the pre-
destined ewes which we're to look upon
il with favorable consideration.
iva, early in April. The china
tree was coming into leaf, and the tall
/ gypsy cousins of the aristocratic dais cs
were camping in the weedy waste of
the door card.
had leen ont for my aecustome |
NO ming troll, looking after my roses
u the up town gardens, and, passing
tlc cottage On my way home, ! was
,tru"G by the novel fact that the In
gi,ici 1T little cate stood open. Glanc-
mg under the branches of the china
tree, saw q young Homan standing on
the moully steps, looking critically
aLout her and Young man on the
tiny portico in the act of locking the
front door.
! halted beside the gate, looking
aua., as il interested in the hosting of
a kite by some urchins in the street,
AMI in a moment they came out, their
facus glowing with the Joy Of sati fiel
que t.
Il needed no supcrluman penetration
{ Ills over that they we're newly mar.
ricd and about 10 set up their Alst
housekeeping. eaccuratelyma ched
lat and dress. ,impla and HnprrteGIiug
~ they we're Epf, The mm!st hable
stamp Of the tgou eau. and the conn.
nee wit which she took his arm. and
the earncstncss with which the spose.
turning their faces toward ca Ii other,
told of happiness some months OLD,
and lightning to descend to practical
cousiderat ems.
belle e ! pass among my acluaint-
anc s for Il rather cynical old bachelor,
aud / suppose M best friends would
hardly think me capable OF the warm
gloy that suiiuscd nv heart rs J saw
this Young husband-a tall strong
limHrd, manly fellow, by the way pat
tie little hand that lay on his arm and
laugh fondly down into the upturnel
iaee OF his girl wife.
( he furnishing of such tiny shell
is not IN affair of many days, so | was
not surprised one morning toward the
end of the same week, TO see the youag
man come out of the little gate, and
close it behind him, waving his hanj to
somebody within as he TUNED away /
met him at the corner. and could well
fancy that his smiling lips still felt the
warm pressure of the parting kiss.
As reached the deepening shade of
The china tree saw her standing on the
portico. her head resting against it,
irare wooden pillar, her droo .led
land, clasped lightly before her, and
b'r e es fixed upon acancy, trying for
tie thOusandth time to make real unto
h rsell the strange newRess OF the stu
alton. At the sound Of my step she
broke away froA her reverie. and turned
into the house with brisk mir of nav
ing duties to perform. The next mo-
ment window was thrown up, and
voice broke ont in gay lifting song
like that of clad bird in a blue sum-
mer sky.
To pass the cottage soon became
favortc feature in my daily prone.
nades, and I seldom failed to catch o
glimpse of one or both Of its occupant
Sometimes she was about going to mar
kci, and it was delightful to notice the
assumption of matronly dignity with
which she now tied her bonnet on, in
stead OF pinning it as formerly, and
covered her shoulders with little cape
with long flowing ends.
Sometimes she sat sewing near the
window and once, the door being open,
looked into the very heart of the do
nestle arcanum and beheld her with
upturned sleeves and vide apron. Wig
orously beating something in a great
yellow bowl.
Ii was some time in June. think.
that babe silent farewell to my un.
known ir ends in tic cottage.
II was moonlight night, | remem-
Der; the air was heavy with the odor OF
night-blooming essamine. and mock.
ingbird was singing somewhere near.
The china tree was black with lis full
clustered foliage, aud the moons rays
could not penetrate TO the LIT le p rtico,
couli see two Il ires seated there,
however in the shadow, and their at
titudc. and the low lurmur OF their
voices, accorded ell to my mind witt
the .essOwine odor, and the biid'sons,
/ stayed abroad usually late. ] found
myself well &C 'ommodated and well
amused in Florence, and these condi-
tons fulfilled, one place is as good rs
another to n bachelor without ties.
II was late in ecember when j
landed in New ork, and series of
long promised visits TO SOM distant re-
lations occupied another two months;
so March had come round before again
unpached my trunks in my aH.iiiay
room and fell again into the loter ng
routine of my life at nome.
had not forgotten my cottage peo.
pile, and one of NJ, first engagements
with myself was to pass their gate ami
look in upon them.
II was a bright, sunshiny day when !
set out to keep this engagement, though
the east winds and Tho clouds Of dn
amply fulfilled the traditions of the
month. ~ approached the place, the
leailess trees and the closed blinds re.