The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-18
SELECT STORY.
A FIRST DAY DREAM.
THE MEMORY OF A FEW HOURS.

Along the steep tree-clad bank of a
winding West country stream a young
man climbed one bright, blazing June
afternoon.
Entirely bewildered as to his where
abouts now he stopped to peer up the
unexplored nights, now to look back on
the silvery thread below, always start
ing afresh, puzzled as ever as to his
route. Soon, by good fortune, he
stumbled on guide.
Hating by tangled underwood,
where shadows and sunshine played
hide and seek in the summer breeze, he
saw beyond the moving branches what
from distance, he had mistaken for a
bit of gray crag, but what in truth was
the decaying wall of some old monas-
tic cell, and, leaning lightly against it,
young girlish form, book neglected
at her feet, hands lazily clasped, and
dark eyes dreamily gazing into the
hazy distance
The South wind. stealing round an
ivied corner, ruffied the dark feathers
of her hat, and stirred the short, curl
ing, chestnut hair below; but what
ever whispers it bore upon its wings, it
carried no tales of the stranger close at
hand, no suspicion of an admiring
watcher intruding on that happy soli-
tude. The 81 beg your pardon, but
may | ask if I'm on the right way to
MIR. Hurst's of Perristone?" that pres
emily broke the stiffness, was as start
ling as a thunderclap from an uncloud-
ed sky, and vivid blush rose on the
young face that turned toward the in
quirer with the answer:
"You are right if you wish to walk
round by the bridge?'
"But l think l was told to take
a nearer way" said the newcomer,
pushing forward through a miniature
forest of bracken and oak saplirgs,
and disclosing, under the broad-brim-
med hat he raised, sunburnt features,
young and good-looking Il was to
lind MIR. Hurst's boat, ferry myself
over if it was on this side, or shout for
it if it was opposite. I've kept watch
for the boat all along, but failed to
find it. Can you kindly direct me to
it 2"
A glance, half shy, half amused,
came with the response to this:
81 am afraid the boat is nowhere
near. Some of them from the house
are fishing from it, l believe"
"Unlucky And the bridge-?"
"Will take you four miles round
the river winds So"
Now the day was delicious for doing
nothing, and doing that at ones leis-
ure, but the very idea of four-mile
trudge under three o'clock sun was
exhausting. The young man hesitated,
casting longing eyes at a messy seat
near by in cool, shady angle. His
young guide had much ado to keep
from laughing, and pair of fascinat-
ing dimples began to hover about her
cheeks.
"ls there no other way to get ever p
said he, distinctly disinclined to GO
"None at all, said she, with a shake
of the head.
"Then | have no choice. Thank
you very much for directing me :" and,
adding something to his farewell of
being forced to get on to Perristone,
the stranger turned to begin his long
walk.
Hereat compunction overlook the
young lady, and her OBTAINING voice
brought him to a standstill.
SIS it Mr.. Hurst you are wanting TO
see 2"
swell, partly,-yes"
| "Then he is not at home. | saw
him drive toward Ross half an hour
back
'Indeedl Thank you, but I must
still go on. | shall find Mrs. Hurst
within
ooh, no. M-Mrs. Hurst was to
have come back from Glocester yester-
day, but, instead, she only returns this
evening"
| This seemed stop final but the
gentleman appeared to be still undecid-
ed, or, perhaps, he enjoyed prolonging
the sation.
81 believe there are two Mr.. Hursts,
OF Perristone. ! am speaking of-of-
| the Squire"
"And so"-with pretty smie-"am
IT,"
Sand / bring note to him from
my hostess, Mrs. Furnival, of Coomb-
side, who is his sister"
"Aunt Helen Oh, then, give it to
me, please, for / am his daughter"
| AT this off went the young mans
hat again the note was handed forth,
and a prolonged study of the bright
young face enjoyed while its owner
taking the underlined 'Immediate'
for leave, opened and read the misSive
to her father;
"DEAR HUGH-Please entertain the
bearer of this for few hours, and
keep him to dinner lie is Captain
Ryland, son of my old schoolfellow
you fell so desperately in love Will
thirty years agol / am planning q
little surprise for him, and want him
out of the way Win explain when
come this evening with another friend
| Love tO CharlOttp who anna honL "A