Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-22

heavy nOsegay crashed through the Hlnu-
tossed curtains. La trice the Assessor
looked from between the curtains, with the
highest degree of expectancy depicted on
his couptenaDce at sight OF me, emotions
of various kinds printed themselves there,
Il at last it assumed an expression of In
finite stupefaction and Redeemed holly.
l do not know how the mad thought
flashed upon me, but shouted laughingly
to him : "Cousin Annie did that" "An-
ME, Annie" the echo answered, futtering
along the battlements now, and again
ringing from the distant park. He pressed
his hands confusedly on his breast and
sent to heaven a look, which plainly told
his hope that my wicked assertion might
die without further repetition, and without
another listener.
An hour later, gay and beaming, l
stepped into the arbor, where we were &C.
custOmed to dine in summer. Uncle and
aunt were punctually in tneir places, and
minute later Annie rushed IN, and com
ing straight up to me laid both her hands
in mine with glance revealing something
of her heartfelt Joy. She wore trailing,
white dress, and at her neck bunch OF
heliotrope and ferns she was lovelier than
ever, and something IN her voice was
sweeter and softer than even 1t was
wont to be. We chatted carelessly,
while uncle paced restlessly up and
down. l attributed his disquiet to
the fact that dinner had waited
fully ten minutes. OF the unfortunate
Assessor nothing was to be seen. Evil
IDENTIFY he had once more been dreaming
away his time. Finally he appeared, es-
corted by Joseph l suppose it was to beg
pardon that he had kissed aunt's hand,
without a word, and then cousin Annies,
too. He reiolced me with a mighty grip
of his right hand, all the while blushing in
the strangest fashion.
The afternoon sun shone on the gray
paper of the diniDg-room walls as We sat
down to table an immense bouquet deco
rated the board ; in the clay. coolers the
light wine was freezing, and single polished
TASKS, full of the dark Bordeaux, threw
red lights across the glistening dsmssk. l
took my dear familiar place by Armies
side, and felt happy and safe. Carried away
with blissful gladness, l talked of hundred
things-praised my much discussed, I'M
finished symphony, after the success of
which no one failed to inquire in the most
who, under all the brilliant e ashes of wit
that scattered, sat opposite me, quite de-
jected. But when Cousin Annie's clear
laugh rang out, l became dumb and lspsed
into silence, to revel in picture that rose
before me divinely. l saw in the future a
table like this, circled by gay friends !;
there uncle and aunt and the good As
SCISSOR would be welcome guests it would
be heart-cheering, charming home, its
presiding genius, my beautiful Annie, smil-
ing at me, and brightly chatting; beautiful
Annie-my wife My soul was flooded
with happiness in silence l sWore to my
self would speak this very day, l would
demand her for ever with this day, that
had dawned so happily, l would begin
blessed new life.
l started, for my hand had touched full
iced goblet of champagne. While Joseph
was pouring the glittering stream cautious
ly into the glasses, uncle was following the
operation with visible effort, while clear
drops stood on his forehead aunt and
cousin were gaz ng intently into their plates,
and the Assessor was twisting his napkin,
which he had previously rolled into ball.
Suddenly recognizing that uncle was on the
point of making a speech, and knowing
from experience that ne would break down
in the middle of it, determined to spare
him the trial. AS had but just arrived,
and that with an added experience, and
with the recollect:ons of the years gone by,
l felt justified in assuming that the toast,
long planned and carefully prepared as it
had been, would succeed as well with me.
At the critical moment, therefore, | struck
my glass, and broke forth, thanking uncle
and aunt for my kind reception in the
most confused and yet the best speech
that L have ever made. began
by speaking of lost son, for
whom a particularly fat calf lin the form
Of wonderfully good dinner had been
killed but l coon left the humorous, and
gave utterapce in my overwhelming JOY
and gratitude to every thought that
happy heart can drive to the lips. What
said, | know not; l only know that
Annies dark eyes, which had been stead
lastly fixed upon my features, as though
she feared to find there only irony, grew
velvety with dewy tears that uncle, after
he had stared st me a while in a sort of
stupor, began to twitch nervously about
the lips and that when | ended, my good
aunt, who is always ess ly touched, ex-
tended her hand to me between two fruit
dishes, and across the table, whispering !:
" My dear child My poor child -
Clearing my throat, / proceeded to pro-
test against aunt's calling me her poor
child" l said l was not poor; that |
had never been happier in my whole life
than was today that had nothing, abb
solutely nothing, in this world to wish for.
Then aunt, more moved than ever, muir
INJURED brokenly "God grant that this be
true, my poor, dear, dear boy"
Soon after that We rose, and when coffee
was served aunt silently disappeared.
"Have you shown the Assessor your bee.
hives, uncle ?" 1 asked, following a sudden
and somewhat mischievOus inspiration.
"No, that have not y replied the good
man eagerly, while new life came into his
face "but will gladly do it now, for t
cannot fail to interest any one to give
glance into the life of those clever, useful
creatures. Come, dear friend, now is just
the time, when these patient beings hasten,
after the days work is done, honey-laden
to their cells.
The Assessor showed a face in which
there was little joyous anticipation, while
he gazed at the swollen cheeks of this
friend of the bees with timid air. He
said nothing, however, but dejectedly fol-
lowed uncle, who had donned a wire mask,
gigantic pair of gloves and wide straw
hat.
cover yonder in the pond 1 know there
are water lilies, said Annie, softly Twill
you come with me, cousin, and see if any
are in bloom ?"
Asw walked along the dust flew over the
graveled paths, and the trees Iustled in the
park. felt that the decisive moment of my
life had come. We were walking through an
avenue shaded by thick, overhanging
boughs this path led to the hedges. Sac
had taken my arm; her brown hair was
tossed by the winds now and then upon
my shoulders. Mechanically l kept pace
with her, walking on and on. had not
the courage to take the slender figure to
my heart and to tell her the tempestuous
feelings That ruled therein supreme.
walked by her side with bliss unspeskable
all the while mingled with mex pressible
pain it seemed like a scorching dream.
And the moments were slipping by; we
were near the hedges now. at must be
now !" said compelling power within me.
| stopped, and, struggling for breath,
stammered "Annie, my dear"
"How do you like the Assessor ?"
Her careless words stemmed the coming
torrent. Very well, said l, taking a