The Dickinson press., 1884-11-08
Ills IDEAL.
By Mary Q. Preston.

By Mary O. Preston.
"Of all the loves on earth-a man in
love-" Hal Liscomb exclaimed, watch
ing the clouds of blue vapor ascending
among the branches. II wish, with my
whole heart, that the whole mass Of
women could be sent to an island in the
Sauth Sea-"
His companion looked off to the west,
a softened light in his hazel eyes, a
smile on his mustached lip.
"How many of our own sex do you
think would remain here, them" he
questioned. "Hal, you ought to fall in
love yourself; it's the making of a fell
low; and when you do take the malady,
which you certainly will sometime,
won't you take it badly! Allyou wom-
en-haters do; it's a sort of judgment on
them"
"When I dol" and there was a vol
ume in the tone. "When I do, you may
laugh at me, rs I feel inclined"
Galloping hoof's struck on the even
ing quiet, and Hal left his sentence I'M
finished, lifting himself on his elbow to
sec the horse and rider. A little black
pony was coming along the highway at
full speed, bearing a girl whose beauty
was enhanced by her enjoyment, and
who seemed at perfect ease in the sad
die; she did not see the two friends,
who were lying among the shadows
just in from the roadway; and in a mo-
ment as it seemed, she had appeared
and vanished, leaving behind her but
the memory OF her dark face, her flow
ing black hair, and herupright, grace.
full figure. for the falling shadows hid
her from them instantly.
Grant Lawson merely lifted his dark
head, and allowed it to fall back again
into his clasped hands, when he saw
the rider. But he smiled a rather
satirical smile as Hal, finging his cigar
hurrledly away, sprang to his feet, try
ing to follow the vanishing beauty with
his eyes.
GIN the name of all the goddesses!"
lie cried, "What have we seen, Grant?"
zone Of those animals which are not
desirable this side of the South Sea-"
Grant answered, indolently. "She has
a few others like you at her chariot
wheels, Hal. Don't lose your head!
Jove?" looking at his watch, "we1l be
late for dinner! No wonder Ethel was
like a jockey. Come, HAL" And
he lifted himself from his easy position,
took up his hat, and prepared to pro-
coed toward his home.
"Ethel?" Hal repeated, as they
walked along. els that the cousin you
were telling me off"
"The same. told her of you too; told
her you were a woman hater."
every kind of you, Hal answered grim
ly. "Wha did she say?"
ooh, not much. She remarked that
there was always something wrong with
men who rallied at women. By the way"
he continued, inwarGdy amused by the
uncomfortable look on his friends face,
chow are you doing with your great
picture?"
Failing" Hal said ,laconically. Cant
find my ideal face; and the face I want is
that OF a woman, too"
"What sort of a face do you want?
Don't be too ideal, since you paint for
human eyes, my friend"
81 have eve sought it in a ball
room," Hal responded, a trife bitterly.
CT never fancied 1 would find itin the
trained beauties of society, for l want a
face of truth and purity, spirited, but
gentle; peaceful, but not lacking soul;
pure, but not too spirituelle. I want
deep, earnest eyes. soulful, steady, ten
der but fearless, with something holy in
their depths; gentle, earnest lips, chat
look as though they can qulver as read
lily as smile, that can reproach where
there is wrong or commend where there
is right; q broad, low brow, with marks
of Ideally and tender thought; masses
Of dark hair, falling far in rich disorder,
framing this face of mime"
yours ?" with an uplifting of Grants
eyebrows. "You would want no one to
own it then? You are in love with your
ideal, as that sculptor was with his
statute, Hal, and if I don't make a mis-
take, my boy, you have found it. Here
we IRE, and the girls are on the veran-
da. No more ct present, but if you are
He sprang up the steps, three at a
time. Hal followed more leisurely and
when he reached Grant he found himself
before q dark-eyed stranger, with whom
Grant was laughing.
"Allow me to attract your attention
to IN individual who holds a deadly hat
red for your adorable SEX" Grant COM
menced solemnly. Miss Allen, this is our
woman-hater. Mr.. Hal Liscomb. En-
Tighten his darkness"
Ethel Allen lifted her dark, dreamy
eyes to the fair face of the young man,
and a slight smile touched her lips as
she withdrew the hand which she had
half extended before it had reached his
own.
"And whereas by petulance or pride, I had hap
~ said some evil,
faults of ALL"
she quoted gently. And a feeling akin
to shame went owe the young man,
while those dark slumbrous eyes, with
their hint of hidden fire, were tracing
his blonde face earnestly, and he I'M
derstood because of the term woman
hater" he had lost q touch of the girls
white fingers.
He saw her again at dinner, when
she sat directly acros from him, in q
dress of pure white, with crimson and
whito roses on her bosom, and when he