The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-17

oideLIy unsettled by this ocntretsmps.
The village was not particularly in
tcresting, 40 l turned my steps toward
. wood about milo or moro distant.
The day WINS perfect; tho sky Of that
gentle. clear blue that makos one think
OF maidcnhood. and a shy little breaxo
stirred amid the leaves and touched my
check like tho light caress OF hand,
Most jovially song tho birds, and tho
sunshine filtered goldenly down through
the yellow-grcen leaves Of spring. In
short, everything was most uncommonly
rural and jolly. and ! got of several
neat things. all to myself, in tho way Of
spring pootry--pot original, you know,
but quotations suck as
"Along tho crtspcd shades Of howorr,
Reveis the spruce and jocund spring."
and, aTos. loi tho winter 10 past. tho
rain b over and gone, the fig troo put.
teth forth her green tigs, and tho vines
with tho tender grapes give . good
SMELL"
had gotten that far and vas lust
remembering that there weront any
tiga, or grapes either, whom turn in
tho path opened before I long, verdAnt
vista, NJ the end II which was fallen
tree, and seated upon the tree--A TO-
male.
Il il quite impossible for IN ordinary
individual like myself 70 attempt 10
tell you how nice that female looked.
She had her hack turned 10 mo, hut
such satisfactory hack just no end |
She was very young. because 1t IVES -
rounded, yet 90 slender. and sho Wa
arrayed in pale soft yellow gown.
II was plain TO sse sho WAN "cult-
ufad, because the gown wAs 10 short in
the waist and 20 puiIed in Tho sleovea.
She was clasping one knce with
both hands, and her dark hOad
was bent forward intsntiy; The sitting
sunshine swAyed back and forth
through the moving leaves, casting
tremulous, lace.liko shadows over her !;
she was the dominant note In this
vernal symphony, tho highest light in
this yellow-grcon picture 0l spring.
All tho mad life Of tho lusty young
year seemed racing through my veins
One knows whom young mems fancies
form in this season. So, forgot the
realities, anl wandered OF into littlo
arcadiAn idyl, whore Phyllis and Cory
don tended opera bouffe sheep, and
never waited for the formalities Of IN
introduction. / got OF some more
spring poetry. l remarked con6den-
TALLY to myself that
Tho arch Of the lsavss was hollow.
Aud the meaning Of Nay w-s clear"
And then I stole noiselessly over tho
soft, damp moss nearer and nearer.
until ] stood inst behind ma belle dame.
She was very interested in her book or
she must have heard the loud throbs Of
my heart. She was reading Chastalard.
I could SEQ il over her shoulder, and
Chastelard was saying:
yoyes con,n,e Avril fAit l'amou aux 6curs;
Dame d'amo,T, dame aux belle couleun,
Dts0 vOus fAit belle, amour vo0s fAit Nine.
And, indeed, che herself had God made
beautiful!
could see her thin nostrils culver
with the quick breaths that heaved her
naiden breast. ! saw the blue veins
in her temple and her little pink 60
like crumpled satin against her dark
hair; her lent head allowed the back Of
her neck; like milk, IL was, and tiny.
vanishing dark rings Of hair or spt down
and encrouchcd upon its whitsness.
Thought Of the ringlets that eurled
down the exquisite neck Of Nonrma-
hal. Talk Of Venus napo! yoN should
have seen that one. And III utterly
lost my head. and bending forward
Ls~c~l TOll~Ayf AhA M
and faced round--furious?"
"You kissed my neck" she cried.
gasping with rage.
felt uncommonly sneaky. l AN
sure looked so, but for my lie l didnt
know what to say. I oouldnt SAY was
sorry, and i couldn't say wouldn't dc
il again in my dreadful embarrassment,
made fearful ass Of myself, trying
| to bc clumsily playful.
"Was that vour neck" / said II
weakly simulated surprise,
"Of course il was NINE" scornfnlly
"Arent yoa ashamed Of yourself.
II am ashamed" ! said hnmhiv
"awiully. l WAS an abominahlo brute
please try to forgive mo, won't do il
again-thst 10, / suppose YOU won't II,
me. And. after all. il wasn't cntirol,
my fault. " you carry your neck out
into the woods this way you run ~
awful danger Of having il kissed, YOU
know" blundercd on. making matters
worse at every word.
She turned hsa :htilv away, saying, "Ss
you are not even gentlsnanly enough
10 apologies"
Isprang over tho log and stood 10
side. and oxpostulatel Meekly. "iol
know I feel mean about this. and ! an
dreadfully Inundated IT having lost m,
self-control. but your neck was ravish
ingly beautiful. and us not very mag
unanimous to trample = fellow when h
is down.
She was evidently ageneroas naturet
girl, for this view Of the matter appealed
TO her. ut was . very horrid thing &
do" she said. severely,
IF you Just could sce tho hack o
your neck" ! answered; "yoa woals
see that there 10 soMo excuse to b
made for mo: but still Am willing b
do anything that might atone Tor m,
weakness and wickcslnesa."
"Thcn you can 60 away. That il th'
only thing you can do" she replies
gravely.
Thin was an awful blow. hadn'
expected it, but ! did not dare disohey
and almost weeping turned 10 50.
took few reluctant steps. hut seize,
with bright idsa. turned again: Don
you think,"I said eagerly. that 70
had better not me- SEQ YOU ont Of thes
woois2 Il INIT safo your being her
alone"
This speech shs seemed to flnd m
commonly funny. for she said With
little derisive laugh: