Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-07


ing ones on it, and handed 1t to her
with true Southern hospitality, feeling
evidently gratified that he had anything TO
give which could be of service TO Nher.
She took the Offering with many thanks,
and rode smilingly onward.
0Do YOU understand now" she said to
Mr.. lie Verrier, 'Fwhat use they make of
their fires? And, beside roasting potatoes
in them, they need fire to light their pipes
with. l only asked for potato to show
you that they always keep them on hand
smoking hot at all hours Of the day, and
even all hours Of the night, for even their
cabin hearths are filed with them as soon
as they get home from work. When we
get out Of sight OF the old daddy l VIII
throw this away; meantime you may car
~ it for me.'
Il can put it to a better use than that if
Won do not want it. 1t looks very tempt
ing to me as l have had no dinner" he
said. as he commenced peellng II 70 eat.
ssWhy how happens it that you have had
no dinner?'
IL had no luck fishing, and staid hoping
to meet with some, until it was so late
when / returned that it was time to I'LL
my engagement with you, and came on
at once. ScipiO begged me to eat, and
said dinner was on the table waiting for
me; but feared you were waiting, and l
came to you with all possible speed"
After leaving the plantations through
which they had been riding behind them,
they came upon some rich forest land
crowned with luXuriant growth. Tall and
stately towering above all other trees
stood the magnolia, their glistening leaves
the darkest and the richest of that forest
band. The 1--we oaks with their myriad
branches, their small but multitudiOus
leaves, and their far-reaching shade was
there. Grape vines in wild and tangled
beauty threw tendrils far and wide, and
| bound together the wild wood trees, max
ing a net work of foliage so thick as to be
in many places imperyiOus to the SUMS
bright rays, even in his nOOntide glory.
The merry song of birds was everywhere,
the varied and delicious notes of the
hooking bird rising clear above all others,
for the dog days had passed, during which
period they are always silent only to
ring out a richer and fuller melody
when the mid autumn days shall open.
The mOcking-bird, more than any other of
{ the feathered tribe, cOmmendS itself to
I the Southern heart; il is so social in its
nature. and dWells only about the haunts
/ Of men. You may ride hundreds of miles
through the wild woods without ever
meeting one of their species, but as soon
as YOU approach the settlements their
I CHEEKY notes are heard. Let some squat
I ter 90 to work in the forest with his ak
and fell the trees for a clearing and put
him up a cabin Of logs, and he will not
have his family installed in it probably
more than one or two seasons before the
woods about his dwelling will
be alive and musical with these
richest Of all sOngsteTs. His home
may be twenty miles from that OF
any other man, yet these birds Will find
him out and make music for him second
only in beauty and interest to the happy
shouts of his children in their playful
/ glee.
The moments sped Oh gilded wings as
Mr.. lie Verrier and Clare rode on amid
such surroundings. Both had an eve for
natures beauties. and the hearts of both
were drinking in the loneliness which
marked every step of their way. Mr.. lie
Nerrier particularly reveled in tit was
all so new to him, whose daily life was
passed in busy marts and crowded streets.
He descanted long and elOquently upon
each new phase of forest beauty rs it pre-
scented itself At length he said to Glare
"YOu do not brag on Lucien at all.'
sis Lucien the name Of your horse 20
she asked.
eyes. Do you not think it a pretty
nameT'
every; but not prettier than the animal
who bears it. l thought him splendid
when ! was looking at him, but / did not
appreciate him then as l do now that
have ridden him; he moves with so much
ease. / am really in love with him."
''Then his master enyies him. said Mr..
lie Nerrier so significantly that Clare's
face crimsOned in a moment.
He did not seek to relieve her from her
confusion, and she tried in vain to think
Of something to say which would turn the
conversation. In a few minutes they
came upon some beds Of spegelia, which
were gorgeous in their crimson beauty,
and she directed his attention to them. He
dismOunted and gathered some Of them.
''Shall 1 carry these for you tOO?' he
said. ''Unlike the potato l shall not be
tempted to eat them, so you may safely
calculate upon seeing them flourish in
your vases at home. But why do you
care for them when you have so many
splendid eXOtics!"
Il love wild flowers more than any
Other,' she replied. Il know not why I'M
less because they are wild. SOwn broad
cast by Gods own hand in all the earth
they are prominently the tokens of his
love, for they were not created to supply
our necessities. but to minister to ard
crafty our love of the beautiful"
This love Of the beautiful, does it never
strike YOU as strange, Miss Clare. that we
cultivate il so little, and are so blind to
US? l once heard a person say of another
who was suspected of stealing: 1t is
impossible that he should have stolen it;
he loves birds and flowers and all things
beautiful and though there may be some
who are exceptions to this rule. there was
sound philosophy In the remark. The
man who has no tastes for natures varied
forms of lOyeliness and beauty, who can
look with indifference upon a splendid
landscape, or any other imposing feature
of Gods workmanship, deserves to be
placed in the same category with those
WhOmS hakespeare denOunces as having
no music in their souls and therefore fit
only for treason, stTatagems and spOils.'"
After having enjoyed their ride with a
keen relish they started home by another
route. and on turning a corner came sud-
denly upon some negroes who were en-
gagged in cOOpering. Some large stacks of
ready-made sugar hOgsheads were stand
ing there, and a man was approaching
with one on his head to be placed upon the
pile with the rest.
As Lucien came around the corner and
spied the anomalous looking thing, he was
terror stricken and gave a lunge and
squatted. Instantly, as it were, he arose,
wheeled about and ran at the top of mis-
speed. Mr.. lie Nerrier, appalled, at Clare's
danger, rushed to seize her horses reins,
but Lucien was too quick for him. He
had darted OF like hash-tO follow as
rapidly as possible was all he could do.
Clare was an accomplished and
had always been considered a
fearless rider, but she was alarmed
now; she knew though that her
only hope was in her presence Of
mind, and tried her best to control herself,
that she might control her horse as soon
as he became sufficiently tractable to be
managed. He ran with her something
more than a quarter of a mile before he
abated his speed ut all, but she still re-
tanned her seat and at length succeeded
in stopping him. As soon as she brought
him 70 a standstill she sprang from her
saddle to the ground, and sunk down
upon It completely OverpOwered. I'M
medIately after Mr.. lie Verrier came in
sight. and supposed from her appearance
that She had been thrown, he reached her
as soon as it was possible and was greatly
relieved at finding her unhurt. He seated
Glare on the body of a fallen tree, and
when he had secured the hOrses-Lucien
still trembling and affrighted-he seated
himself beside her and drew her gently
towards him, insisting that she should
lean on him until she became more COM
posed.
The nervous system had received such
a shock that she knew nothing but tears
could relieve her, and yet she kept re-
pressing them and choking them back, I'M