Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-05

,A5l young and ardsns
read Shelley. / used 70 myself = Yns
time, but DO not appreciate him 80 m.oa
now, having, perhaps, become more ~
conciled to "things In general n &C
ccrdingly procured the edition oy w.
NJ. Rosetti. in three volumes, and ior-
wsrded them to her with little no'e'
literary effort which cost the ciao
several sheets Of paper before ! was
satisfied. Brown came up while was
directing the envelope and asked me
ironically If I bad been writing a poem;
"a poem, indeed I" exclaimed l
testify. Why"
"Because you have such seraphic
smile on your venerable face" he en-
swered, grinning.
II is generally wiser to hold ones
tongue. People do misconstrue So
This was the commencement Of my
friendship with Edith. She wrote me
little note Of thanks, and hoped l
would call at Fairlawn, which / did on
the first opportunity.
Mrs. Lyall was rather majestic
lady, who evidently contriyed to have
her own way in the house. Edith was
charming. She had way OF talking
OF the weather, which was most IN
teresting and absorbing. Women with
deep gray eyes and long lashes have.
Her mother quite agreed with the
views I expressed on modern Radical
ISN'T is always safe to pitch into
Radicals when you are talking to
ladies, it sounds so respectable.
eyes," she remarked with a sigh,
Eve live in dangerous times"
"We do, indeed" echoed |.
~ suppose all progress does seem
dangerous to people who don't want
to move" Edith'remarked.
A liberal sentiment, for which her
mother was reproving her when BERTHE
appeared. Upon my thanking him
with dignity for his assistance he re-
marked that he and Edith had laughed
like anything about it afterward.
School-boys are foolish creatures, ready
to giggle at anything, and unpleasantly
frank when it is a question Of other
people. This visit was the first OF
many, and Edith, who seemed to grow
more charming every time | saw her,
acquired so much influence over me that,
had it not been for q discovery | made,
/ confess it was not unlikely that |
might have made a donkey Of myself ]
discovered she had lover. l went one
afternoon to Fairlawn, and Mrs. Lyall
told me that Edith had gone 20 lunch
with some friends, and would not be
home till the evening. Abandoning all
hopes of seeing her on that day, and
thrown for my amusement on my own
resources, went after dinner for an
evening ramble. The air was calm and
clear, and finding a comfortable seat on
a stile between two fields, sat watch
ing the shadows deepen and listening
to a nightingale. The light grew dim
mer, a pale star appeared in the sky
afar off l could hear the water rushing
over distant weir. / suddenly de-
tected light footsteps in the field behind
me, then the rustling of dress, and,
turning my head, saw Edith on the
other side of the stile. She started
back in surprise.
Why" l exclaimed in astonish-
ment, 81 heard you were spending the
day with the As" They lived
far away in another direction.
81 did lunch there" she said little
nervously.
"But this isn't the way back from
their house."
"I'm not coming from there"
"Oh," said /, and helped her over
the stile.
"Mr. Merton" she said, after a
pause, 1" want you to do me favor. "
think dreaded something unplea-
SAINT.
"You are surprised to meet me
here" she continued.
"Why--eh-yes."
"You mustn't tell my mother you
met me-"
Miss Edith's cheeks were flushed
and her eyes were anxious.
"Come, promise" she urged as | re-
manned silent.
II PROMISE" said l-she could have
made me promise anything" but you
ought not to have secret from your
mother"
was beginning to feel like a con
federate in plot.
II know that" said Edith, "bu
| can't help it,"
Then it dawned on me with rusl
that Edith had lover, and that sh'
had just parted with him. / felt sud
den and unpleasant change within me
and, waking from my little dream, be
came reasonable mortal again. A
barrier Of embarrassmenthad sprung u
between us.
After little pause, however, ! in
formed Edith that | took fatherly in
terest in her-the adjective did no
seem happy--and that if | could serv
her in any honorable way it would Civ,
me pleasure.
"Thank YOU" she said II valu
your opinion very highly, and thin
if you were in my place you would &C
as do"
| smiled at the idea Of being in he
place, and wondered if | should hav
preferred the society Of men of rip
years to that Of inexperienced boys.
seemed to me that should.
I'm sure you would" she adde
with blush. Would you give up
man because he happened to be poor? 2
There was very beautiful CLEAN i
her eyes.
| "No," said |, "not if there wer
anything in him worth caring for, whic
isn't usually the case"
1.-The man i care for is much to
good for me !" she exclaimed.
Nonsense" said feelingly.
"You would like him very much
you knew him." she went on. doub
ed it.
"And you've just seen this pari
, gon," said !, sarcastically.
"Yes," said she, sand you can
imagine how difficult it is"
! Then she told me the old story Of o
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