The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-18
A GROUP OF IMMORTALS.
CHAPTER 1.-THE TABLEAU.

CHAPTER 1.-THE TABLEAU.
 Twenty years ago l happened to be spending wh 1t chose to call holida, at an attractive English watering place need not name. The only excuse l can make for my lazness is the fact that never undertook to do anything without discovering that others could do it much better And l had just enough to live upon. Why do misguided relations ever leave young fellow just enough to live upon! Better knock him on the head a, once and have done with it.
 At this stage of what, for want of bet ter word l must nevertheless call my ca reer, l was verging on thirty but as far as can remember, hardly younger in feeling and views of life than at, now l took, l confess it, somewhat airy, might almost say contemptuous, views oi hreside existence at that time. had not the Iemotest conception of what fall ing in love could mean, and prided my self upon fancled superiority to other men in the matter of sentiment had made up my mind long ago that my des- nny-h, indeed, l was to have destiny would not wear the guise of woman's smile. Nevertheless, no one more en- Joyed the society of sparkling, beautiful girl than myself, and no one was at more pains to please the sex affected to de- spise
 am, if not wiser, at least more hum ble-minded than was then. and if have never lost my dilettante, vagrant habus- the habits of an amateur in art and many other things besides-at least Irecognize now the more serious aspect of lie that must be confronted steadily oy those who would fain live indeed.
 At this juncture in my affairs, then. the following romantic incident happened to me:
 was staying, as have just before mentioned, at seductive spot on the south coast, and as rode leisurely along pretty road that wound up yard iron the town into the bright green country, my eyes were riveted by an engaging family group in a garden close by Garden, dtd sayr should rather apply the wol d pleasure ground to the vast enclosure be- fore me, with its undulating swards and aower-beds, alleys and winding walks ex tending over several acres all in perfec, order, and in full glory of midsummer The wall so low, and the ascent of the road so steep, that l commanded the en tire scene, although my glance was imme diately fascinated by the group in the foreground. The little picture was sim ply perfection. Crawling along at a snail's pace gased my fill Just at this bend of the road the garden sloped up- ward to fair and conspicuous terrace in front of the mansion, and here were four figures so harmoniously and exquis,tely grouped that they looked more as If the, belonged to picture or graceful drama than to real life.
 On the velvety stretch If turf in iron of the handsome stone terrace, a girl aro youth, evidently brother and sister, wer, playing battledore and shu,tlecock New CT dainty game more daintlly played As long as live those figures will live 1T my mind too-immortal by reason o naive graces. youthfulness and beauty.
 The girl was one of those delicate, slen der types for which we are more accu toned to look among American beautie than our own more robust Saxons, ever, line, everyacufve ot that fair face and pc, . fsct figure being purely cut Or perhaps