The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-18

fIOO0n, Threw l1SnJ lace scarf over lie
head and went down into the garden.
Clusters Of roses, of jessamines and o
lilacs made the air fragrant the swee
yiolets exhaled under their thick leaves ;
delicious perfume. The Judas-tree wa.
expanding its flowers of brilliant shades
enchanting thickets offered aretreat from
the glowing heat of the sun III the cen
tire of a green grass-plot, a jet of water
was throwing into space its spray, spark
ling like diamonds.
Laura crossed the English garden and
penetrated into the interior of the park
The sombre foliage of the oaks formed
above her head dome of verdure the moss
covered the ground with it's soft carpet
ings, it invaded the base of the trees, hid
ing under an aspect Of youth the old cen
tenary trunks, and giving charm even tc
the rough ruggedness of the way.
Feeling the moisture penetrating hel
light shoes, she assembled the escarped
slope ard entered long meadow which
hung along the side of the hill like
fringes Of verdure.
The air was fresh, the breeze sweet the
young girl sat down on rock to rest and
breathe freely the Intoxicating odors
spread abroad in nature at this morning
hour. At her feet was stretched an i'm
mense carpet of verdure esiameled with the
most varied fowers-the bright gold
buttons, the simple Easter daisy, the glad
lous, the hyacinth, wed with each other
in brillianey insects were pursuing each
other over the high grass butterflies,
those living flowers, were bathing them
selves in the midst of the bright rays of
the sun.
Laura forgot herself in a dreamy con-
temptation. To return to the house, she
took a covered way such as one sees SO
often in Brittany. The bitches along the
slope planted with trees, were embellished
with clusters of hawthorns in flower, OF
sweet-briers and honeysuckles, ard in the
thick grass which bordered the pathway
the violet and scorpion grass showed their
timid flowers and the wild strawberries
exhaled their perfume.
The young girl stopped at every step to
gather flowers. She reached, as she was
thus employed, an IRON grating, opening
upon park.
"Ah Iknow that place, = thought she.
Il find myself again at my uncles house.
| perceive through the great trees bit of
wall which seems to me to be the game
keepers lodge Formerly there was no
grating here; but all that has been chang
ed in ten years
The oaks, the pines and the elms crowd
ed one another in disorder in this wood
where the beams of the sun could not pen
citrate the thick foliage. The birds enliv-
ened with their warnings this beautiful
solitude; some petted game were crossing
the deserted thickets, fleeing at the ap-
proach Of the young girl.
Eaura heard in the distance the roar of
waterfall some clear streamlets run
ming over the ground indicated the local
ity Of the fountain head. At the entrance
of a deep grotto, the water gushed forth
pure and transparent, falling into large
basin whence escaped the rapid streams
that fed the water course of the park, en-
larged in its passage by some brooks. Moss
and conyolvuluses carpeted the exterior of
the grotto; willows, rushes and reeds sur
rounded the basin and some water lilies
lifted above the water their large leaves
and their beautiful white flowers.
The young girl had during her walk
gather ed many flowers, and now sat down
and made selection from her treasures.
She entwined white and blue convolvu-
luses on branches of sweet-brier and placed
them as q garland on her loosened hair
wreath of the same flowers encircled
her neck and arms.
She drew near to the basin and, bent
over this mirror. the first that reflected
the beauty of the human face. She ar
ranged with childlIke coquetry the details
of her fresh head dress, fastening with the
thorns of flowers the flowing locks of her
rich golden hair which the morning breeze
gently moved.
Very pleasingly beautiful indeed was
the likeness which the surface of the
reproduced; the sweet-brier was not fairel
than her delicate color, her eyes had the
transparent blue of the water, her lips the
freshes OF the rose. her white robe zen.
dered still more elegant her supple and
slender form.
The young girl recoiled suddenly, utter
ing a cry of surprise. Another face ap-
peared near her own. On the surface Of
the water, youthful and brown head was
reflected, look pleasing but slightly
mock e r.s fixed upon hers.
Laura turned, blushing deeply, ani
found herself in the presence of a young
man who was smiling at her fright and sa
luted her graciously.
Il have disturbed you, Miss" said he
in very musical voice.
The stranger appeared to be twenty fly,
or twenty-siX years of age, of medium
| stature, elegant and distingue his blacl
| eyes, full of fire, had at the same time al
expression Of great sweetness his marked
and delicate features. his clear color. hi
charming smile, his beautiful brow, set il
frame of black hair, all together, mad,
up a remarkable ensemble.
The young man wore simple and con
venient country costume, and held a bool
in his hand. Laura could not comprehend
how he was thus found at her uncle
house.
On further scrutiny. it seemed to hel
that the countenance of the stranger wa
known to her the voice, especially, awak
ened in her memory. She had seen hin
doubtless in Paris at the theatre, wherein
the numerous assemblages at which sh
had been present, so many faces pass il
this grand panorama of the world, on
forgots many of them, but there are some
that fix themselves in memory.
Embarrassed by this unexpected pres
ence,she gathered her flowers and prepares
to depart.
Why do you go, Miss, said the youn
man, picking up a branch of convuIvulus
which in her haste she had let fall to th
ground. "Stay, pray you, and gather a
the flowers that please you.n
/ Laura did not understand at all. Ha