The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-30

ineHclnB Journey on lts own account
by jogging over the miniature waves
with most prosaic obstinacy A cry of
dismay followed the discovery. What
was to be done! The shoe was already
out of reach and how could it be re-
covered : laughed silently. All trace
Of my dislike to women had evaporat-
ed. blessed that shoe and waited
heartlessly till the sense of loss brought
tears into the brown eyes; then softly
drawing aside the branches | stood up
and spoke.
"Mademoiselel" was all said,
though | saw that she was English.
Such a start Such a blush It
rose over her eyebrows; flooded the
sun burned neck; affected, | verify be-
lieve, the tiny feet themselves. Her
shyness conquered mine. | longed to
set her more at ease.
"Mademoisellel Pardon me. |
would not haye presumed to make my
presence known had it not been for this
misfortune" said l respectfully.
The Nymph hid her face.
"Wili you permit me to attempt the
rescue7' l persisted.
"Oh, sir, have pity! l thought l
was alone. If you can assist me pray
do So" she answered, striving to con-
ceal her tears.
Poor little thing! Decidedly that
sabot must be obtained.
'1t mademoiselle would kindly aid
me by throwing stones from her side,
50 as to drive the shoe towards the
Shore" | suggested, ignoring her dis
tress,
Dashing her hand across her eyes
the girl Immediately set about collect.
ing missiles, which were then flung by
my directions-at first badly, but grad
ually regaining confidence her aim i'm
proved, and to my great joy, forgetting
in the excitement all the disagreeable
attendant circumstances, her clear laugh
rang through the fragrant air, each
peal re-echoing within my heart.
Here was revelation. In all my
life perfectly natural girl, at tho
same time perfectly well-bred, had new
er crossed my path Hundreds of
pretty damsels had walked, danced and
posed before me for the sake of Ire.
vorhurst, but never one whose grace
had not been cultivated, made to order;
whose smile was not languid elonga.
tion of the lip. On the other hand,
the frank abruptness of the country
lasses was no better; loud voices from
charming women jar upon my nerves;
SO that between this Scylla and Char
ybdis, l became a man whose books
and horses represented to him the only
pleasures in life. Now, to upset these
crude ideas, came a maiden witt, bare
feet cleaning through the moss, over
whose entire person sweet modesty had
thrown her veil. If but the mind
equalled the appearance in simplicity,
my uncles wish would not seem so
hard to crafty.
Meanwhile, the wouldbe boat drift
ed nearer to the land, and having, by
means of long stick, obtained posses
sion of it, dried it in my handker-
chief before surrendering it to the own
er, who dared not raise her eyes to aid
her faltering thanks. Feigning not to
observe how the sabots were resumed,
| occupied myself in gathering up the
ferns strewn upon the bank, talking in
cessantly. | told her how the autumn
tints had charmed me so that town life
faded into insignifcance before the
freedom of the uplands, and as l prais.
ed bond of sympathy sprang up be.
tween us, and we chatted like two old
familiar friends.
"Are you an artist? she asked al
length. 81 am quite sure that you are
English. Besides, you are too-cour.
teous-for Frenchman."
| laughed. "Thank you No, | an
no artist, except so far as appreciation
of beauty can make one. l ana
student of human nature, at present in
tent on becoming acquainted with the
neighborhood of Pau from a differen,
standpoint to that of the ordinary visi
ter. Will you help me?'
My companion smiled, complying by
describing favorite hooks, hidden like
this fairy pond, from prying curiosity
Leading her on to speak of herself,
learned tina. her name was Beatric,
Ross; that she lived with her father il
"a villa on the Coteaux, with no othe
companion than an old housekeeper
Sometimes her only sister came from
Pau, where she resided with an aunt
to visit her, but these events were com
paratively rare. TO our mutual de
light, in this sister was pretext fount
for our acquaintance | had often me
her at parties, and she had describe,
me to Beatrice as "woman hater, bu
immensely rich"
81 don't know why she called yor
that" said my Nymph, doubtfully
''You are not unkind to me, but quit
the reverse
"Nev"r judge man by what yo
hear, returned |, gravely. "Man is
many-sded animal; gentle to those VIII
treat him well; the opposite when bad
| ly managed. He must be humoreC
| Miss Beatrice. But you are peve
lonely, separated so much from all SC
ciety' Do you never wish to be wit
your sister,
"No," she answered, quickly. 81 al
quite happy as | am. Now and the
| long to see the beauties of othC
lands, but that cannot be. And, aftt
all, though nature may look otherwis
she cannot be more beautiful tina
here"
"You are right" said I; "there ma
be Inference in kind but not of degree
$50 / believe. People often say Il
Doteaux are disappointing,the Pyr
nees not to be compared to other mig
: ty ranges, but the fault, it seems to n
= is theirs. If you come TO nature 81
continued, waving q little hand to illu
trate her meaning, "with a fixed ide
there must be hill here, founta
there, icebergs glittering in the su
! light yonder, and moss,grown rui
I where | stand, of course, one will n
Y always find them. But come to t
: great earth mother saying, Show /
}, what thou wilt! And what loyelinC
she then unfoldsl The morning sky
a palest yellow, darkest indigo and clei
d est rose, so shaded as to be a mirac