Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-06
A SKETCH IN COLOR.


A morning sun illumined earth and sky.
Ii flooded the grim old fort with mellow
light that soAened sharp angles and seemed
ike smile on the face of age. Hlay along
the sea wall in wait for yenturesome waves
from the incoming tide, whose silver spray it
caught and studded with countless Jewels
Ii blaZed upon open, sandy places, and crept
into the old towns narrow streets, defJing
shadows that still lurked under oyerhanging
galleries or chung to unsmiling coquina
house fronts; and it lit into vivid celors fig
ures that moved about the mornings occu-
patiOES with that languid ease distinctive Of
Southern temperament A little later the
streets would be full of tourists, pleasure
seekers from Northern States, but now COM
Plexions of every shade from olive to ebony
recalled the fact that Spain once held do
minion here, and that later on the vanish
ing hOrisOn Of our own time, cruel slavery
was lord
In the east deep blue above hent over
deep blue below. Floating downy cloud
masses flung purple shadows over sea and
land. A breeze swept from or the shining
water to mingle with perfumes Of rose aud
orange flowers and steal through open win
dows, carrying to late dreamers tales of a
reality as sweet as the visions of their
dreams. Miles and miles away it was win
ter; stern, hard winter; but here in St.
Augustine. il was midsummer warmth and
beauty.
In the open, sandy space between the sea-
wall and that immense barn-hke structure,
known as the st. Augustine Hotel, waited
the familiar sight of q group Of horses really
saddled, apparently much detected at being
reduced to the indignity of soliciting riders
Before the ladies' entrance to the hotel,
which opened on this place, and attended
| by darkey whose dilapidation compared
admirably with that Of the horses, stood
three of these melancholy animals not a
whit inspiritei by having been chosen from
their fellows
On the piazza near BY were two young
ladies in riding habits, who were looking
with amused faces at a gentleman coming
/ toward them from the horses yet unengag.
I ed. lie, too. was in riding costume, and he
gave & dismal shake Of his head as he ap-
proached and stood below the railing
against which the ladies leaned.
"It's no use; they have no better ones
now, if they ever had. am assured that
these are fine animals and perhaps it's
my uuedueated mind that deems them
otherwise. But mule-riding would be bet
ter than walking in this place. He ended
with dIseonsolate glance at his dust COW
cred feet.
Never mind, dear" said the shorter of
the ladies, smiling, and patronizing, after
the fashion of some happy young matrons
when addressing their Gege lords. I'VE
don't care; we can put up with dusty roads
and poor horses as chances OF travel; be-
sides it is in Augustine"
MHer husband laughed, and reckoning to
a small darkey, pointed to his polished-need-
| inc shoe. Madame allows no one else to
| eavil at her beloved Augustine, but seem
to hear the faint echo Of grumble over the
wreck of q dainty pair Of boots last
night"
Mrs. Willett tried to twist her laughing
face into a frown, and failing covered her
small defeat by remarking that it was time
/ they started.
Through the hotel parlors, the hall and
down the steps went the two graceful fig
ures; out in the sunshine, seeming very
part of the glad young morning.
Grace Alyng, following her friend, stop
ped to smile into the eyes of a small lady
ia her nurses arms. 1T is Just 9 o'clock,
| the tiny lady's mamma was saying, as she
| sent her baby for an airing
Jack Willett put his wife on her horse,
| looking at the saddle straps with the care OF
q man who trusts his most precious posses
! sion 10 the string he examines. Miss AlYng
| had stopped on the lowest steps, making q
dreaming picture framed in by the arched
! entrance: her dark hair was frightened by
| the sunlight; the faint red Of her cheek was
| deepened BY the fresh sea breeze; her face
/ was bent over some roses which adorned the
front of her smoothly fitting waist.
81 suppose it is folly to Try to keep these
flowers in place, but they are so beautiful
/ IFS pity not to wear them, she comment
Cd giving them q final pull under the pins
that held them, and crossing the narrow
walk to where the others were.
ut would be shame not to do that much
when you sent their giyer of for the day,
observed Willett, smihngly. Miss Alylng
tucked the piece of fine lawn and colored
embroidery, called g handkerchief, between
the buttons under the roses; the operation
took quite q moment, then, as she gave an
approyinG glance at the affect, remarked
rat the roses were q much pleasanter ad-
dition to their ride than the giver would
have been.
TAh that is heartlessl that does not
sonnd ike you, Grace" exclaimed Mrs.
W;llett "What is one to do he did moi
ask me to accept them; he Just sent them
10 me; he will not know that wear them,
and they are so lovely it's 8 JOY to have neal
me despite the giver." She looked at her
companions with an expression of mischiei
and trouble blended an expression thai
brought out fully the beauty OF her face
the halfsad depths in the gray eyes, anc
the curves about the red mouth. She wa
surely fair to see.
So thought some one coming towards hel
from the sea-wall; some one to. whom thu
si0ht of that girlish face had once been
daily delight, but to whom it now came Will
n strangeness almost painful.
Something-was it idle chance, or did m
ewes draw hers3-something made her turn
and out of the morning fed the SUNSHINE
and the sweetness, the gay world became
sepulchre; she seemed to stand with only
clutch on her heart, and ghost before her
Il was a much materishzed ghost with
wel-knit figure, clad in garments OF NOR
fresh elegance than Is generally believed Z
belong to grave clothes, and it was comm
toward her party with firm, elastic tread
She turned quickly toward her friends
ais MoIlie made Of glasA that It take
you so long to mount her, JscS We az
losing time; do let Us start. ThaNksETu
all RICH" and with hardly toucf> ~
Willett she was on her horse. N
: WiFett swung himself into bis saddle b