Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-11-27
TheStiIs Across The Hedge,
By NJ. EILEEN HoLAHAN.

By NJ. EILEEN HOLAHAN.
Do you remember, Jack?
But how could you, when the Sob
bling waves which break and foam on
the dear old New England shore below
me, somewhere swell and moan ab we
your pulseless beart-somewbe here sob
the monosonous dirge which 10 the only
requiem your soul has ever known
But remember Jack aud surround
ed BY all the gorgeous wealth which
purchased my slim, white hand, I re-
gret, In human misery.
remem Der, as always shall, the
beautiful russell groves through which
passed that day, singing In girlish
joy as carelessly swung my basket,
with It's brown treasure of ripened
cheetnuts. felled by the first autumnal
frost. which brought pleasant, hazy
Atmosphere.
The crimson and golden leaves rus
tied unsteady under my feet as l
tripped along, with song on my lips,
and an unconscious thanksgiving to
God In my heart for the beauties and
joys OF life.
row, extending almost from the lovely
O1hhb VI ANotE8Bohootb o3I-bCbtuo
which our tiny cottages stood, with It's
white porohes like wings, aud pretty
fiower-gardens- clear into the heart OF
the golden and russst groves, through
which delighted to randi
| came 20 the stile-that dear, old
fashioned stile-which formed q path
across the dividing hedge row, and
into the grand, beautiful grounds of
Greymere, whose master, gossip said,
on account Of some youthful love dissp.
lpoiniment, became voluntary exile
from his own princely home.
You stood ON the stile, Jack, the
bro wn tan OF healthy young manhood
on your handsome cheek, the light OF q
witty, tender mirth III your beautiful
brown eyes but l looked beyond you
to where the magnificent pile OF
white stone buildings and marble bal.
comics CLEANED white in the sunlight;
beyond the beautiful, stately grounds |;
the terraced lawns, with brilliant,
odorous I'D wers and playing fountains,
and In MY heart there was n vague,
vain yearning for wealth and beauty
like tbat-with the po wer and admira.
tion wh,cn must necessarily follow,
You hastily closed the knife with
which You had bean whiting; and
although was looking beyond you, l
could feel the tender, passionate ad-
mirat!on In your honest, sunny eyes as
they rested on my face.
"You cannot enter .Paradi Use, Kathie"
that was the name we called 1t, you
and !, and you showed all your white
teeth in the most irresistibly tender
emile on earth "unlsss you pay
toll"
"Oftwo eviis"-I laughed saucily,
with grimace-" have knack OF
adaptine myself to circumstances. /
shall remain where l AM thank you,
lack" 5'5. q. 1..
"There are ripe pears on the other
please pass oyer and get some"
lam no gormaRd," laughed, ~
,p5rfer clear Conscience and chestnuts
| on this side.
Come here, Ka:hie," you said
seriously, in the sarnest voice / never
Ignored or disobeyed, although you
was at hearta copquette. "Come here,
little girl, want to speak with you"
Istepped lightly To your side, and sat
down on tho step with my arm across
your knee caressingly, ~ we had 80
often sat before--as We shall never sit
again.
Kathie, little swee:hears"-and
iyour dear, pleasant voice frembled
srrangely-" am weary of this toll
with small recompenee, which will
keep you and me apart for 30 long. Old
lCAptain Dunstan offered me position
az first mate on the steamer Providence,
which, Kathie, dear, have accepted;
and-how can l leave you. little girl?-
we sail for Australia Tomorrow"
The sun seemed eclipsed as I sat be.
side you, mute and white. With all
my coQusttish frivolity, loved you
truly and we'll, Jack, which 10 my pun.
ishment through all the years to come,
when l sh.ll neither ste yoar face nor
hear your voice.
l thought Of our excursion after
bright hued shells, when you watched
lover me with tender soliciJude our
ljoint, merry labors in the pretty flower
garden at home.
Who would take me now 10 fairy
skif across the bright waters Of the
bay and, oh, who would tell me now
sun ever shone upon that there were
no eyes go blue and sweet as mine NO
laugh 20 bliths and gay
+" You will not forget me, Kathie,"
lyou said tenderly "sud when come
home rich, or else captain of come
steamer, you will marry ms sure, my
logn little sweetheart ?"
Soothing on your shoulder, prom sed
aud robbiag on my pillow l fell asleep
that night Ia my small cheaply fur
finished room.
| Next Gay you sailed, Jack aud my
heart was very heavy-my life very
Idreary In the autumn days
often went To the hedge row sttls.
which Ia merry days We lauxhingly call
ed our " trysting place, "and each time
the falling leaves rustl,d deeper under
imy slepder feet, and I shall Always
IdrNad the sound OF rustling leaves In
memory.
One particular day. sitting in nelan.
lcholy silence on the step, while the
ldusky, blue cleaning shadows crept
lover tie land, looked up, and COZ
frouted n stranger.
A tall man with dark face,
VII Oh might have been handsome once,
but from the lightnsss Of youth had lied.
Ilesving q sneering, cynical look-the
probable result OF debau sherry anu
worldliness.
i fare you q wood.nymph7" he asked,
with an uacslled for Hcowl; but
noticed that his clothes were plain, but
elegant and costly HIS hands white
). aud arts tocratic, while on this third
lhngsr of she right one glittered a beau.
j tiful jewel, the name OF which l did
uot know.
~ had no idea such treasures await.
lea me ut the very threshold of my
home with a lows hooking bow