The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-02-18
Felix Gray.

-M-M 1OS DuFdl TeIualueu on Ill
M piazza for some time ate
wv her mother had re-entered til
3SSS hotel. A thoughtful gil
with a queenly carriage and a
ideal head; not more than twent
years of age, yet womanly and re
poseful in manner. The day wa
perfect-a mid October spell {
rare color, rare atmosphere, rale 81
lence-only the sound of the katy
dds, beginning long ere sunset
The clear sky, the blue mountai
tops, the near slopes and groves O
odorous pines, even the yello'
road, winding steeply down towar,
the village, all were pleasant to lool
upon, and Grace Duval was fond O
nature. 1t gave her keenest jo,
even to single out, with artists eye
some dash of snow upon the azur,
of the heavens; some blood red sea
of the seasons sitting on sumacf
or maple. How she had enjoyed
their fortnight's sojourn at thai
pleasant hilltop hotel!
There were three of the Duvals
Besides her mother and herself, there
was also Kirke Duval, a second
cousin, and, some said, a suItor o.
the young lady's.
She had been looking off toward
the mountains for some time when
her tiention was diverted by the
sound of wheels. The hotel stage,
numbering, three. seated vehicle
came around from the great red
barn at the rear of the house. 1t
was just starting for the village to
meet the steam boat and train and
bring up any possible new arrivals.
The horses seemed unusually rest
less and Felix Gray held the reins,
slight, delicate-taced boy in whom
Miss Grace had already taken an
interest. She noticed how restless
the horses seemed, and so called
out to the young driver, in her
sweet, kindly voice, asking if he
were 10 drive down alone. She had
felt an interest in the boy since the
moment she had first seen him. He
had such a frail physique and such
sad, dusky, long lashed eyes. He
was as delicate as a woman, with
fair skin and pointed features, and
wavy golden hair. She wondered
now if his small, thin hands were
strong enough to control the frac-
tious animals. And when he had
answered her question in a low
weary affirmative, she felt curious
apprehensive concern. She left hel
wooden rocking chair and came for.
ward to speak to him while he took
the mailbag from the clerk. But
her speech was checked by the look
the boy, turning, cast upon her "a
singular expression of intensity and
suffering, perhaps even more-an
expression she could not wholly
fathom. 1t affected her strangely,
and so she did not speak, as she
had proposed, bidding him drive
carefully where the road was steep
est and an upsettal would prove
most disastrous. She only watched
him take up the reins and drive
away down the winding yellow path.
x
"Come," said mans voice which
seemed suddenly to have approach
ed from hehind-a rich, hearty bass
voice, suggesting the elements of
Observation-Disclosures hand
touched her arm IN propriety fash
ion; 'come, we cannot allow you to
dream at midday"
Miss Duval turned slowly and
with reluctance. Her mother was
standing in the doorway, a petite,
prematurely white-haired saint. She
was smiling and spoke tenderly.
"Kirke wants you to go for a
walk, my child. Now is the time
to go down in the grove, 1t is too
chilly later"
Eyes, MOTHER" said Grace, alb
sently, and put on the hat which
she had been holding In her hand.
They were q handsome couple
setting off together. He tall, 1.-THE
and fair, yet vigorous. She raven
haired, with lustrous topaz eyes
and cheeks pale and pure as Gala
lilies. The saint-faced mother
thought SO, looking after them as
they went farther and farther of in
the afternoon sunlight. And she
sighed in a relieved way at the
prospect of their union.
The grove walk was thickly
strewn with needles and pine, so
thickly that ones footsteps fell soft
and soundless as upon velvet. The
two walked slowly and said but lit
tie. There was a great envelOping
silence on the world, it seemed to
Grace Duval. Now and then, yet
rarely, the faint twitter of a bird.
They kept on in their slow prone
made until the path, descending,
gently, came all st once upon a rus
tic oot-bridge across the little gull
ley with an easy current flowing
thinly over the green stones. And
there they paused.
Kirke Duval took his cousins
hand, spoke-tenderly, though she,
for some reason, held her pretty
face averted.
81 love you,' he said. 'Will
you come to me forever, Grace, my
darlingT'
She did not move nor speak.
The great silence seemed again up
on them, and now even the bird
twitter was finished. But there
was the oozing of the easy current
underneath.
He waited little. Then he gent
ly made as if TO take her face be-
tween his hands and turn it towards
him. She drew back and spoke
with vague reluctance:
"I-do not-kAoW,"
K;rke Duval gave no sign of
Impotence.
"Say that you will" he urged,
softly. "Your mother approves and
she will be made happy. Grace, /
love your
She spoke up suddenly.
"Kirke, did you ever say those
words to any other Eoman. Did Won