The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-12-04

There is something solemn, something
grand, in this silence that cannot fail to
impress one. The huge trees, standing like
so many specters round about, fill one
with awe IT'S a scene that in after years
Dick loved TO dwell upon.
She touches the strings lightly, once or
twice, bringing out harmonious chords.
And then like a nightingale her voice rises,
clear and sweet, thrilling the listeners to
their very souls, tremblingly at first. bat
gathering strength as she proceeds.
pretty ballad, full of harmony and love,
and to Dick, at least, it seems as if the
angels of heaven might be listening. The
pale rays of the moon linger lovingly about
her, caressing her dark hair, and Dick
pazes at her with q sort of reyerential awe.
Then as the last tones fade away, silence
falls upon the little party. No one thinks
of applauding; their appreciation is too
deep for that
At last Mr.. Raymond speaks.
Now, Claudio. sing that song; the one
Chloe loves SO well. That Southern song.
But, papa, every one may not long for
such music as / am capable of executing,
she replies. "Seei Mr.. Hargraye's cigar
has gone out. | know he is longing more
for that than for my music"
"Ah, don't say that, Miss Raymond,
said Dick, in a grieved but rather passion
ate tone; you surely would not do me such
an injustice.
And so she sings again. A song OF the
sunny South. A pathetic ballad of slavery
days. And ere she has sung the first verse
through, rustling sound within the room
attracts Dicks notice, and dimly through
the darkness he sees the negress, Chloe,
standing there, her hands clasped, listening
intently to the sweet music. And SO she
stands like a grim statue, until the last
words die away; then turns and like ghost
of darkness vanishas.
And so their first evening is spent, and
when later on they say adieu, and pass
into the room allotted to them, they feel as
If indeed it were a bright oasis IN this
deserted wilderness where they had wan
dered.
Dick says Tom when they are alonein
their apartment, "our lucky star must have
directed US to this spot. How fortunate,
and how odd that We should run across an
old friend of Your fathers out here. |
anticipate a very pleasant time while We
remain.
"Why, Tom, what changeable, and eN-
ceedingly frivolous old fellow you are get
ting to be-. And Dicks eyes sparkled with
merriment.
Il don't understand you, Dick" And
Tom turns from the open window in
wonder
"If remember rightly, you told me this
afternoon, that as soon as you could find
your way out of this blasted wilderness
you should return to Pittsburg, and now
you speak of anticipating such pleasant
time While you remain.
Don't chaff a fellow, Dick.
Say, Tom" said Dick, throwing himself
at full length ON the bed, IF | were you
I'd brush up my clothes a trihe more.
Those clothes look bad.
That's one of the inconvenience of
living in civilized society" groans Tom.
| "A fellow has got TO be eternally brushing
and fixing up to make himself presentable.
Sometimes | almost wish | had been born
a heather in some warm country where
clothes We're unknown"
well, 1 never! You are getting too
lazy for any use. Whew! What an infer
nal dust you're raising"
Say, Dick, pausing with brush sus-
pended in the air, IN bet box of choice
havanas that fore we leave here you're
dead in love with that little black-eyed
witch down stairs"
Nonsense. What stuff will you be
thinking of next, l wond,~?" But he colors
deeply.
That's all right, my boy 1 used to be
susceptible myseif, when l was your age,
and Tom swells with the uperior wisdom
of his eight and twenty years.
There, I guess Tn all right now" sur
veying himself III the mirror, and now for
bed-Pm most confoundedly tired"
Dick throws his half-smoked cigar
through the open window and prepares to
retire. 1t is late in the night when sleep at
last comes to him, and his dreams are
fanciful and yague-sometimes of home,
but often wandering through the woods,
and ever a sweet face by his side, pair of
dark eyes gazing tenderly in his-the face
of Claudio.
fro BE CONTINUED