The Sunday herald., 1886-09-19

her merriment midway.
"Nell, my girl, God forbid that you should
ever awaken to the fatal beauty and fascina-
ton Of your sister. More souls have been
wrecked on that reef than you dream Of In
your childish innocence. Better far be the
plain little thing you are, with honest eyes
and a warm heart. Remember, Nell, there
are hotter things In this world than power
purchased at such heavy price,"
She regarded his glowing face curiously
for moment, and then burst forth with all
a ohild's bluntness and freedom.
"And why do you love her SO then-waste
nights on this river for q word, send her
poems, fowersr"
Laighton frowned and turned away.
why, indeed, Nelli Answer me that
riddle, little philosopher, II you cam"
"lf TO be loved In this way one must be
handsome, naughty, and careless Of suffer.
ing, why then, Philip, think that can't
do better than TO follow In Linda's footsteps. -
lie looked at his companion suddenly; the
candid face betrayed no knowledge Of how
deeply that careless shaft had penetrated his
soul; her seeming wisdom had no root In ex
perience.
"Come, Nell I" he said, throwing the
gloomy mood from him with an effort; "this
is too lovely night 10 be wasted In moral
specula,ions. What do you say 10 pull
down river with mei Or is the dstipg uished
society yonder more TO your taste than that
Of an humble poet unknown 10 fame Z"
She caught AT the suggestion gleefully.
"0h, Philip you kno,p I'd rather he out
here on the river with you than anywhere
else In the world"
lie threw back his head with boylsh
laugh, yet the frank 1attery conveyed In
t1to .,1,uAtu1 a,Saaal,
amiss. And In his present mood II was ia,
more congenial 10 have this little white
robed figure sitting opposite "a bright iucar.
nation Of youth and pleasure) than to sur.
render himself TO disturbing dreams aud
the solitude Of the moon. flooded night.
THANK you, Nell Long may you stand BY
these unworldly sentiments; but when
see how fast you're growing up into younl
lady tremble, and fear the loss Of my onl,
partisan"
snow, Phil" she protested with a pout
ing lip, 'you know that .hall never
nev -"
"a few years hence" he calmly pro
oeeded, land I shall no longer dare ask yor
to pull down river--to scold, pet, ant
lay bold claim to your youthful affections. >
"And yet mother calls me a tom boy, be
cause whistle and row on the river, Will,
Linda says at my age she had come out and
made a sensation"
''Listen TO me, Nell; cling 10 childhood
as long as ever you can; 'tis your riches
possession; too soon do heart and soul be
come jaded in the heat and glare Of the
ball room, the arti6riality Of SO called good
society"
And swinging round the boat with al
energetic stroke Of the oar, he pulled dowr
river like collegiau praeticing for the next
regatta, head barred 10 the breeze and
eyes shining like stars through the dark
ness. taa
Away they spell through glimmer ant
gloom and haunting scsnes Of loveliness
far into the dreaming distance, where Oh,
river flowed white in the broad moonlight
And Philip, secure 10 sym pathetic compan
iOnship, abandoned himself 10 the impuls
of the moment, and gave vent to whateve
feeling came uppermost. Now bubblinJ
over with the infectious mirth of an un
quenched youth, or falling into a dreamy
exalted mood, born of the hour aud scens
in which his eloquence flowed on unchecked
like restless river, boru of hidden spring
and hurryipg onward TO the sea, an,
carried the listener with it whither Ii,
willed.
At such rare moments, when touched b,
some scene or emotion, and giving rein 1
his riotous fancy, few could listen uumove,
to the glorious youth, or deny the powe
that was in him, even though unaoknowl
edged as yet by cold or careless world. A
poet, aud in love, equipped in all th
dauntless valor of twenty.six summers
what could he not do and dare in the aren
of lief
Suddenly high treble voice, clear as
bird call, broke the murmurous sileuce o
the summer night, and swift as though
Philip slipped into the Swallowed seoluso
Of a little cove, where overhanging branche
stopped to caress cool lilies rocking below
q bower 1T for NIKE. Checking his com
panion by n touch, and stopping low, IL
waited in ambush aud brsathless sileuce 70
further developments. Only the slap @
water aud creak of oar" and then boa
swung into view in the full flow of moon
light, and swayed there for moment in th
gentle current.
Two people sat in 1t in dangerously clos
proximity, unconscious of all observers, til
man leaning ON his oars and gazing int
the face before him as only q lover look
when he stakes all on the chances Of th
moment. The girl-how Philips pulls
quickened AS he watched her from his si ad
covert-she might have been youthfu
Cleopatra in the first flush of her beaut
and power. No wildwood flower. that an
man might pluck 10 wear at will; the goi
gsous tulip haughtily swaying on its slal
seemed more akin to this spoiled darling
fortune. The man must be daring indeed
or turned reckless by the glamour of Il,
moment, to risk repulse from such eyes an
lips.
"Miss Chase" he said, earnestly,
though continuing previous conversation,
since last winter at the ball your face hl
haunted me and have known no peace.
followed you as the slave follows the Mort
Star, ill at last found you here at TangI,
wood, and now"
The tide OF 'eloquence was checked by
traitorous tremble Of the voice, and as l
paused TO steady II the girl said, with q Gu
of the red lip and bewildering glance Of II
eye:
"Wsll, am listening.'
Emboldened by the syeshaft and stun
by the smile he started In a-fresh.
"What shall say to show my sincerit
to touch your heart and bid you listen
my lover
"Fooii" nuttered Philip between h
teeth; aud at that moment little hand sli
into his own IN token Of sympathy.
II cannot teach you how TO WOO, Mr.. Da
top," said the girl, lightly; "surely, y
enough for me TO listen."
"Ah now you're laughing at me. cru
one; give me but some token Of your fsvo
and sooner or later will find the way
your heart"
"You are insatiAte In your demand
Pray. sir, have you not already had favo
, enough for one nighti Did not leave a
the others TO row OH the river with yo
and does an act like this signify nothing
Tone aud speech were cool enough TO di
concert any suitor, but meaning sparkl,
in the dark eye aud glowed on the che,
that gave him courage TO solve the myste
that always underlies . girls answer. l
, leaned forward and murmursd somethil
uuder his breath, aud her ooquetry melt,
,, like mist before the sun. Dstaching q 70
from her corssgs, she tossed II to him with
dazzling smile and bads him row on.
, A moment and they had passed on, Ill
visions seen IN dream, only trail Of sill Y
marking their course on the water, al
, Philip sprang TO his feet with bound, Ill
one suddenly released from a spell, till II
little boat rocked and pitched az in a hea,
) sea. Calming himself by strong effort,
pulled out into the stream and gszed wild
about him, but the boat had vanished