Smyrna times., 1886-03-10
F elk Gray

Miss Duval remained on the piazza
for some time after her mother had
re-entered the hotel. A thoughtful
girl, with a queenly carriage and an
ideal head not more than twenty years
of age, yet womanly and reposeful in
manner. The day was perfect-a mid
October spell of rare color, rare atmOs-
phere, rare silence-only the sound of
the katy-dids, beginning long ere sunset.
The clear sky, the blue mountain tops,
the nearer slopes and groves Of Odorous
pines, even the yellow road, winding
steeply down toward the village, all
were pleasant TO look upon, and Grace
Duval was fond of nature. 1t gave her
keenest Joy simply to sit and single out,
with artists eye, SOME dash of snow
upon the azure of the heavens; some
bio d-red seal of the seasons sitting on
sumach or maple. How she had enjoyed
their fortnights sojourn at that plea
SAINT hill top hotel
There were three of the Duvals. Be-
sides her mother and herself there was
also Kirke Duval, a second cousin, and,
some said, a suitor of the young lady's.
She had been looking off toward the
mountains for some time when her at
tention 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
Ii use. 1t was Just starting for the
village to meet steamboat and train and
bring up any possible new arrivals.
The horses seemed unusually restless
a Felix Gray held the reins, q slight,
delicate faced boy, in whom Miss Du-
val 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
We're to drive down alone. She had
felt an interest in the boy since the
moment she had first seen him. He
had such frail physique and such sad,
dusly, long-lashed eyes. He was as
delicate as q 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 fractions animals And when he
had answered her question in low,
weary affirmative, she felt a curious,
arprehensive concern. She left her
wooden rocking chair a1d came for ward
to speak to him while he took the mail
bag from the clerk. But her speech
was checked by the look the boy, turn
5ne. cast upon her-a singular express
sion Of intensity and suffering, perhaps
even moTe-an expression she could not
wholly fathem. Itaffected her strange
~. and so she did not speak, as she had
proposed, bidding him drive carefully
where the road was steepest and an
upsettal woHld prove most disastrous.
She only watched him take up the reins
and drive away down the winding
yellow path.
Come" said a mans voice, which
seemed suddenly to have approached
from behind-a rich, hearty bass voice,
suggesting the elements Of "good-fel-
lowship "-auj aaaI touched her arm
in propriety fashion, 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.
. Kirk wants you to go for a walk, my
child. Now is the time to 20 down in
the grove. 1t is too chilly later"
Eyes, mother" said Grace, absently
and put on the hat which she had beer
holding in her hand.
They were a handsome couple settint
off together. He tall, 1.-the and fair
yet vigorous. She raven haired. will
lustrous topaz eyes, and cheeks pal
and pure as Gala lilies The saint
faced mother thought so, looking afte
them as they went farther and farthe
off in the afternoon sunlight. And sl
sighed in a relieved way at the prospec
of their union.
The grove walk was thickly streW
with needles of pine. so thickly tins
ones footsteps fell soft and soundlesi
rs upon velvet. The two walked slowl
and said but little There was grei
enveloping silence on the world,
seemed to Grace Duval Now and thei
yet rarely. the faint twitter of bir,
They kept on in their slow promenaC
until the path, descending, gentl,
came all at once upon a rustic foo
bridge across the little gully, with a
easy currant flowing thinly over Il
green stones. Aud there they pause
Kirke Duval took his cousins hai
and spoke tenderly. though she,
some reason, held her face averted.
Il love you, he said. "Will y
come tome forever, Grace, my darling
She did not move or speak L
great silence seemed again upon the
aud nou even the bird twitter was t
ished But there was the oozing
che easy entrent underneath.
He waited a litlQ. Then he gen
made as if to take Der face between
bn,,.le aud f,,ru Il towards him S