The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-10
CHAPTER IV.-CONrINrEp.

does not happen to be in love with Miss
Farmer, or strongly inclined that way.
But to Tregarthen the story seemed one
of heroIsm and sorrow, and he thought
he could see already some Of those i'll
ward qualities of which he desired to
assure himself The daughter of q
clergyman is conyentionally gentle
woman, and he was already persuaded
that Miss Farmer possessed all desirs-
bic womanly qualities when he met her
for the second time. They had talked
commonplaces at their first meeting
and had been aware of the fact. They
talked commonplaces now and did not
know it, because they spoke of books
and art, and nobody believes that he or
she can talk commonplace' upon those
inspiring themes. Miss Farmers soul
declared itself more and more freely to
Tregarthcn' attentive observation, and
he was more and more convinced that
it was of the right quality and pattern.
The young man had taken apart
ments for the rest of the summer sea-
son at The George" and Gorbey
knew by this time in what pursuit he
was engaged. Mr.. Tregarthen rambled
much in the pleasant fields beyond the
town, and Miss Farmer, who had a
taste for botany and some little knowl-
edge of the science. was interchangeable
in exercise. The two young people met
on most days, and the little sister was
old enough to play propriety, and.
which was perhaps of more Importance,
was old enough to know when she was
not wanted. Any wandering butterfly
was reason enough for race which at
least took this sensible child round
corner of the lane in which her elders
strolled.
The searcher after the philosophers
stone had found it, but not where he
had expected. Everything had grown
golden Tor him. The smile is poverty
stricken, but there is no smile which
will express his physical wealth of
heart which for the first time has given
away all its substance.
1t was time for lovers condolences,
and they were exchanged. The sensi-
Bile child had gone full tilt round a
leafy corner, and the young man and
his sweetheart fingered at stile. The
child carrolled with wonderfully
sweet, shrill voice fifty yards away, and
the elders talked.
You remember" said Tregarthen,
'the day on which we first metp''
YES" she answered, with delicious
shyness His ardent eyes--she thought
she had never seen anything so tender,
ardent as they were-and her basbful
glance met for o moment, and she
blushed little.
a was lying on the grass" he said,
"on the top of the cliff above the land
ing place, when l heard your voice. and
it awoke me-
'Was so boisterous?" she asked,
smiling. with her eyes upon the ground.
"No," he answered, with little ten
der laugh, which of itself was lovers
flattery, ''but it awoke me-from
curious dream" he added, with an air
of odd reluctance.
"lndeed?" she said. questioningly
Tregarthen began to wish in a vague
way that he had not mentioned this. His
goddess might not care to know that
one of her rarest charms had reminded
him of an actress, but, having begun,
he felt bound to 60 on; so he spoke
with u feigned lightness, and looked
anywhere rather than at his sweet
hearts face.
81 suppose you don't know" he be-
gan, what a loVel y voice you have?"
She made no reply to this, but still
looked demurely on the ground at her
feet. when l first heard it | was
dreaming, and l distinctly heard the
words, oh, Jupiter, how weary are my
spirits. "
THAT was not strange" she an
swered, looking up at him, Il spoke
them"
did you9" he asked, with some
confusion. All this seemed to have
been said and done aforetime, and to
have led to some unhappininess which
now again threatened from the near
future. Everybody has experienced
that curious sensation.
what was your dream?"
"Oh, my dreamr' he answered. 1T
was nothing. | dreamed was at the
play, and [ saw Rosaiind upon the
stage"
She looked at him swiftly, with hint
of fear and half hint of resolution in
her face: He struck out with trans
parent pretence of being perfectly at
his ease, and cut down nettle with
his walking-cane.
Your voice reminded me-" he said
after y little pause, .of the most beau
tiful voice | had ever heard till then.
even thought | recognized it, and l
walked down to meet you, and found
that had made blunder."
III meeting me?" she asked.
He laughed again, and their eyes
met. In hers there was tender tri-
umph and gayety which answered her
own question fairly we'll, even without
the aid Of his, which beamed with adj
miration.
NO ne answered, "but in dream
ing that that lovely voice had ever
sounded from the stage" he went on
at ease And yet the fancy haunted
me all day She was looking on the
ground once more, and with the point
OF her parasol was turning little
pebble over and over. She stopped so
that her face was hidden from him bv
the wide brimmed summer hat she
wore. If this were co4uetry, the
fashion of the day favored it, for at the
dropping edge of the width of plated
straw was a fringe of fine black lace
some two or three inches deep, and he
would have had to fall upon his knees
to see her face. Could he have seen it