Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-05-08
CASSIA.

shrubs, with the murmur of ever beating
waves in the distance-a house that hid
itself among the elms and oaks,
and shroudcd even its doors and Win
dows in thick-hanging jasmine and cy-
press vines.
Nine o'clock in the morning, but not a
creature was visible outside; the matted
balconies were empty, the hammocks all
unoccupied. indeed, every room opening
from the lower balcony was darkened ex
ccpting one. In this room the blinds
were reversed and faint breeze
moved the thin white curtains. A
table was laid here for three people,
and the preparations on it seemed to i'm
ply that their event was momentarily eX-
pectcl
Presently the door opened, and
beautiful girl of about sixteen years of
age entered She was dressed in fine
long robe of white muslin, trimmed
with knots Of pale green ribbon, and in
h r hand she carried bunch of pansies
and lilies.
'Ie.oy?'
ayes, Miss Cassia"
Tell Colonel Bauvare I am wait
ing
In few moments stout, handsome
man dressed in white linen en-
tered. He kissed the girl on the brow
softly.
sNWhere j, mammal"
s'Shc will not appear this morning.
She lay awake all night planning about
the ball, and is too ia 'igucd to rise"
'sBut surely to give q party is not such
q very important affair, papa.'
sThe people whom entertain is very
important affair indeed, Cassia."
'Dcar me. l had not thought of it in
that light. should Just invite all the
good dancers and nice people in the
ncighborhool. There are pl nty of nice
people around u.s."
Fortunately this is q very select neigh
borhood; there are no better families in
the country-in the world, might say
tn n the Bauvares, the Pey ons, the LIE
Croixs, the Des Moines-'
''And the Riveses, papa. l remember
Young Herbert Rivcs so well. He was
the handsomest youth ever saw. We
must not forget Herb TT Rivcs, papa"
s'Cassia, wish you to distinctly under
stand that Mr.. Rives and | have had Il
bitter guardian irrcconcilable quarrel.
If the public sentiment was raised to a
proper pitch here, l should shoot him
with great deal of pleasure. | hope I
shall never hear you speak of either the
father Or son again"
81 want Herbert Rives to come to my
ball, papa"
ut is impossible, Cassia.'
Cassia was sicnced, but not convinced.
Toward evening she went out to walk.
The negro girl with her had a little
bucket, and was gathering wild straw
berries as they walked. AS she entered
the grove skrting the Rives estate the
thick, intensely green turf. as soft as vel
vet, delighted her; the shade and warmth
and sweet earthly smell filled her with
delicious, drowsy sense of repose.
.'Oh, how nice it would be to lie down
on this turf and sleep" she thought 81
wonder what ones dreams would be in
such place."
She had scarcely ceased wondering
when she saw splendid black horse
quietly feeding and under tree not far
away a man lay either dead or sleeping.
Not dead surely? She must at least see to
that In moment she stood over him.
He was young man, handsome as En-
dymion, and fast asleep.
When they had gone little apart she
paused, thought minute and then took
her handkerchief, and with the little god
pencil at her chain wrote, ''Love has been
with thee, and thou knew it not" Then
stepping softly back, she laid it on the
turf beside his head.
Not until they were quarter of mile
away did Cassia speak; then she said,
softly, emily, do you know who that
ISL"
'Lor, yes, Miss Cassia-Massa Her
bert Rives. Done forgot my berries, Miss
Cassia Kin go back fur 'em!"
Eyes; | can see the house now. Go
hack if you wish"
When Milly got back to where she had
left her bucket, the horse was sad He'd
and the young man was slowly riding
away. Niilly watched him out of sight
and saw him examine the handkerchief
carefully, then kiss it and put it in his
breast; all of VIII CHI proceedings she re-
ported, with some slight additl> rs, to
her mistress.
1t was very natural that both you G
people shoud revisit the scene of this
adventure. But for two days nothing
more came of it. They went at unlucky
hours and only crossed each other On
tic third day they were fortunate. Cas-
STA, sitting with book in her lap
which she was not rcaling-heard the
fiery gallop of a horse, and instantly
afterward horse and rider vaultcd over
TIE zigzag fence which divided the Bau-
ware and Rives estates.
Before Cassia could Use, Herbert had
dismounted. thrown the rcins over his
horses neck, and, hat in hand, advanced
to her feet lis manly grace and beauty
and his unaffected delight in their meet
ing completed the conquest which had
been gained while he was unconscious of
the power of his attractions. He pre-
tended no ignorance of Cassias person
he addressed her frankly as Miss Bau-
ware, and reminded her of their girl and
boy friend ship He confessed that he
had been watching for a glimpse of her,
and that he had dared the tresI IS on
the Bauvare land for the pleasure of seek
ing her.
Cassia met him in the same humor.
There was no formality and no emhar-
rassment and the conversation drifted
insensibly into low, short sentences, made
wonderfully eloquent by passionate
glances and whispered queries, that Cas-
answered only by smiles and bushes.
After this meeting Cassia was exceed