The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-02-07

All anguish, all Iiaddest adorne,
WIN be vain In that day.
though you kneit to me then with mporlng,
What word could say7
on, love me then, now, that 1t quicken
My hearts failing breath.
why wait Till to love IL to sicken
Az the GOODNESS OF death?
Grace Den,o Lttchtetd
A LITTLE FIRE.
-
Under his orange-trecs old Pafson MERIT paced to
and fro warm January morning, deaf to the song
OF the rnocklng-blrds, blind alike to the modest
loneliness OF the roses and the tropical beauty OF the
hibiscus flowers. He looked toward the river CLINT
ing in the sunlight, and his anxious frown deepened
when he saw little boat put out from the pier,
man rowing lazily, grlin the stern holding a white
parasol over her head, and he took few steps
riverward, then turned and walked to and fro again
between the the, house ana the gate Sometimes he
gray beard; sometimes he stamped his foot and
waved his arms about like Fourth of July orator.
James Elroy, OF the steamer Isabel Howard, entered
the grove, wearing the uniform OF the company he
served, navy blue adorned with plenty OF brass
buttons once the Elr0ys were great people In
Florida, but that was before the war, OF course.
They still owned many acres Of white sand, Of pine
forest, OF cypress swamp, which they had chung TO
IN spite OF the Northern SPECTATORS, and II was
prophesied that these lands would make the family
rich once more, for the new railroad ran through
surely spring up, and the wilderness blossom like
the rose. Old Madam Eiroy, as the negroes called
her, prayed that she might live to see that blessed
and forth between Jacksonville and Everglade
Point, earnings good salary, but his poor proud
mother hated the uniform he must wear, for It was
badge OF servltude In her eyes. She lived In
venerable orange grove next to the Merritt place.
and Capt. James, who was at home every other
daughter. The old man greeted him eagerly that
bright January morning.
"Jim," he said, in desperate tone, the Is here
"Give him good broad hint to leave,n said the
"Ah, that's easy enough for you to say, but can't
be rude to my sisters SON. though there Ia little OF
my sister In him. Besides, Emily wouldn't let me-"
The captain scowled. He was compactly built
young man, whose face usually wore an expression
bidding at that moment.
"She's gone of somewhere with him this morning,
az usual" the parson continued; Sand 1t must he
stopped, Jim. and stopped soon. You know what
Shakespeare says:
"a little fire is quickly irodden out,
Which, being suffered, rivers cannot quench.'"
Capt. Elroy cared not foutra for Shakespeare,
but he cared very much for the parsons daughter,
ana he looked down at the river. The skiiI had
shrunk to speCk on the shining water, and Emily g
white parasoi seemed to float upon it like pond
lily; all,
want me to shoot him or drown him-your own
sisters SOM"
There was touch of irony in his tone, but the
parson did not notice it, He laid his big vened
Jim. Get her set against Frank, and he will be out
of the house in an hour. She didn't think OF any
body but you until he came, and she can't have
veered all around in a week."
blush swept over the young mans tanned.
bearded face. "havent any right TO interfere, par
son, and she would tell me so in wink"
rInht cd mr. ohort TIM,
right? don't understand that She's fond OF you
and haven't you known her since she was slip of a
girl with couple Of braids down her back7 Haven't
mo-" broke In the captain; 81 never was a bit of
brother or rather she was never bit of sister to
me, though may have been a brother to her. That's
about It, parson, reckon; that's the way she looks
att OF course she is fond of me in fashion, butt
he dug his heel deep into the most sand-"bht If
"She doesn't, jim; she can't. 1t is within, q ca
price. He has fascinated her.. But you are twice
these Hyers and he Hyer to the BACKBONE
good looking, agreeable, accomplished his father
was before him, but unstable and worse than that.
over at Oak .BluH-drank, gambled, nearly burned
down the tavern one night. If I had heard that
wouldn't have let him into the house; but could
not refuse him hospitality when our hotel had not
even cot TO offer him, and never dreamed he
would stay more than day or two"
roy; "he is here, and he will stay here until he Is
tired, unless you ask him to leave"
81 can't ask him to leavc,m said the parson. 81
pleasant, and haven't the to order him away
And don't dare whisper word against him to
Emily; for she is Maynard, she is full of contrari-
ness, and bit OF opposition would work the very
mischief. You take bold stand with her, Jim, and
she will like you better than ever. oh, these fool
boys!n he exclaimed. finging up his hands; "they
go on their knees and pray to girls when they ought
to show they are the masters"
Elroy's lips frightened under his beard, and he
pulled the Visor OF his cap down over his black eyes
a minutes.
paced to and fro listening to the parsons vehement
words. At last he said, "If had a daughter, and
man VINO was not fit to tie her shoes came near her,
would take him by the nape Of his neck and throw
him out of the window"
'and your daughter, If she were daughter worth
having, would climb out Of the window after him.
Ha! don't talk to me. But were in love with
girl. and fellow tried to steal her away, wouldn't
BIT down and merely bite my thumb at him."
"Plty we can't change Places" said the captain,
hryly. They had reached the house, which was
small and painted white, with jasmine and trumpet
vines growing over the porch, their yellow and red
blossoms mingling among the dark green leaves.
On the steps lay EmiIy's dog on chair was Emi!ys
The opened door Emilys piano could be seen, sheet
u music on the rack and her father and lover gazed
upon her belongings with fond, regretful smiles.
She had grown up here IN the orange grove, the
apple OF her fathers eye. He had been a mother,
eacher. playfellow, to her. and now sheturned upon
iim and ruled him 30 completely that he could not
lift a hand to oppose a wish of hers. He led the
captain through the house to the piazza that ran
along the back: and as he seated himself in one of
the arm.chairs he said, pensively:
"It's the climate, guess. Down here man gets
azy and helpless. mean, he added, remembering
he Southerner born and bred who leaned against
the piazza post, "a Northern man ,ransplanted. II
had stuck to the pulpit, now, up there In Hudson,
and preached twice Sunday with two feet OF snow
on the ground, maybe Emily would have had some
1lial respect; but, as 1t is, she hasn't an atom"
Capt. Elroy laughed because he could not help 1t,
and shading his eyes with his hand he looked at the
speck on the river. which was rapidly growing into
4 boat again. "They're coming back, he said.
The little skin danced lightly over the waves to
gave his hand to his cousin TO help her out He Kept
her hand as he said something which made her
laugh gayly, and action and sound were seen and
heard by ner father ana the simple young captain
"Swear good mouth Milling oath," cried the par
son. But the captain did not swear, although he
couple from that boat drew nearer and nearer. The
parsons daughter was tall, slim girl, with light
loving, mischieyOils, or defiant, according to her
Earthly Paradise" The parsons nephew was
man OF thirty-fve or six, on whose weak, handsome
lace self'indu!gence had set its stamp the sort of
man who for time immemorial has found an un-
,peakabe charm in maldens maidens who have
weet and ignorant as the flowers about them.
"Good morning. Capt. Elroy," he said, in voice
hat matched his pleasant smile. "Playingtruant to-
"You and Isabel Howard ought to be ten miles
10 wn the river by this time said Emily.
awe broke paddle-whee," said the captain,
'and we must lay over for couple OF days until the
men get here from Jacksonville to put Isabel in
shape again."
She went past him into the house, not returning
his eager, expectant glance; 80 he followed her TO
ne lsrp arlor, and said, abruptly; Emily VIII you
wanted to get some things there"
"rhank yoS, jim; but went yesterday with my
go with me this afternoon, Emily"
She smiled, but shook her head. sand to-day we
are going to Lake Bethel"