The Sunday herald., 1886-09-19

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many q lesson since the old foolish days
when she listened TO me. Those red lips
would now curl with scorn at the bright
visions and quixotic dreams we then be-
lieved-the castles In Spain we saw uplifting
their turrets 10 the sunset skies Only =
year ago, Nell," he sighed, and sank into q
reveric deep and long, with irowning brows
and lowered head, rowing mechanically mp
river again, over the same course they pur-
sued short time ago, in blithe aud oare-
less mood. An hour later they landed at
Tanglewood, and lifting Nell ashore with
tender care he held her hand At parting q
moment.
"Nell, know that you can be trusted;
but one thing more remains to be done, and
you alone can do IL: will you9"
eyes, Phil-what Is itY'
81 shalt not go back TO town tonight, but
stop at my old camp ground I'd the pines.
To morrow morning early will meet Linda
there al the landing"
"But II she will not come s''
"She must" peremptorily. "Tell her
from me that II she falls 10 keep the ap.
pointment will come up 10 the house
and see her there In the presence Of them
all"
"Oh, no, Phil ~ protested Nell, eagerly.
"She will come," he said, smiling, "for
she knows that I am a man Of my word.
And now, good-nigh little one, aud forget
In sleep all this evenings folly and mad
| ness"
Aud lightly kisslng her cheek, he was
| gone.
Philip Laighton will never forget that
| summer night-the vigil kept In the shad.
owy solitude Of the pines, while the moon
languislied In the skies and pallid wreath
Of mist foated above the winding river.
The romance Of his youth rose up and con-
fronted him like a phantom, passing before
his wskeful eyes In all lis manifold phases,
from the first careless prelude 10 the bitter
ending now close al hand.
Only one short year ago, when camping
out on this same spot, he had met Linda; .
mere chance meeting on the river, slight
accident, timely service rendered, and the
doors OF Tanglewood we're thrown wide 10
receive him. II was summer, the season for
freedom and pleasure, aud the rigid laws Of
caste were relaxed for the time being In
favor Of this gay, pounilsss stranger. Mr..
Chase reused from business cares and al.
straction at his entrance, wkils his hand
some wife, who could never outlive the con.
quests Of her youth, bridled and blushed
anew at his courteous homage.
Nell, the madcap, clung TO him from the
first, with all the frank ardor Of = child;
and Linda-to see and 10 love Linda Chase
in her radiant youth was but the work of a
moment TO the warm hearted, impressible
young fellow, with his head full of poetic
dreams and fancies, his heart ripe for ro
nance.
These were halcyon days at Tanglewood-- -
boating in the early freshness Of the dawn
to pull white lilies from the stream, after.
noon siestas in the cool isle Of the swaying
pines, evenings given over 10 mirth and
!. music or delicious hours on the river.
In those days naughty Linda came and
went at his bidding, listened TO his songs
and sonuets with glow on her cheek aud
light In her eye that but enhanced her
charm the mors. Yet psrchance her beauty
led him astray then, and there was neither
appreciation in her silence nor response in
her glance to his loftisst flights.
He recalls now the child who, crouched in
the bow Of the boat, with great eyes riveted
on his face, and lips apart, drinking in his
every word like one who listens 10 music
Time has wrought its changes; he is nc
longer welcome at Tanglewood as in the old
days; ambitious schemes and plans for social
advancement now absorb the proud mother.
time and exile all Ineligible suitors. He IL
an outcast. lonely boatmau on the stream
listening from afar TO sounds Of revelry
flame that blinds and dazzles him.
And new he is forced to see that his god
dess is but a woman after all; that undel
this rare personal charm Turks cool, calou
lating soul, a will that In time may scale til.
heights of social powers and prosperity
The careless girl who listened 20 readily Il
his words of love has breathed the incense
of the worlds homage, and henceforth shs
will never be the same again. Ills early
dreams Of love, his ambition, and dawninf
power are as naught TO her; she sweeps then
away with one stroke of her careless hand
The end has come; what now remains Il
himi One last parting scene, in which
pride must hold love in check, and theI
freedom barren freedom.
The murmurous pines breathe forth thei
incense on the night; the mist laden rive
goes hurrying by, and the restless dreamer
lying prone on the earth's brown bosom
sinks at last to deep aud dreamless slumber
} Day dawns, aud the SUMS keen shaft
striking athwart the pine trees stab tn
carele.s sleeper into consciousness again
} He springs to his feet with start of reoollec
) tion, to find the river sparkling in the sun
light, and tiny wood bird perched on
spray above him, singing It's forid rounde
lay.
Half an hour later, invigorated by Ions
| pun VII tuo TlVoTs uo ibuub ~ tnb iauttl6
!, trysting place and settles himself TO wait
Tanglawood is silent at this hour, as II rest
ing under spell; riotous red r"sss clambe
, over the porch aud look in at Linda's case
meu'; low breezes play through the shin
mering recesses Of the woodland; the dew
) spangled lawn Is touched with the glamou
of the early morning.
; An hour later, aud down the zgzag path
way leading to tue river steps young cir
l in loose, rose oolored negligs, fresh as
newly opened flower, yet with hint Of hau
teur In her most careless movements. iii
\ face kindles aud fushes at sight Of her, au
. for moment he cannot speak; she, on tn
! contrary, wears an air Of easy nonohAlaucs
3 as she comes leisurely op, switching brand
Of roses in her hand. Doubtless she ha
long anticipated this final catastrophe. COOL
I planned the scene, aud chosen her role.
"You received my message. Linda Z"
' Gas you see," ourtly. ST might hav
0 been more graciously worded, but took
from whence Il came."
8 "We will not handy Words" he saii
gravely. "Whsn you hear what have |
say You will admit the urgency Of my re
quest"
8 She spread her skirts, aud sat down on
down on stump, with careless yawn.
4 ooh, am prepared; reproaohes. reorim
:, nations, 6nd accents OF Id06palr-all the Int
o esting details Of jealous lovs-aud only b.
cause gave party over night. Admit ,
\. least that I'm good natured 10 give mp m
9 mornings sleep for such a scene. Well,
Il petulantly, as he stood looking down ON III
!, In ominous silence, "why don't you begin
y This Hamlet like melancholy will not az
J. vance your cause"
d "Iinda, I did not come to advance m
k cause, Gas you call it,) but for far diffsrsr
y purpose. came TO release you from vow
. made in moment of girlish weakness, an
< long grown burdsdsome TO you; pledges
d love that have lost life aud meaning f
10 many day, aud remain but as harsh bond
a TO hold US together"
She started aud dropped her ayes uuds
o the steadfast gaze that seemed to search h,
n soul.
d ~ am aware that this secret engagemel
. could lead to nothing without the sanctic
o Of your parents, which l could hardly gal
y at present"
o She laughed mockingly, aud the cole
y came to her check.
D. "Captains' daughters don Y mate with for