Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-02
AMONG THU LAVENDER.
IAN the Yosr Rognd.l
CHAPTER ].

"If YOU did il doesn't make il any the
better OF the pleassnter, answered. "
could better have Afforded to take spell
OF the entire sad complete rest this fool
pirates about a any other time than just
now.
IL never know fellow that didn't
say that when he'd got his back into a
lob and had 10 give it up for hit--don't
Won know :" said Jack, curling mp one
sooner OF his tawny moustache with his
Sstrong, 1.-THE fingers, and looking the
personifcauon OF perfect health and
manly strength; wnile l.
Vol. well, it wa ell very well FOR me
70 call DR.. MarchmOnt a fool II let the
steam of somehow, but long array OF
sleepless nights. backed up by an army
OF lesser symptoms, which my own medl-
cal knowledge told me spelt the word
overworked," convinced rae that his
kindly and urgent counsel was trne, aud
that few men in London stood IN efca'er
need OF spell Of rest and recruiting
than stephen Allardyce meaning my
self.
When You get to "overworbed ' the
next station on The journey IS " broken
down" l did not wish 10 attain TO this
last. I resolved 20 leave London, b0ry
nvself among green fields, apple
orchards. and havstacbs, and give my
self ND entirely 10 the conjugauon OF
the verb Ito lazy Not manuscript
will I look at. much less write not
proof will correct All my intellectual
iscultiss shah lie fsllow for this needful
space for rest My thinking powers are
nav stock ia trade / must needs hug
band them.
The problem how best 10 attain 70 tins
perfection Of rural happiness and idle-
ness faced me pitiessiy.
Country lodgings Bah Dad cook
err. ill-yenulated rooms, lon3-legged
sp,dcrs on the bread and butter. Perish
the Thought A country hotel Worse
etH Yokcs keeping festival on Satur-
dsy NIGHTS. a mingled smell Of tepid
beer aud sisblc-yard peryadinS every
thing The very though: was irritating,
sni opened my morning paper with an
unamisble jerk. -
I'M temper ought not, one would think,
10 be rewarded. Mine was.
An advertisement stared me IN the
face a message that might almost seem
10 have been sent straight from Heaven.
address NJ. r., Orchard Farm,
near Wortleborry. A single gentleman
can have the use Of tRO ary rooms aud
attendance. Terms moderate. Good
fishing.
Now love fishing. look upon 1t as
3 delicious phase Of idleness.
Half my days swinging IN "a hammock
underneath the chcckered shadow OF the
apple bouehs, with TO companion save
plpe or cigarette M tine mood dictates,
The other half loungiug ON "A river
brink, crushing tho f0rgctmc-uots and
the golden k;ng-cups, AMI watching my
rod not eagerly, only lazily- Tor the
bite which may como or not as 1t
pleascs. a month 81 such life ~ tins
and should become yulgulaly robust;
should sleep like ono Of the Seven
Slcepcrs. and relish the plainest food
like IA plowbov. But then the PLAIN
food must be we'll cooked and Clearly
served. Therein lies the difference be-
tween my possibilities and the plowboys.
/ was however. oi mind to thlna
the food would bee well dressed
and cleauly-nay. perhaps, daintIly
served. For wrote 10 n. h., and Nj.
Il. replied, and her letter was the letter
OF geuticwoman.
Orchard Farm How delightfully."-
suggestive uamc Douht'e-s apple
trees there grow IN a Iu&taposiilon exact
w fitted for the needs of that hammock
in which SIN to swing beneath earth and
Sky, Thought to myself doubtless Tho
grass is dohc.ou,iy green the apples
nesting ON the boughs dcnciou5Iy PINK
on one plump cheek, and the thrushts
laugh softly as with eagar besk they test
the iuiccs Of the ripenUg plum. THIS
last idea is perhaps hardly correct from
the farmers point of Wow. and might OF
fend NJ. H. u thrifty soul hut love the
sound 81 the thrush's Rurglmg laugh, 50
let IT stand even 81 the sacuiicc of IL plum
or two.
Don't you get scrbbing now, said
Jack Carly ON, as he took leave OF me- on
the PaddIngton platform. You've
overdone IT, YOU know; and | tell You
what il is YOU Il break down, you know,
il YOU don't look out.
Like bird that sings the same few
notes over and over again Jack had pipcd
the same time 10 me persistenuy for
some while back. II is a most unplea-
SAINT thing 10 be told the same thing over
and over again. 1t Ia even 80 much worse
when the thing is true. l almost hated
,Ia,,k rs the train crawled out of the sta
ton, and then set It's mind TO going IN
earnest and pulled away into the open
country.
And, TO say the truth, this drifting
away was welcome enough TO me. In
spite OF all my asscverahons TO Jack
Carlyon, l was conscious of many symp-
toms that, being interpreted. meant
"worn out" ! knew that a life with
out proof sheets was for time, n ne
cessity and yet, like every true slave
of the pen. hug my chain, and love to
hnger lovingly in the company OF my
own creations
Yet must change the rustic OF " first
proofs and "revises for the rustic OF
woodland whispers above my head. /
must lay the busy pen aside, and let 1t
speak no more for awhile.
IL is far cry from busting Padding
ton to the sheltered nook in the Mid
lands where Orchard Farm is 10 be
found, and, what with delays in catching
trains on side lines and such like tire
some incidents OF travel, dusk had al
most grown to night before | reached
my temporary home. Tho sky had be-
come overcast, and a fine drizzle was
falling as | alghted from ramshaolle
kind of vehicle which the driver called
q gig-hut which struck me as bearing
considerably more resemblance to a
WORKOUT tax cart at the gate OF Orchard
Farm.
could sec the misty outlines of close
growing trees, and amid them shone the
CLEAN OF hight here and there, whilo
the patch of radiance cast by Al incur
tanned lattice lay almost across my path
way.
Through the faint mist Of rain came
sweet scents innamerable, sweetbrier,
roses, jasmine all giving out their sweet
NJ