Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-02

offered by mortal man.
just as stepped up the slow incline
OF the grass-crown road, which led 70 the
garden gate, the man turned slightly
toward his companion, laying his hand
upon her arm.
Margaret, " he said, "show it to me.
can feel that il is beautiful.
was close at the gate, bot charming
gesture stopped me--a slight, imperious
movement Of the fair. shapely hand.
look from the gentle eyes that seemed to
take me into her confidence al once.
"He must be humored. Stay a mo-
ment, that was what the look said.
stood still bsreheaded | was care
full not to LET the latch click.
She had two listeners instead OF one
that Was AZ.
There is nothing particular novel in
the expression wOr0-painting. Every
slave of the pen hears it often enough
often hears il used derisively. Neverthe-
less word-psintiDg is an art. IL aims at
bringing before the minds eye IN
vivid and realistic colors that which the
actual eve cannot see ; and never had /
realized 10 what perfection the at might
be carried until stood before the gate
OF Orchard Farm in the early summer
sunshine and listened 20 Nj. r., for /
was sure Of her identity from the first
painting the morning landscape IN ITS
brightness and its beauty.
Nor did the story lose in. the telling by
the voice in which it was told. Sweet,
low, vet full, we're the accents that came
TO me across the lavender blossoms oil
thst Shakespeare himself could have
wished fer in woman. The mans dark,
sightless orbs were mean while turned
upon the speaker. so that, relieved
against the gray Of her simple gown, 1
could note the fnoly-cut profile, the
clustering, crested hair the sweeping
moustache beneath which somehow one
recognized the sweetness and pathos Of
the mouth.
II this was my landlord. then l knew
that / stood IN the presence Of an equal,
II the woman by his side was ~. X,
then 1 knew that ! had rightly OWNED
her to be q gentlewoma1-in every best
sense and meaning Of which that slgnIh-
cant old-fashioned word is capable.
Malcolm" she said, 4" this is our
new lodger-Mr. Allardyce."
He rose from bis place and stood there
facing mo in the sunshine--a strange,
pathetic figure. blighted and blasted in
the very noontide aud heydsy of his
manhood.
His hand. long, fine. psllid with the
enforced inaction to which his affection
bound him, WAS stretched ont toward
me. and ], acting on an impulse as ire
sistible rs prompt, met and grasped 1t
with mine.
1--WE are glad to see you he said.
"You have lovely day for your first
among u.s.
"We are glad to sec you The words
struck me strangely.
"She is there, the very eyes OF
him." ! thought. Through her ne
sees the world.
Az I turned to his companion and
shook hands with her in turn, | met her
sad, sweet, grateful look, which IN a
moment struck a chord OF sympathy be-
/ tween us n chord that never in the fu-
/ ture knew q note of discord. Now that
/ / was nearer 10 "Marcaret u knew
| her by no moro definite name so far
/ / saw that she was a much older woman
/ than had at first sight supposed, but
| had preserved the essence Of youthful
ness by some subtle power with
! in herself. Later on / learned that
this power was the intensity OF
| love with which she had merged
/ Der own personality in that Of another
the husband TO whom she YVES light, life,
everything. We three moved on toward
the house, where through tho open win
! dow my breakfast showed temptingly
NJ. II. toying with bundle OF lavender
spears that she had gathered and set in
| her waist belt. Under her touch they
gave ont more generously their DuaRent
perfume, and so FOR ever and ever this
! holiday jaunt Of mine camo TO DO
thought OF aud remembered by me rs
among the Lavender"
Considering my blindness, | can DIS
| tinguish where people are pretty well, ~
said he OF the old shooting coat. lOu
see, found ont your whereabouts by the
sound of your steps, even on the grass.
This outspoken reference 70 his condi-
/ ton surprised me. !. whose work IN
! life is to write huently, and therefore
ought to be, to some extent 90 all events
ready of speech, was dumb
The whole thing seemed go sad, and
| had come upon me 80 Unexpectedly.
" Mr.. Ruthvon rather prdes himself
upon his achievements, you see, said
/ Nj. r., whom / now knew for Mrs. Ruth
ven, and she smiled but have seen
tears less sad. | think she saw my trou-
| bic, and, recognizing that it WAS for her
! husband sake, accepted 1t rs pleasant
/ gift. At least that WAS what her eyes
seemed to flash TO mine across those
slightest ones. But what she said was
| this:
"You will like to know about the fish
ing, will you not? ;"
| assented; and then with a grave
bow she led her blind husband into "a
room on the other side Of the passage to
mine.
Seated at my solitary breakfast table 1
was more ready to ponder On what had
| heard and seen than 10 eat.
There was s. much pathos to mo IN
| that old shooting-cOat 1t was q shoot
| ing-coat No man who loves his gun can
mistake garment of that kind. So 1t
had not been so very long since that this
man Ruthven- some years younger than
myself. as l have said, even now-had
been hale and strong and able to follow
many sports and pastimes. Perhaps he
loved the touch Of the old brown-rlbbed
velveteen because 1t called to his mind
those days of light and liberty.
On his hand had noticed a ring,
plainly-set, deep-red cornelian, aud
strange fancy took me-born, no doubt,
of my story-weaving trade-that it was
like drop OF his very hearts blood.
shed like tear distilled by bitterest
pain. 1 am sure tue rosy-iaced maid
who brought in my rasher and toast
1 thought | was a very bad case indeed,
and should need whole gallons of milk
"warm from the COW, before began to
"look up" like the other interesting
[ dodgers at Orchard Farm had done
Later in the day l found that in the
quaint, old-world garden which apper-
/ ko;nol 30 Az on1 Nro Hufbvou'e oboda