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

ley ~ dreamlcsB nlght-a luxury 10 me
new indeed.
CHAPTER II.
II il said that cate track the young and
unsuspeciing thrush 10y the sweetness of
its song-fancy dining, with an appetite
on so much murdered music and with
like subtlety did stalk the river that lay
far away among the trees. Led by the
low grooming Of its sweet, monOtonous
chant. / took my way over the fields IN
the first fresh hour OF the morning.
was as a giant refreshed. / seemedto
have grown young IN a night-s night
Of deep, unbrOken slumber such as had
not visited my eyes Tor many long and
weary week. "Sleep that knits up the
ravelod sleeve Of care. Oh mastermind,
that $50 read human nature like book
and told its story 70 a listening world,
for surely no other expression OF which
language is capable could so express the
renewal of the dropping energies, the
restoration Of the flaccid nerves, as
those two happily.chosen words, knit
up Stepping briskly over the dew
laden, flower pied grass toward where,
in the deep hosrt Of the wood, the river
called 10 me with grooming voice, q syl-
van LOrelci-thus ran my thoughts
Tho day WAS still very young day, and
the level sun rays seemed just to tip the
grass and flowers and pierce through the
holes Of the thick-serried trees, and
touch the ripples OF the nver to a smile.
How delicious the plunge beneath that
sun lit water how like river god one
felt. and then the pleasant return after
the bath was done The sense of invigo-
ration in every vein. as swinging my
towel in my hand, and with hat set well
back on my head in fashion that would
have led New Bond street to look upon
me as an escaped lunatic. betook my
self once more toward Orchard Farm.
was fated to see two idyls-both
equally beautiful in their wagon that
return journey of mine. First, Just at
the turn OF the lane, against Il back
ground formed by bank all ablaze with
golden buttercups, two starlings engaged
in furious conflict. | stood still TO
watch the battle. What shrill cries OF
rage, what quick darting of besks, what
mad whirl OF wings And all the time
the glorious prisms Of the two swelling
throats cleaning and flashing and
CHANGING in the sunlight with every tint
and glowing cOlor-now richest purple,
now shining gold, now wondrous, me-
tallic green Truly, a conflict OF rain
bows.
A few PAGES further brought me in
view of another idyl. and this time a
picture never to be eflaced from my
memory.
Many year has gone by since my
summer trip to Orchard Farm, but every
line, every shade of that picture is as
clear in my mind at this moment as
when first my eyes lighted upon It,
4 man young. good to look upon,
slender in form, and with strange, eager
look upon his face, sat upon low bench,
near which grew, tall and straight, per-
feet forest OF lavender bushes. softly pur-
pied with thousand spear-like blossoms.
In this eager face, turned upward toward
me, yet utterly unobservant OF me, as |
felt instinctiyely, what | noticed most
were the eyes, dark, bright, beautiful,
but blind. 1t was easy TO zee by their
lack of all expression-in the atti-
tude OF the mans whole figure told the
same piteous tale. The thought struck
me like blow. Younger by some
years than myself, sitting there in
the balmy sunshine, with the fairest of
natures pictures stretched out before
him. and yet seeing nothing. Seeming
the wild flowers sweet air; feeling the
warmth Of the rays that touched the
world and babe it live and blossom and
pulsate but living in void of perpetual
darkness. Standing there, bareheaded
TO the summer light, my hat swinging in
my hand, my whole being strengthened
and refreshed by the plunge into the
sun-bright river, my very soul gladdened
by the beauty of earth and sky around
me. this mans isolation seemed thing
10 shudder at-as though in the midst OF
exquisite verdure and flower-decked
meadows one should stumble upon a
corpse.
Yet in the moment in which these
thoughts, lightning swift, darted through
my mind | realized also that the dark
ened life had its sun and hght-the sun
of perfect love the light of an exqui-
site sympathy. For, standing beside
the blind man-leaning a little toward
him, as il swsyed unconsciously 10y an
impulse OF tenderness, one hand towing
with the spears OF lavender that sprang
back elastic from her touch, the other
resting on the shoulder Of his old brown
yelyeteen shooting-coat-was a woman.
tall, slender, yet some way past
the freshness OF youth; sad-eyed,
sad-faced, indeed, in strange enough
contrast TO the cheerful sweetness
Of her voice. All the lines OF her
figure were modelled with per-
feet grace that must, | thought, make
every movement like music. her hair,
ripping crisply above her thoughtful
brow. was touched with silver in broad
lights. like the light that edged the rip
plea Of the river where the tree shadows
we're broken overhead. And there were
lines in her face that told OF pain and
watchmlness in the past least
fancied so-taking everything in at
glance, ss ii were, aud dazed with that
strange. unaccountsble feeling OF having
gone through exactly the same thing be-
fore, which most OF US have experienced
81 one time or other, and of which no |