The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-01


Carver. He went on: ~ lived in the next
place to your fathers, Mr.. Carver. Your
sister and were playmates for all my
childhood. remember her WE'LL" And
rs he spoke the tiny figure with smiling
face and flying hair, kissing the small
fingers with apretty gesture OF farewell,
rose before George Hale's eyes with Won
derful distinctness
my sister is with me. Won't You call
and see us? We are at the l." said
Jack Carver, in his hearty, cordial fashion,
and look out of his ewes that brought
back Annis still more distinctly.
George thought no more of Mary; when
he should have been writing that letter,
he was threading his way through London
streets to the L., his heart aud head
full OF long-laid-asde memories And
when Anns rose to receive him with out
stretched hand and the old smile in her
eyes, Mary Niven. her love, her sorrow,
her impending death, were swept away
! like cobwebs. He knew that before him
| stood the one woman OF his world; that
there was final barrier set up betwiXt
him and any other. lie made q very long
call, bewitched by the sparkling beauty,
the sweet quick voice, the grace of motion,
the expressive countenance that spoke
even before that voice gave words to
thought. All this was so different from
the sad and timid language OF Mary Niyen.
On his way home he could notbutcontrast
the two, and be deeply thankful that
Jack Carver had not delayed day longer
in Liverpool. The next day the three
took long drive in the beautiful outskirts
OF London; the next day there were pic
lures 10 inspect; the next the opera to
visit. Every evening George made some
excuse 10 see Annis again, till Jack began
TO perceive the situation.
"Annis," said he one morning, as they
sat together making plans for the day,
''aro you going home with meP"
"Jack!' was tho indignant answer But
poor Annis blushed to the waves of her
hair.
well, II was q natural question" he
went on. "llale seems 10 bc ms thorough
| ly Noted as any fly | ever saw, and YOU
make n strong cobwcb, Annis."
Jack, how can you speak so? George
Hale was my best friend; We were chill
dren together he never said any other
than friendly word to me"
Jack was satisfied with the assurance;
ho was not well yerscd in the ways OF
women or hc would have discovered that
his interference had only accelerated the
thing he dreaded.
After this Annis iced her voice and her
manner 10 George, refused his invitations,
and reduced him TO despair When n
man in love is in despair, he yindicatcs
| his condition by doing something dcspcr-
ate. II had been q promise, before this
cloud took all away" that the three
friends should spend Easter week to-
gother in the Isle OF Wight, and George
had made arrangements 10 exchange his
August vacation for this week Of April, -
| that Annis could not well change their
plans; aud 10 the isle they went on the
Saturday Of Passion week, and established
themselves in tiny lodging just ten min
utcs' walk from the shore, and no further
from picturesque little church standing
high on the cliffs. Spring had como here;
| the grass was emerald green, and starred
with small pink edged daisies; primroscs
made tho buddcd corpscs sunny aud
sweet: fragrance OF wildwood yiolets filed
the air; aud in the cottage gardens dailo.
! dis had begun 10 bloom, and snowdrops
clustered their pallid bells; the mir was a
delicate incense offered for the renewal OF
natures life, the restoration Oi the en-
tombed blossoms; and the soft sea haze
brooded over all at morning aud evening
as II indeed ''the morning and the even
ing were the fist day." and this the
mist from the earth that watorcd thC
whole face Of the ground"
After the Easter service in the quaint
old church, ircshcnud today with spring
flowers crowded on font and chanccl rail
the three strayed together TO the cifl;ioI
near by. and sitting down on the grass,
looked out 10 sea. Nothing WIS spoken
for moment; Georges heart beat till II
chokod him; Jack whistlcd Annis pokcd
the turf with her pamsol, ani looked sircn.
uously at nothing. Presently Jack spicd
n fisherman ON the beach below, and hur.
ricd down by little winding path 10 Ia.
tcryicw him, for II was Jacks delight IN
talk with the humber English folk. and
thereby vindicaic his admiration for his
own beloved country people.
Annis half rOsc, m II 20 follow him, but
George laid his hand on her arm.
"Annis, he said, with his heart In boill
eyes and voice. ''you were once my little
sweetheart; will YOU take back the place
with n difference"
Annis did no, liit her eyes. she pokc,l
the turf more vigorously than ever: there
were scarce three words spoken; the ten
der phrases and romantic manners II nov
elisiic lovers do not find place In real life
Annis never knew that she had said
word: vet when Jack came toiling up th,
cliff path, much instructed concerning
pnwns and John-Dorys Anglican
fishes that rcpublicanism ignops he wa
surprised mildly 10 have George spring 3,
his feet and ask at once his congratula
tons and his consent.
81 suppose ! cant help myself" sale
Jack, dryly. II congratulate YOU, Hale
but don't feel al all like II. As to M,
consent, am not any morc likely 10 cnio,
giving YOU that. but ! have no right {,
withhold Il; Annis Is her own Inisircs
Good Lord what am ] going 10 10 with
out you, childY' he exclaimed, throwing
one arm close around his sister M his los
In her suddenly struck him.
"Ah. Jack. don't forget Alice" Ami
whispered, hiding her hot face on h
shoulder.
SO they went back 10 their lodging. twi
radiant countcnanccs and one serious. an,
that evening ~ George and Annis sat un
der a clustering wOodbino outside the cot
tago porch breathing the air migrant will
sca aud flowers, and building visions 81 th'
future, George said, earnestly "lllcSsc,
Faster, the one day Of all years 10 mel !
Is new life indeed that comes TO Ne 10
! day, Annis."
Il was, indeed. Gar beyond bis knoNl
edge, iaicful day Tor him.
I With this brief spring holiday, however
. ended the loycm' intercourse, for Jacl
, mus, 20 on his way, and Annis with him
a Nj. A. A.