Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
UNDER THE MAGNOLIAS
'EWhat a lovely creatureI"

"What a lovely creaturew
Ny friend Will Harley and I were walk
ing at a brisk pace down Fifth-avenue
one afternoon in January when the sub
ject of his involuntary exclamation pass
ed, and as she looked at me blushed and
bowed. felt the blood surge over my
face and my heart beat fast. Yes, my
friend was right. She was, indeed, love
ly. A woman young and beautiful re-
Ginning among her furs In silver mount
ed sleigh drawn by two spirited black
ponies that flashed through the clear,
crisp air TO the music of a hundred silver
bells.
"She knows you" cried my companion.
"Surely I have never seen her before.
She looked like some brilliant cacti-fow-
er, blooming amid banks Of snow. Tell
me, do you know herr"
ayes, Will, 1 know her we'll, and would
God never had known her. Come to my
room tonight and you shall know all.
Until then, adieu!" and we parted. Will
Hartley, with a light step and lighter
heart, went his way, and |, Alex Huntley,
with pain in my heart went my way.
You have heard me speak thousand
times of my dear old home down in South
Carolina" said, as, according to ap-
pointment, we met in my room that
evening.
at was then 1 first knew Vista Ashley
knew her from the day she was an in
FAINT growing in her nurses arms. Her
home was adjoining mine. 1t was q
princely place, and the family was the
pr0udest and oldest in the land. In
fancy I now see the great brown house,
almost enveloped in wilderness OF mag
no!ia and mock orange trees-great, tall,
giant trees, towering in the light, with
a million fragrant blossoms, like CEN
sors bearing all the spices of India in
their creamy cups. Amid all this beau
ty, this verdure, this bo1ndless, delicious,
heavenly, light, saw. Vista and loved her.
GAS the years stole on we were continu
ally associated together. [ helped her
with her studies and taught her how to
ride and drive. And how proud [ was to
watch her sit racer and plunge over
bitches and fences without fear. She
would sit as erect as an Indian, wish her
little head thrown back and her hair toss
ing about her. But one April day 1 left
her at the booming of the guns at old
Sumter, marched to the front and did my
part. After four years of bloodshed and
L
slaves emancipated, and my estates dissi-
pated. I was poor man and alone in
ny poverty, for my father had died in
my absence. and was truly desolate. I
again met Vista Ashley. The years had
made her infinitely more beautiful. I can
no more describe her than I can paint a
human soul. When I left he 1 loved her;
but standing before her once again, |
her. She told me that all her
wealth was gone; all save the old home
stead, and I would sacrifice my life to
save that; she said, looking up with reVer-
ence at the stone pie, which became
grim and gray in the fast gathering twi-
light. And there she stood, SO young in
years and yet so old IL the pride of her
fathers. 1t was then and there 1 should
have spoken and told her of my love.
should have said: Vista, I am going
away. I will work and return one day
with wealth to build up all you have Ios5.
Let me save the dear old home for you;
only wait for me and be true to me- But.
fool that was, dared not speak. I was
penniless and could offer nothing but love
and my promises. She looked SO proud,
so regal, there with ali the marvellous
warmth and color about her, framed in
cloud of gardenia blossoms, like stars of
snow around her. I only ciasped her
slim white hands in mine and said: wis
ia, good by. I have strength and cour-
age left. must begin life anew; must
forget the past; forget that mas once a
rich man. I could say no more-my
voice choked. Good by, Alex was all
she said, and as she looked up her eyes
filled with tears. I stood with a heart
-
myrtle hedge and leave me. That mo-
ment was the hinge OF fate on which all
my future balanced; the hinge turned
and the door of fate forever closed upon
me. One sentence could have changed it
all.
"From South Carolina I went west and
engaged in mining speculation. pros
pered and in two years returned to claim
Vista. After long search I failed to
find her, and was in despair, when, one
evening, near dark, my business carried
me to one of the most squalid quarters
of the city. I was walking rapidly when
1 noticed in front of me woman emerge
from side street and walk hurriedly be-
fore me. Only q woman like hundreds
We see in the haunts of the poor in large
cities. But there was something about
the uSur6 aEQ Walk IDHG startled me.
Her clothes were thin, even ragged, yet
there was regal grace and bearing that
even the tatters of penury could not con-
ceal. In an instant I was beside heI.
My God! Vistav was all could utter,
and grasping her arm L scanned her face,
uncertain if il was but the spirit of the
woman I adored, beside me.
"'Yes, at last! 1 have found YOU I
cried.
"'Alex Huntley'-she almost meened
the words-'how came you here?' and her
face became death Ike in its pallor.
"'Come with me-, VISTA 1 cried.
Come now, this is no place for you.
Let me be your brother-your friend
only leave this haunt Of poverty and come
with me-"
"sYou know not what you ask, Alex
she answered, drawing away. Pray
leave me and forget that you have ever
seen me. Only remember me as you saw
me last-so long sgo-down in our own
sweet Southland. Your world is no long
er my world. A barrier lies between
US. am dead to the past. Alex Huntley