Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-05-18
CHAPTER XVI.


Then he took her to dine at one Of the
wooden cafes under tho trees There was
littlc sheet Of water In front Of 1t, and a gay
garden around. There was a balcony and
wooden stairway; there were long trellised
arbors, and little white tables, md great rose
bushes, like her own at home. They had an
arbor oil to themselves; a cool sweet smelling
bower Of green, with glimpse OF scarlet
from tho flowers Of some twisting beans.
They bad meal, the like of which she had
never seen; such huge melon In the center
Of 1t, and curious wines, and coffee or cream
In silver pots. or what looked like silver to
her-"just like the altar vases In the church,"
she said to herself.
"If only tho VarnlArt children were here!"
she cried; but he did not echo the wish.
It was Just sunset. There was q golden
glow on the little bit OF water. On the other
side Of the garden somo one was playing
guitar. Under lime tree some girls were
swinging, crying Higherl higher at each
toss.
In longer avenue OF trellised green, at
long table, thero was noisy party Of students
and girls Of the city; their laughter was mel
lowed by distance as 1t came over the breadth
Of the garden, and they sang, with fresh,
shrill Flemish voices, songs from an opera
bouffe Of La Monnaio
1t was all pretty, and gay, and pleasant
There was everywhere about an dir Of light
hearted enjoyment Bebeo sat with won-
dering look in her wido opened eyes, and all
the natural instincts Of her youth, that were
like curled up fruit buds In her, unclosed
softly to tho light Of Joy.
"ls lifo always like this In your Rubes'
land" she asked him; that vague, far away
country Of which she never asked him any
thing more definite, and which yet was SO
clear before her fancy.
"Yes," he made answer TO her. "Only--
instead OF those leaves flowers and pome-
granates; and in lieu Of that tinkiing guitar,
voice whose notes are esteemed like kings
jewels; and In place Of those little green
arbors, great white palaces, cool aud STILL
with lick woods and orange groves and sap
phire seas beyond them. Would you like 10
come there, Bebeei-and wear laccs such as
you weave, and hear singing and laughter all
night long, and never work any more In the
mold Of the garden. or spin any moro at
that tiresono wheel, or 60 any more out In
the wind, and tho rain, and the winter mud
to tho market"
Bebee listened, leaning her round elbows on
tho table, and her warm checks on her hands,
as "a child gravely listens TO a fairy story. But
tho Sumptuous picture, and the sensuous
phrase he had chosen, passed by her."
1t is OF no use to tempt the little chafilnch
Of the woods with ruby instead Of cherry.
The bird is made TO feed on the brown berries,
on the morning dews, on the scarlet hips Of
roses and tho blossoms Of the wind tossed
pear bouGhs; the gem, though II bo mon
arch's, will only strike hard and tasteless ON
its beak.
"a would like TO SEQ it ALL" said Bebee,
m,lsingly, trying TO follow out her thoughts
.. fnr ha rarlep nd k..s ,ipf,
-thut do not want to leave, because have
done 1t all my life; and ! do not think should
care to wear lace-it would tear very soon;
one would DO afraid to run; and do you SEQ
know how it Is made-all that lace / know
how blind the eyes get over 1t, and how the
hearts ache; know how the old women
starve, and the little children cry; know
that there Is not a sprig Of 1t that Is not
stitched with pain; tho great ladies do not
think, dare say, because they have never
worked at it or watched the others; but !
have. And SO, you see, think If wore il
should feel sad, and II a nail caught on it
should feel as II it were tearing the flesh o.
my friends Perhaps say it badly--but that
is what feel"
''You do not say il badly--you speak well,
for you speak from the heart" he answered
her, and felt tinge Of shame that he had
tempted Ltf with tho gold aud purple Of
baser world than any that sho knew.
And yet you want 10 sec new landsP he
pursued. ''What is it YOU want to see thereT'
"Ah, quite other things than these" cried
Bebee, still leaning her checks On her hands.
THAT dancing and singing is very pretty and
merry, but 1t Is just as good when old Claude
fiddles and the children skip This wine, you
tell me. is something very great-but fresh
milk Is much nicer, think. II is not these
kind OF things want-l want 10 know all
about the people who lived before us; IAwant
to know what the stars are and what the
Wind Is, want 10 know where the lark goes
when you lo,e him out OF sight against tho
sun. want to know how the old artists got
to see God, that they could paint him and all
his ANGELS as thew have dcne- 1 want ts know