The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-02-23

to listening world, for surely no other ex-
precision of which language is capable could
so express the renewal of the dropping en-.
ergies. the restoration of the faccid nerves
as those two happily chosen words, knit
up" Stepping briskly over the dew-laden
fiower-pied grass toward where, in the deep
heart of the wood, the river called to me
with grooming voice, sylvan Lorelei-
thus ran my thoughts. The day was still
very young day, and the level sun rays
seemed just to tip the grass and flowers,
and pierce through the boIcs of the thick
serried trees, and touch the ripples Of the
river to 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 donel The sense of IMMIGRATION IN
every vain, as swinging my towel in my
hand. and with hat set well back on my
head in fashion that would have ted New
Bond street to look upon me as an escaped
lunatic. | betook myself once more toward
Orchard Farm.
was fated to see two iiols--both equal
Is beautiful in their way-ou that return
Journey of mine First, just a; the turn
of the lane. against background formed
by bank all all ablaze with golden butter
cups, two starlines engaged in furious con
fict stood still to watch the battle
What shrill cries Of rage, what quick dart
ing Of beaks. what mad whirl Of wings
Aud all the time the glorious prisms Of the
two swelling threats cleaning and flashing
and glaucing in the sunlight with every
tint aud glowing color-now richest purple,
now shining gold, now a wondrcus, metallic
green, Truly, a eoufie, of rainbows,
\ few PAGES further brought me in view
Of another idyl, aud this time picture
never to be eFaced from my memory.
Many a year has gone by since my sum
mar trip to Orchard Farm, bat every line.
every shade Of that picture Is a clear in
INV mind 4, this moment as when hr,' my
eyes lighted upon it.
\ man young, good to look upon, slen-
der in form. aud with strange, eager lock
upon his face, sat upon los bench. near
which grew. tall aud straight, pefcct fer
CT Of lavender bushes. softly purplcd With
a thousand spar Ike blossoms. In this
eager face. tarued upward toward me, YET
utterly unobssrvans Of me. n felt iustine-
lively. what I noticed mpss were the EYES,
dark. bright. bcautiful-bat bliad Il was
easy sosee By tlsir lack Of al expFsssi0n--in-
dsssi. the attitude of the mans whole hg.
are told ,he same piteoas tale. The
though, struck me Ike hlow Younger
By sOuc years than myself, sitting there in
the halnsy sunshine, With the faiFcs Of pa
lures pictures stretched sat befoFc him,
and vet seeing nothing Sweating tho
wild lowers sweet air, feeling the warmth
Of the rsys that touched the world aud
babe i, i've ADD blossom sud Pulsaiei but
living in a void Of perpetual darkness.
Standing there, harcheadei 10 the Summer
hight, M bat swinging in my hand, my
whole being strengthened and refreshed BY
the plunge into the saa bright river, my
very soul gladdenei By the beauty Of earth
aud SKY around me, this mans isolation
seemed thing to shudder as--as though
in the midst Of exquisite verdue and aov-
er,iecked meadows one should stumble
upon eoFse
Yet in the me,ae nt in which these
thoughts, lightning swift, darsci through
ny mind | realized also that the iarkenel
life had its sun aud ighl--the san Of a
perfee, love; the light Of az exquisite syul
pathy. For standing beside the blind man
leaning little toward bin, as It swayed
uaeonsciously by an impulse Of tenderness,
one hand toying with the spears Of laven-
der that sFrang back elastic from her touch,
the other resting on the shoulder Of hi, old
brown yelvesecn shooting eoat-wAs a
woman, tall, slcader, We; some way past the
freshness Of youth, sad-eyed, ssd.facei, iu-
deed, in strange enough contrast 10 the
cheerful sweetness OF her voice Al the
lines Of her figure were modelled with a per
feet grace that must, | thought, make
every movement ike music. Her hair,
ripping erisPly above her thoughtful brow
was touched with silver in broad lights
Ike the light that edged the ripples Of the
river where the tree shadows were broken
overhead. And there were lines 10 her
face that told Of pain aud watChiulness III
the past-at least / faneied Soaking
everything in a, glance as it were, and
dszsd with that strange, unaceountabl'
feeling of having gone through exactly the
same thing before, which most Of us have
experienced at one time or other, and o.
which no acceptable explanation has ever
been offered By mortal man.
Just as | stepped up the slow incline o
of the grass-grown road, which led to the
garden gate, the man turned slightly to
ward his companion, laying his hanc
upon her arm.
Margaret, he said, show it to me
can feel that it is beautiful F"
| was close at the gate, but charming
gesture stopped me-a slight, imperioui
movement of the fair, shapely hand, looI
from the gentle eyes that seemed to TAX
me into her confidence at once.
"He must be humored. Stay moment,
that was what the look said.
I stood still, bareheaded. l was careful
not to let the latch click
She had two listeners instead of one
that was all.
There is nothing particularly novel ii
the expression ''word painting" Ever,
slave of the pen hears it often enough