The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-03

but 1t is worm all mine gatnered from the
lips Of men, from the teaching Of cities. We
poets and painters are no better than the res
| OF mankind, perhaps worse; we know the
truth, yet disguise it, We teach lessons, YET
never attempt to practice them. We praise
renunciation, yet banker after the hesh-pots
of Egypt in our rsecret hearts-we look up to
the sun but our feet remain fixed in the
mire."
"You should not be So" she said, looking
gravely up at the young handsome face be-
fore her. [
He bent down and lightly kissed her hand.
"Nor would /, dear Genna," he said, with an
Involuntary soltness in his voice that was
not feigned. "Nor would I, II such woman
rs yourself were beside me always"
The words frightened, gladdened, bowil-
dered her. To be OF any use, or OF any
worth to him That thought was too full
of ecstasy for aught but silence and solitude.
She broke away from his OBTAINING hand, and
fed to her room and threw herself down,
with her heart throbbing as if it would
burst, her limbs quivering, her face burning.
She was unframed, coarse, ignorant-that
she knew-and yet she was OF use, OF worth
to him who was to her as king among
men. She had no guide except her instincts
of purity, fidelity, passion; but they were
instincts both great and lofty, and would
never lead her astray, even amidst torture
of suffering. fire OF temptation.
With her brain throbbing, her hea rt racked
by a tempest Of emotion. she lay where she
had threw herself, with only the memory Of
his words, the Joy Of his praise, filling all her
senses, excluding all other thoughts.
When she at length started to her feet she
felt ashamed of her forgetfulness OF other
matters, OF her neglect Of the household du.
ties so long her sole care. She smoothed her
heavy shining tresses, and went to tn
kitchen, and secured the metal pans. and
peeled the vegetables for the soup.pot, and
set the evening meal ready for the return of
cid Maso and Nita, and all tho time her
heart felt SO light, SO happy. her lips were
singing gay, glad, bird-like snatches of song.
Had lie not kissed her, praised herr She
who unto herself, and even to others, had SO
long seemed a stupid, coarse, unlovely
peasant. The wonder and gladness of the
thought were always with her. tightening
her labor, beautifying her homely face, max
ing even toll light and work Il pleasure.
The sun had long set-it was growing dusk.
The Iaeal WAS ready, tho brick floor cleal.
swept, and through the square unglazed
window she looked anxiously from time to
time, wondering why Nita did not return,
Old Maso came in presently. hot. tired and
hungry. She serv&l him with soup. and
placed fresh-cut lettuce and slice oI
coarse brown bread beside him.
"Havo you not seen Nita as you came
through the Aelas2" she asked. at last.
"tEo,@ he said, GurriY. for his faulty,
thoughtless niece was no favorite OF his.
~ che gadding about again1 She will ge,
inta harm yet, it she hesds not. No maiden
should be so free with her speech and ac-
tions as she Is"
"You are hard upon her." pleaded Genna.
"She is young, and has the faults Of youth
that is ALL"
"It is we'll you think SO, Genns. II you
mac , her share your labofa, and kept her
ia9re at home, 'twoNld be better for you now
for her in the FUTURE"
But Genna paid no heed. She was accys-
toned to her uncle's grqmblings about hes
sister by this siAe and knew they would last
as long as he was there to grumble.
She lit the lamp and cleared away the plat
ters, and then went to the door aud stood
there looking out with happy, dreamful
eyes.
The bats few by in the hot sweet darkness,
Tapping their wings wings as they tsHehed the 81:
lent figure. Fhe gFilla hummed abeutin the
grasses, the AreAias danced in the corn;
above scared great golden moon, lighting
oil the dense, dark blue Of the sky, paling all
the quivering luminance Of the stars.
'The world is very fair" thought Gonna,
for her heart was happy with happiness it
had never known. She wished Nita would
come in. She would like to haye tod ber Of
some Of the gladness and peace she felt.
Nita, who had lovers innumerable, would
not grudge her this one. Then she flushed
hotly. Lovers Was she thinking OF such
folly-she, with her plain face and simple
ways. and her ttSSttatl ttSSttaetl lassk Gf VII ferainfne
Oharmsi AND yet"
And yet he seemed to care |" she told her.
self softly, and blushed and smiled at the
thought. Then she went within.
'If only Nita would come" she said.
But the night d!esspeaAAe4i ana Nita never
came.