The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-04-26

Of relief. "You make an excellent model, !"
he said. "You are so still. Would you like
to see yourself?
eyes, if I may" she said, half glad, half
Dhy, still. and drawing near with hesitation
that seemed to him enchanting.
He turned the picture toward her, and her
eyes fell ON her own face as it looked back
from the white colorless depths of the card
board. She started and faint cry escaped
her. That she was so lovely as this she had
not imagined.
cam like that2"
"Indeed, yes, he answered. "Did you not
know it2'
She covered her face with her hands, and
turned away with a low glad laugh OF
triumph, wonder and delight.
Then a shadow fell across her face. She
turned and looked at him. "And an buried
hereW she said discontentedly.
SIT is a hard fate for one OF your sex and
beauty" he answered. "The world yonder
would throne you higher than your towns
folk do if it had the chance"
'If it had the chance" she murmured bro
kenly. "oh, if only it had !"
He looked at her curiously. ''You have
not much heart, fair as you are," he thought,
'and already you have taken the first step in
the downward path-discontent." Aloud he
said: 'That rests with yourself, surely"
She looked at him in amazement. "With
myself! How?"
ga woman so young and lovely as yourself
need never be at a loss to make the world
hear of her."
"But am so poor and ignorant. have
not friend. I just live on here from day to
day, from week to week; it is just as 1 said
to Genna, always the samoa life like the
oxen and the mules lead-plodding, weari-
some, and with IA sameness that sickens me-"
He laughed with evident amusement. "Im-
patient bird, to long to quit your nest of
safety and shelter Alb, it is always so with
the young"
''You roam-is the world very beautiful"
she asked.
every. But I am not woman"
"Why cannot we see and enjoy it too2"
"Why2 Oh, because to the young and fair
of your sex the world is like widespread
net that traps the HELPLESS birds, and, once
having captured. holds them forever
The girl looked away from him over to the
sun-crowned hills were the golden light still
softly fingered. Her mind was restless and
i'll at case, and full Of impatient desires.
What could this "world" be like? she won-
dered. The more she thought of it, the
greater grew her longing to behold-the
longing for wider spheres, for forbidden
delights that is inborn in women so often, and
as often terminates in their eternal misery
and suffering.
81 do not believe it," she said, at last, an
swering his words. A trap-well 1 would
escape, or break its meshes."
He laughed aloud. sit might battle your
strength, pretty one. But tell me, why are
you so set upon wandering hence?"
81 am tired of life here, that is all.'
"Tired?" Well, it Is not to be wondered at.
1t must be monotonous enough. But take
my advice-wait till your wings are full
grown before you test their strength, other
wise your flight will be but short"
"What do you mean?' she asked impa-
tiently. "When fly I will soar high, like
the hawk. l will not be content to rise and
theE fall"
He looked at her musingly. "You will not
want much assistance" he said. ''You will
soon forget the nest that has sheltered, the
hand that has fed you. Well, 1t is the way OF
youth and-womanhoodr
She flushed angrily. Il am not ungrate-
full" she said, ''but can one help being tired?.
Certainly one cannot" he assented read
lily. care you tired of your home here?"
"Genna is very good" the girl said reluc-
tantly,, "but then-"
''What then?" he asked, with a curious
interest in drawing out this character, and
the sefishness and impatience that might so
easily be its bane.
"Oh, nothing-only she is dull and patient.
and-ugy. 1t is easy for her."
Certainly the virtues seem easier of at
tainment whom woman is ill favored, ;" he
laughed, with ready amusement. "And is
Genna your sister OF whom Teresina spoke?"
"Yes."
''But she loves you very dearly?"
''Yes, but it is selfish to wish 10 keep me
buried here. 1 did but speak of Florence
yesterday, of how should like to see it, and
she was as shocked and frightened as if l
had said something wicked."
"What would you do in Florenee2" he
asked curiously.
"Soe it, OF course. See its beautiful streets,
and the theaters and churches, and all the
lovely things it holds, and how the great
ladies are dressed, and the palaces where
the mobiles live. Oh, it would be beautiful?"
at would but make you more disseminated
with your life afterward. Perhaps Genna is
right"
"You too are against me, then? One
would think it was wrong to wish to leave
ones home, even for a little while"
The lovely, poutiDg. wistful face looked up
at him so reproachfully that he forgot all
prudence.
"Pretty one, it is not of wrong or right i
think-it is only of your safety. Have men
no eyes, think you, for such beauty MS you
possess? 1t might bribe kingP'
She looked at him with wonder.
'There are dreams which end in peace and
happiness" he went on rapidly, "and there
are dreams which SEQ greatness and wonder,
and the dazzling scepter of power, aud end
in misery and sin and shame. Tho last
lreams are yours"
She looked frightened. "Why2" she asked
imidlY.
because you are of the humble of the
,arth; because your lot is cast in loneliness
md obscurity, and you pine for freedom,
'lches, and power. Can you deny it2"
She drew a long breath. ~ do long for