Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-22

1
to play with as relaxation.
Lucy was talking, meantime, with he
companions, and only once seemed to over
hear her step-father, and then she gazed a
him in wonder.
Michaelis glanced at her-when was he
not doing so and felt as if he were in {
whirlpool of contradictions. He pictured
her going off" as princess with all the
realism of fact, and vet he felt she was tc
be his wife, doomed to only twenty thousand
year, and no title.
She looked back at him with large eyes
She had met no young men of marked
worth, the visitors at the ranch usually be-
ing young women. Michaelis was a fine
example of the other sex. His face and
| figure were handsome, with the grand as
pect Of stalwart youth and splendid vital
ity; and he was free from an overweight OF
individuality, such, for instance, as the
young German labored under with his
musical frenzies. Her cousin was the sort
of man against whom nothing can be said,
and who makes one feel that nature has a
perpetual fashion of manly excellence, al
though she sometimes tries experiments.
Nobody prevented Michaelis and Lucy
| from going through the stately apartments
of Ranch House, the fitting crown of
Ranch Superb as it was called The
charming girl showed her visitor the curl
osities Of the library, the paintings and
| porcelains of the parlors, the attractions of
the billiard-room, and gave him some en-
chanting strains from the piano in the
white and gold mushroom. All this was
without any alloy of Mr.. Romer or the
| governesses. Besides, she had a long talk
with him as she sat unheeding upon the
end of sofa in dusky corner Of the par
lor, while Michaelis occupied hassock in
front of her, and looked her steadily in
the face for blissfui half hour She was
so pleased at comparative strangers car
ing to hear anything she would consent to
tell about her occupations and the life on
the ranch that she revealed everything
and 1t made story of no little attractive
ness in itself She had Just told her
cousin of some of her friendships, which
were with certain noted and gifted women
who lad been entertained at the ranch
through the determined efforts of Mr..
Romer
''If / can only manage" said she, sigh
ing, ''to become a little like them, and give
others as much happiness as they have
given me- Do you think-you have seen
so much of people-do you think | can be
quite cultivated and gentle and good to
know, if | cannot write poetry"
An expression filled Michaelis' face on
the instant which suddenly informed Lucy
that he thought her delicious. She be-
came confused in the prettiest way, and
was absolutely enigmatical until she said
goodnight, and ran off.
When Lucy was by herself she plunged
into bright crowd of meditations upon
life. Life had always been for her full of
creature comforts and nice amusements.
But she now saw that a young mans gaze
was able to make life bewilderiugly sweet,
and as magical as magic itself Her heart
sang her mind laughed, her eyes spoke, as
she stood before her mirror-that immedi-
ate refuge of girlish happiness. For the
girl OF seventeen is changing so quickly |
that she is half stranger to herself, and |
yet the only friend she wholly trusts
and SO she meets her own eyes with elo- |
quent appeals and delightful assurances.
The next morning Lucy awoke in |
amazement. There was something to look |
forward to which was even better than |
birthday presents, new books, long horse
back ride through fine weather, or the ar
rival of titled guests from England, who |
had, indeed, been known to confer the |
benefit of their august presences upon !
Ranch House. She did not know why |
she thought it so especially desirable to |
have young companion of her cousin |
Michaelis' graces suddenly dropped into |
her life, but she wisely concluded that |
Hamlet's phrase, There are more things"
etc, would apply in this particular case,
to which her philosophy was not equal, |
and she did not attempt to dream"
about it. OF course Dan was one of the |
family, and she was ready to treat him
atfectionately, and she had always thought |
it would have been more pleasant 10 have |
a brother who could praise one, or take |
care of one In case of burglars and fire.
Lucy felt as if no one had really praised |
her before she had received that wonder
full glance from Michaelis. which burned |
up ike flame in his steady gaze. What
makes one prouder than praise from a
person we are quietly admiring? And
what is 50 agreeable as pride which is
thrust upon us in all our modesty?
Lucy looked radiant as she came down
stairs in her pale-tinted dress, stepping as
if she could have flown like girl Mer-
curry.
Michaelis was standing about in the
great entrance hall, although it was very
early; and he even seemed impatiently
expectant, looking up at the stars before
the girl appeared, and walking back and
forth with quick little motions of eager
ness When Lucy finally emerged from
vacancy and approached, he held out both
hands to her.
She laid hers in his in the most matter
of.fact way. cousin Dan, it seems to me
have known you this long time she an
nounced, as if he had hitherto been
familiar bit of furniture about the house,
and was only Just turned into his true
shape as a young man. 1t would he a sad
thing if this portion of her home should
suddenly walk oil forever on its new-found
legs.
1--WE have been so long connected in the
thoughts Of others that am sure We never
could have been strangers he began, in
an explanatory way, and hastily, as if there
were 10 time to spare.
"Where, how do you mean ~
81 wish to tell you that. Can't We go
out on the piazza ~
ooh. yes II is the first thing to DO here
in the morning" Lucy replied, all at once
leaving him behind as she ran to the open
hall door, BY the time they were seated,
and looking of at the expanse Of fields and
sunlight before them, she seemed to have
forgotten the particular remark which Mi
chaelis had made, and which had struck
her as odd. Tell me what you think I
shall like best about Europe she asked,
leaning back in the large cane chair she
had alighted in, with her hands clasped
! over her head-"the Alps?'
They will have to wait a moment re-
piled liichaelis, in downright way; and
he shot a look over his shoulder as though
he half expected an Indian raid. you
know, want to talk with you about our
being destined" he hesitated, glanced
up hurried,y into her f5ce, and then away