Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26

tcft MIN tnnt IL was D1huih sono -
taken of her hat, her hands were
dropped idly in her lap on volume OF
Wordsworth which she had been read
ing, aud she was gazing out across
the landscape with far-a~ay,
dreamy look in her eyes drinking, IN
grandeur aud beauty. 1t reminded her
Of a scene in the Jura described oy
Rusk- From the bank OF the creek on
either hand rose the high bluffs covered
from foot TO summit with cedars ana
pines here and there bold crag or
dead tree-top lifted its head from ont the
mass OF living green. At the mouth OF
the gorge half mile away q field OF
corn waved its green banners IN the
bright sunshine, and far away Purga-
tory Knob reared its mist-crowned head.
The linnets and sparrows were chlrplng
overhead, with merry twitter the swal-
lows flew back and forth under the arch,
the little rivers m1rmuring was borne
family upward, crow cawed hoarsely
from dead snag higher up the gorge,
and further away hawk ever and anon
uttered his shrill whistle as he circled
slowly through the air spying out the
hand.
Mosely stood for a moment admlrlne
Diana's delicate profile 80 clearly DEFINED
against tho dark background of ever
greens. .
"In maiden meditation, fancy free,
he said as he came towards her.
She started at the sound of his voice
and blushed rosily.
els the quotation applicable, You
think ?" lie said. throwing himself on
the ground at her feet.
Perfectly, think, she said. smiling,
but not losing her blush.
81 think not, he said in a low tone
looking up into her face
"Why ?" she said, avoiding his gaze,
"I am sure L was in meditation, and
am"
"Not fancy free" said Mosely, finish
ing the sentence for her.
"Why should you say SOP" She had
lost her embarrassment now and felt ready
for war of words.
al have the best OF reasons" no said.
"Pray, sir, do not keep me in sus-
pense."
81 have il from the most reliable
source," he said.
"And who was your informant as to
the state of afrairs?"
"No one ever mentioned your name
to me-"
ooh yea / see," she said with mock
scorn, "you men jump to conclusions
and follow them blindly till the end OF
time, or till some woman disillusions
you, and you call it instinct
at was not instinct" he said gravely.
still keeping his eyes fixed on her face.
"Then what is it she said impetu-
ously, but blushing almost as soon as she
spoke, for she realized her false step.
"Shall tell you?"
81 think / know where such thought
came FROM" she said, making despe-
rate effort to regain her lost ground. cit
must have originated in a disordered
brain"
"Perhaps you are right" he said,
"but think not. May tell you what
told me that your heart was not wholly
your own? " he said tenderly.
She did not reply, but half turned
away her head to gaze out across the
landscape bathed in the July sunshine.
Moseiy was watching her intently,
and something he saw in her face made
him go on.
"Diana," he said softly, using her
Christian name for the first time and
taking her hand in his, "there is time
in the life of every man when he feels
that the next few moments will decide
the character Of his whole future. This
moment is such q crisis in my life. L
love YOU, Diana. Ever since / saw you
for the first time asleep in the woods
over wonder / have loved you with q
strength and an ardor that mans life
knows but once-a love that Will grow
stronger and purer as the years go by
and will end only with death. l have
dared to hope that you were not wholly
indifferent 20 me-l have even dared to
dream Of the transcendant bliss of life
sueht with you. DO you love me, Oh
ana? Answer as your pure heart d.
reefs. fit be Yes l will be the hap
piest of men; if it be mo | will try to
TO meet my fate with manly courage,
though my whole after life will be dark
ened. Tell me, darling, do you love
me? Can you trust your life's happi,
ness in my hands ?-trust me to shield
you from the world and lean on my
strength when sorrows and trials come
Answer me, Diana.
She did not speak. A soft coloring
had como into her face, and her eyes
were bent on the ground.
at last she raised her eyes to his, but
her gaze travelled by him over bis
shoulder. -,
"There is Mr.. Florin," she said, with
drawing her hand.