Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-28
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
a Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.

J S@ ~A~ ~@A S%A~ ~A@SS~S
Mississippi Valley.
had done and tho crowd had melted
away, they fell to discussing pile of
art engravings that lay on a table.
This presumably being in Harry's line
he talked a good deal, but in spite of
his nimbleness here the tongue and
wits of Yeslit outran him. After a
time, the subject running dry. Yeslit,
catching her breath, proposed. with a
squeak of delight, that they should go
out upon the veranda. The others as
senting. they went out upon that
monument of Joel's conception of
complete thing" since it girdled the
entire editice with an astounding prodi-
gality of ''curlycues." Yeslit secured
Harry when they came out, a thing
evidently not exactly to his liking. and
Maun taking John Earnings arm held
it closely as they wandered about, the
latter two saying little, as Harry and
Yeslit kept the air full.
John Earling felt his companion
very warm and pleasant and sensuous
as she chung to his side, lifting her
dusky eyes to his in the half-light and
murmuring something now and then
in her thick, mellow voice. The even
ing was very balmY and some of the
windows were open from top to bot
tom, letting out great floods of light
and merry noise. After a moment
Yeslit drew Harry away down one of
the lantern-lit walks, and John Earl
ing and Maun sat down upon a seat in
the shadow, and the girl crept close to
him and took one of his hands in both
of hers and held it. He could have
flung her off, for such an inclination
crossed him, and then her physical
touch was so sweet and strong, and
her innocence so appealing, he longed
to clasp her to him. Warm words
came to his lips as her clinging hold
upon his hand frightened, but he held
them back. Her face was close to his,
its passionate fiower-like mouth and
dark eyes wide and liquid with feeling;
her warmth filled him with pleasure,
and after moment their talking died
away and she looked steadily into his
eyes with melting, appealing gaze.
"Do not! do not! Maunr' he said,
Then she came close to him and he
saw in the shadow that her face was
white and her breath coming quick as
she put out her hands toward him.
He could not put her away, but
trembled and said: "Maun! Maunr'
in low, husky voice, and caught her
quickly to him, and strained her hard,
kissing her again and again. At that
soft shower of notes from the piano
in the long parlors began floating out
and wonderfully sweet voice broke
into a song. At the first ringing
silvery flight the young man dropped
the girls hands. All! ah! it was the
voice, the voice he had reproduced so
many times in fancy! How full, how
clear! How lark-lil<e it
went upward, silencing all the rustic
and murmur and laughter of the
house! John EARRING started toward
it, forgetful of Maun. Then he
stopped. LET us hear it, let us hear
it"' he said, and together they went
quickly to the open window, the young
man with colorless face and the girl
with flaming cheeks.
Mrs. Bower was ut the piano play
ing, and a slender girl was standing
by her dressed in soft white with pink
roses in her corsage. John Earling
with one look saw the delicate outline,
the bird-like poiSe of the head-it being
held slightly back as with spirit, and
crowned with gold-brown braids, the
small red mouth, the luminous eyes
and the white throat pulsing with its
crystal freight of song, and knew it
was Celeste. Celeste, who had given
him the tea-roses long ago; Celeste, the
silken-headed fairy sprung into woman
hood. He listened, trembling and with
parted lips; fresh from the passionate
kisses of Maun rs he was, unused to
such divine singing. young, not much
acquainted with the world save in books,
and with heart as sensitive as harp.
When the bird-like song had ended,
the white. slender figure limping lit
tie went quietly to u seat amid a
shower of clapping hands, and Maun
drew John Earring away, clasping his
arm hard against her side. but he was
silent.
In q moment they met Harry and
Yeslit coming toward the house, with
the latter young woman inquiring hys-
''Who had sung so mashing-
ly! Then they all went in, and all |
the swarming, rustling, noisy throng
were seated after awhile at short tables, |
and long tables, square tables and round |
tables, stands and whatnots, and indeed,
wherever there was an available spot |
upstairs and down, and even up in
the tower. This was the only way in
which so many could be refreshed, be- |
sides. it was exactly Joel's idea of an
informal thing.
1t was a great gastronomic crush;
Joel was everywhere helping and di-'
recting the flow of edibles toward the |
of mouths; very purple aid |
beaming he was, and ere long under |
the high pressure of affairs he Invested |
himself of his coat. and with white |
towel over his capacious front looked |
the flower of florid bar-keepers. Mrs.
was ere long pressed into the |
service, and presently Harry and Ether
fell into the ranks of the six waiting |
girls that Joel had procured. and joined |
in the struggle to get the food forward |
to the hungry Openstoners. The house
fairly quaked with talk and laughter,