Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-05-08
A GENUINE HERO.

A sky of opal and gold, deep
.rellised veranda, a novel, and ham
mock slung az ths most comfortable OF
angles. With these conditions, it was
scarcely strange that Halcyon Hartford
,wayed delightfully."- between dreamland
md the real world that June afternoon,
with tie feecy gold of her hair, all
yuiltless of pin or comb, and the "bell
,leeves," falling enchantingly away from
her round. white arms, while one trim,
,lippered foot hung from the edge OF the
hammock.
"Halcyonl IIalcyOn Where are you"
1t was one of those exasperating voices
which, once having been sweet, had
now a certain vibrant jar to its tones,
painfully akin to shrillness.
Halcyon frowned a little, and raised
herself on one elbow.
"Oh, Aunt Hal, don't scream so! l
was Just in such a halfway dream OF de-
light"
"well, you should have answered,
then"
Aunt Hal came out of the wide, shady
hall with an ELUSIVE swing of her dra-
peries, and seated herself in bamboo
chair, close to the head of the ham,
mock
SLe was comically like her niece-at
least, as like as woman of eight-and-
thirty could be like a maid Of eighteen.
There was the same yellow luxuriance
Of hair. but harsher, drier and more
suggestive of dye; the same pink aud
white complexion, arti6cally heightened
by liquid pearl and carmine saucer;
similar features, cruelty sharpened by the
inexorable hand of time, and teeth Just
one degree too white aud regular to be
real
The white dress she wore was pain
fully trying, ard she was compelled to
use gold eyeglasses as she held up a
letter to the view Of the younger
Halcyon.
"What has happenedl' drowsily de-
manded the latter, lifting pair of blue
eyes, fringed with dark lashes."
"The strangest thing"
Another offer of marriagef" hazarded
Haley on, settling on the unlikeliest thing
which could, in her opinion, possibly
happen.
"How did you guessl" with little
cxultant cackle. Exactly. The dear,
foolish lad-and he so much younger
than Il Why, he couldn't have been
oue-and-twenty when he went to Bonn
bay, and was at least thirty then -"
Thirty Aunt Hail." said
Halcyon, the merciless.
"Was it as much as thatl Well, he
seemed desperately in love then; though,
of course, never took any notice OF the
child. But suppose, In that country Of
blackamoors, one can't help thinking
about all the women one has known at
home; and he has written me two or
three letters"
"Has hel"
Halcyon sat straight up in the ham,
mock now. Her blue eyes shone in
tently. The heat had brought flush to
her cheek, which all Aunt Halls canine
saucers could not rival.
"But never told your giggled the
elder beauty. "Because l remembered
that there was a sort of boy and girl
affair between you and Charley Blesson,
when you were iu boarding school, and
l thought maybe you would be nettled.
And here's the proposal at last-with
his photograph inclosedl"
"Let me see itl'' said Halcyon.
What a brave, good face it was
slightly older and sterner lined than she
had looked upon when the Avancanian
sailed away three years ago, but yet so
strong and manly!
She laughed hystericslIy.
"Shall you accept him1" said she.
Aunt Hal nibbled coquettishly at the
edge of the envelope; the new false
teeth cleaned in a smile.
"I-think-I-shallw
"And you fourteen years older than
be isl"
"People don't think so much about
such things as they used to do" rea-
soned Miss Hartford, the elder. "Eros
is immortal, you know, dear.
Halcyoa sank back into the hammock
and rcopcned ber book.
"You must do as you please, of
course" said she. "After that quota
ton about Eros, haven't a suggestion
to offer"
"Jealous, poor darlingw thought
Aunt Hal, with thrill of exultation.
But she only said:
"Well, OF course one cant help these