The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-22
TR0THED BY THE DAWN

TROTHED BY THE DAWN.
Courier do Flats Unn,
Mr.. D'Herble awoke at the very hour
he had intended. Tho gray light of
dawn fell on the flowers OF his bedroom
curtains.
lie opened tho window and looked
out on the dim landscape still asleep.
The trees and fields of a dull green
color melted away in the far and misty
horizon without exhibiting a sign of
life or motion.
In the east Climmered u faint indica-
ton OF pink light.
Mr.. DHerble remembered his love and
his morning appointment. In five
minutes he had dressed and descended
tho stairs into the garden, where his
big greyhound greeted him with a bark
OF delight accompanied by frantieleap
OF Joy and pleasure.
"Be quiet, Tiger!
Then, in vain trying to repress the
animal, he added:
"Comc along, then"
The greyhound started Off quick as
an arrow through a half open door, and
his master smiled as he watched him.
He saw him bounding along over the
vineyards by o path OF which he knew
every inch. 1t was a path they took
together every day, and it led to the
last cottage OF the little hamlet, to the
house Of Mr.. and Mrs. Simons, wealthy
New Workers, and their daughter, Miss
Ethel.
II wonder if she is awake yet"
thought Mr.. D'Herble. "Has she not
made a bet with me2 Can it really be
true that che is going to leave her room
and trust herself alone to me, and that
we are going together to watch the sun
rise from the top OF the tower OF Alas
pret?"
For the past three months he had
been flirting with Miss Ethel.
1t began at Paris and had been con-
tinued here in the country; where he
had been clever enough to induce the
simonses to come and spend the sum
mer.
He hoped that he would have fewer
rivals here.
For he already felt the pangs of jeal-
ously, was madly in love with the
young American, and with all his heart
and soul wished to make her his wife.
He had no fear that he would be a
pleasing son-in-law TO the old people.
He was rich, OF good family and pos
sessed many fine qualities.
The question was, Will she consent?
There was much coquetry in her play
full ways; SO much reserve, too, in her
sudden mood OF cold silence that he
hardly knew what to think.
Only yesterday, pointing to the tower
OF Alaspret which forms a lofty cliff COM
mands a view over the whole country
of Caux for ten miles around, she said
of him:
"Is it true, as the legend says, that
the girls OF the village follow the us
tom OF climbing alone with the men to
whom they are engaged to see the sun
rise from that towerY'
And he had answered:
st is indeed a superstition that be-
longs to this part. A betrothed couple
never fail to observe it. They believe
that If the sun rises behind clouds and
is invisible the marriage will be an un
happy one; but if it rises bright aud
unclouded it is u sign that their future
is to be bright and happy"
And with laughter in her voice she
had said:
ooh but then the sun must have
oyoo;IaJ nnony a Ynorrioua hv mt ahnw.
ing himself!"
Then Miss Ethel had said: at must
be a lovely sight to sec the sun rise over
tho country. should like to go up the
tower some day"
He looked into the depths Of ner love
ly eyes.
at will bo splendid tomorrow, Miss
Ethel"
"Do you think so, really? Ii so, I
"And-cr-might 1 be allowed to &C.
company your" he stammered.
She looked him straight in the face
with u proud glance that was indescrib-
%You may do so il you wish"
"Ii by any chance she is awake and
uD, perhaps concealed behind the blinds
OF her bedroom window, how she will
laugh to see me waiting hero patient
and disappointed. l shall look ridlcul-
Gus! All! ii only she were not quite SO
lovely"
Almost at the same minute Miss
Ethel made her appearance. She was
irreproachably dressed. Her golden
hair fell in waving lengths from under
her little straw hat. She wore q pink
dress; her tiny feot were cased in yellow
leather saoes, her hands in pretty
brown gloves.
"Gcod morning" she said.
This was uttered in q tone so dry and
friRid that the gushing thanks Mr..
hal D'Herblo prepared stuck in his
throat and refused to come out.
In silence they both entered the little
path that led through tho woods to the
tower.
The s~tranSeness Of the hour aud the
place and the unusual earliness OF their
rising hour, combined with their i'm
pressions TO produce in the young
couple a certain feeling of melancholy
o without its charm.
They were also aware of a feeling OF
awkwardnoss between them, which
their modcsty rather made them shrink
from. Each was astoniahed at his and
her own audacity.
They soon left the pine trees behind
them and entered groves, first Of birch
and then OF beech trees. Blue heather
flower. grew upon a carpet Of moss and