The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-03-11


sinking at every step deeper into the
yielding sand.
These men have no appreciation of
the beauty of the landscape, no ear for
the melody of blackbird or oriole, no
delight in the fiower-laden wind which
wafts its grateful incense over them.
One of them is about fifty years Of
age, dressed in the garb of a western
| farmer, with a face so hard and ex-
pressionless that it might have been
carved out of block of wood; the 9TH
| er, young man more sprucely attired,
with hair as black as jet, glossy and
curly, eyes large and eloquent, COM
plexion swarthy- altogether figure
characteristic of his race, which came
a century ago from the sunny south of
France to settle in this region. He
possesses some education, too, having
graduated at the new college whose
spires you can see peeping over the
/ pines.
For two hours these men had sat in
silence, but as they descended the hill.
after passing the elm tree, with jerk
of his whip towards the two young peo-
pic, the elder spoke:
"One Of Widder Evesharn's gels an
blind feler as stays at Gorham's,
'Phonse?"
No, Jim, she isn't one of the widows
daughters, that one; her name is Arling-
ton"
s.Arlington!'
AYE. Mrs. Evesham found her, a
little baby, on her doorstep one morn
ing when she was living in New York
and adopted her.
81 want ter know! Well, her is an
! uncommon pretty gel. Wish I'd taken
a good look at her, for Squire Robinson,
moderator of our school, tole me thet
he'd engaged lass O. thet name ter
teach mex term, an I'll bet doughnut
hers the identical one. Might board
to our house. too-should'n' wonder.'
"Ha" the young man CALCULATED with
some energy. do you really mean it?
Say, Jim Dolman, you couldn't accom-
modate me too, in case she did, could
you?"
| Mr. Dolman's wooden countenance
almost screwed itself into an expression
as he replied with a chuclxle:
"Oh, thet's the way the wind blows,
is it? But, 'Phonse lad, 1 should a
thought you'd looked higher nor a
fondling-a orphin, reared on the chari-
ty OF dressmaker-you with a good
business in Glastonbury an half
section o. farmin' land in Havana"
| "Well," was the satisfied response,
shat is just why / can afford to make a
fool of myself"
AN what's her first name?" the old
man continued 81 disremember what
the squire told me.
| 'sWandar-Wanda Arlington
Wanda! Sakes alive, what 'stroarary
name to give Christian female! But
folks do go now to the dime novel rather
than the Bible to name their children.
But, about Widder Evesham-aint she
| got two darters o. her own?''
THAT she has-one of them Ia mar,
ried to a cousin of Bill Potter's In De-
troit; then there's Kate, who teaches
in the Glastonbury schools, and is the
prcttiest girl in the county next to
Wanda Arlington"
Then there's son, too-leastways
caught sight of tall, straight young
l ASAASA OAAO es<ty nu AACA liouSC.
"Aye. he's in New York making his
| fortune"
"Then who be the blind young chap.
as is often with the Arlingtons2s
His name is George Arundel Al
phonse Danneirs said with a savage
scowl. ''He came from the east about
a year ago-for the good of his health,
they say-but, if he fools around that
| young woman much more, it would have
been better for his health to have
stopped away"
| Mr.. Dolman turned his fishy eyes on
the speaker and asked:
How so, 'Phonse?'
''Never you mind" was the sullen
response, as the wagon took them
round the bend of the road.
Let us now turn to the two young
people sitting under the trees.
1t is George Arundel whoi speaking:
'Now, Wanda, tell me what the fish,
ermen are doing? ! long to hear the
sweep of their oars, as they pay of the
lines of their net, and hear them sing
the merry French chanson to the time
of their rowing. And, have the Indian
squaws reached the island in their
dug-out, or has the stream carried them
900 far below?H
| Soft and musical was the voice that
replied:
1.-THE fishermen are nearly ready to
start. The squaws are just beaching
their canoe, and some little lads are
! running along the shore to meet them,
with dog barking at their heels. But.
oh, George, such a lovely sailboat has
just come round the bend of the river;
you can almost see her keel as she flies
like a bird over the water"
Show you love the river, Wandal'
"Yes, to me it is thing Of perpetual
beauty, changing the expression.of its
ioveliness with every cloud that floats
over it.'
"Tell me what You see now-iust
where F9u are sitting, without moving
yopr head, :" he asked eagerly, turning
his sightless eyes upon her-dark eyes,
fringed with long lashes. You could
not tell that he was blind. ii yeu did
not notice the changeless fxity Of his
gaze.