Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-16


Backward and forward, from pantry
to sideboard, from sideboard to china
closet, fitted Pooahontas Mason setting
the table for breakfast. Deity she laid
out the pretty mats on the shining ma
hogany, arranged the old fashioned blue
cups and saucers, and placed the plates
and napkins. She sang at her work in a
low, clear voice, more sweet than power
full, and all that her hands found to do
was done rapidly and sllillfully, with
firm, accustomed touches and an absence
Of jar and chatter. In the center Of the
table stood a corpulent Wedgwood pitch
er filed with geraniums and roses, to
which the girls fingers wandered low
ingly from time to time in the effort to
coax each blossom into the position in
which it would make the bravest show.
On one corner near the waiter stood a
housewifely little basket Of keys, through
the handle of which was thrust fresh
handkerchief newly shaken out.
When all the arrangements about the
table had been completed Pocahontas
turned her attention to theToom, giving
it those manifold touches which, from q
lady's fingers, can make even a plain
apartment look gracious and homelike.
Times had changed with the Masons,
and many duties formerly delegated to
servants now fell naturally to the daugh-
ter Of the house. Perhaps the change
was an improvement. Berkeley Mason,
the young lady's brother, maintained
that 1t was.
Having finished her work, PocahontaS
crossed the room to one of the tall, old
fashioned windows and pushed open the
half shut blinds, letting u food of sun
shine and morning freshness into the
room. Under the window stood an otto
man covered with drab cloth, on which
the fingers of some dead and gone Mason
had embroidered dingy wreath of roses
and pansies. Pocahontas knelt on it,
resting her arms on the lofty window
sill, and gazed out over the lawn and en-
joyed the dewy buoyance of the air. The
September sunshine touched with golden
glory the bronze abundance Of her hair
with joyous, rollicking breeze, intoxi-
Gated with dew and the breath Of roses,
tangled and tumbled into a myriad
witcheries of curl and crinkle. The face,
| glori6ed by this bright aureole, was pure
and handsome, patrician in every line
and curve, from the nobi- forehead, with
| ITO OC1AS1LC BlON II D1OW5y W GLAC "O4 Sub
chin, which spoke eloquently of breadth
Of character and strength of will. The
eyes were gray, ana IN them lay the CHER
charm of the face, for their outlook was
as honest and fearless as that Of a child
true eyes they were, fit windows for a
brave, true soul.
The house, neutral tinted with years
and responsibility, stood we'll back from
| k6a IN 1rvho 1NY~inlr tia cV,oNOfh
green lawn swept in scarcely perceptible
uHdulation. The river here was broad,
almost resembling an arm of the sea it
was moving languidly to join. There
was no haste about it, and no fret of
ever active current; as all large bodies
should, it moved slowly, and the eye
rested gratefully on the tranquil flow.
Across the water, apparently against the
far horizon II deuS" line of trees, firing
ing the farther shore, rose tall and dark,
outlined with picturesque distinctness
against the soft. warm blue. The sur.
rounding country was fiat, but relieved
from monotOny by certain pastoral
peacefulntss aud look of careless plenty,
which with thrift might have become
abundance. In tho meadows the grass
grew rich aud riotous between the tai
stacks of cured hay, and the fields Of
corn and tobacco gave vigorous promise
of a noble harvest. The water also
teemed with life and shiftless, out-at
elbow energy Shabby looking fishing
? Bmacks, with dirty white wings, like
birds too indolent to plume themselves
passed constantly, and fat bottomed
canoes, manned by good humored Negro
oystermen, piled lazy, thievish trad
with passing steamers.
: Presently gate slammed somewher,
in the regions back of the house, ant
there was a sound of neighing ant
! trampling. Pocahontas leaned far out
shading her eyes with her hands, t,
watch the colts career wildly across thu
lawn, with names and tails and caper
ing legs tossed high in air in the exuber
ance of equine spirits. Following then
sedately came o beautiful black mare
stepping high and daintily, as became
lady of distinction. She was Kentuck,
born and bred, and had for sire non
other than Goldenrod himself. In an
swer to coaxing whistle of invitation
she condescended to approach tn
window and accept sugar and caresses
Pocahontas patted the glossy head an
neck of the beauty, chattering soft non
sense while the little heap of sugar sh
had placed on the window sill vanishe ed
Presently she laid an empty palm agains
the nose pushed In to her and dealt It
gentle blow.
''Thntfs AL Pllxniai soaltlvaiy al NJ