Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-03-31
at once on having II.

at once on having it.
There had been heavy sleet the night
before. aud every limb wa cAlsel with
lce-slippery as glass. Climbing was
doubly dangerous. AMI Grace begged
hun not to try, but that foolish Poca-
hontas looked disappointed and Jim
dashed right at the tree. 1t was ter
ribly foolhardy thing to do, and Grace
said 1t made her sick to watch him:
every minute she expected to see him
sip and come crashing to the ground.
The little girls all cried, and Grace
boxed Jlln's ears the instant he was safe
on the ground again with the mistletoe.
The children came home in great ex-
citement. Pocahontas with the mistle-
toe Rugged tight in her arms and tears
pouring down her cheeks. When |
scolded Jim for his recklessness he
opened those honest hazel eyes of his at
me in surprise and said But Princess
wanted it., as if that were quite sufi-
Gent reason for rislzing his life Poor
little Princess.
After moment she resumed: 81 wish
she could have loved him in the way we
wish. Marriage is a terrible risk for a
girl like her. She is too straightforward
too uncomprom.singly intolerant of every
day littleness, to have very peaceful
life. She has grown up so different from
other girls; SO full of ideals and ro-
nance; she belongs. in thoughts and mo-
tives, to the last century rather than to
this, if what | hear be true. She is
large hearted and has great capacity
for affection. but she is self willed, and
she could be hard upon occasion If she
,lould fall into weak or wicked hands
The would both endure and infiict untold
suffering. And there is within her, too.
endless power of generosity and self sac
rifice. Poor child with Jim could
have trusted her; but she couldn't love
him, so there's nothing to be done"
why couldn't she?" demanded Berke-
ley argumentatively. ''She1l never do
any better; Jim's handsome fellow, as
men go, brave. honorable and sweet
tempered. What more does she WANT
1t looks to me like sheer perversity."
Mrs. Mason smiled indulgently at her
sons masculine obtuseness. The subtle
ties Of women were so far beyond his COM
prehension that it was hardly worth
while to endeavor to make him under
stand. She made the effort. however
despite its uselessness.
at isn't perversity, Berkeley" she
said: al hardly realize, myself, why the
thing should have seemed so impossible.
| suppose, having always regarded Jim
as kindly old playmate, and big,
brotherly friend, the idea of associating
sentiment with him appeared absurd.
Had they ever been separated the affair
might have had different termination;
but there has never been a break in
their intercourse-.Iin has always been
here, always the same That won't do
with a girl like Princess. 1t is too COM
monplace. too devoid of interest and I'M
certainty. Yes, my dear, know that
in your eyes this is folly, but at the
same time it is nature. You don't I'M
derstand Princess. | fear, sets undue
value on intellect, holding less brilliant
endowments cheap beside it. And we
must admit, Berkeley. dearly as we love
Jim Byrd, and noble fellow as he is, be
has not the intellectual power which
commands admiration. With all my
respect for intellect. can see that Prin-
cess greatly overrates it. She has often
declared that unless man We're intel
lectually her superior she could never
love him.
"Intelectually-a fiddlestickl" scoffed
Berkeley contemptuously "She don't
know what she wants or what is good
for her. Women rarely do. They make
their matrimonial selections hike the
blindest of bats. the most egregions of
fools. and then, when the mischief is
done. go in for amending sackcloth or
divorce court Pocahontas will get hold
of a fellow some day who will wiring her
heart-with her publishing longing after
novelty and intellect and fine scorn OF
homespun truth and loyalty. Were
woman | should esteem the size of my
husbands heart and the sweetness of
his temper matter of more importance
than the bigness of his brain or the
freshness of the acquaintance.
Every true. my son, assented Mrs.
Mason gently, but you are powerless |
to alter women. Their hearts must go I
as nature wills, ard lockers on can only |
pray God to guide them rightly. But,
Berkeley, you are unjust to your sister. |
Pocahontas has sound discrimination |
and a very clear Judgment. Her inabil- |
itv to meet our wishes is no proof that |
her choice viii fall unworthily.'
Berkeley made no response IN words,
out he looked unconvinced, and soon
withdrew to attend to the plantation,
:ndulging in profound conclusions about
women. which were most of them erro-
neous.
In the afternoon Pocahontas, provid-
ing herself with book and gayly col
ored feather fan, established herself com
fortably in the old split bottomed rock.
ing chair in the deep shadow of the
porch. The day had been close and sui
try. and even the darkened rooms felt
IL