The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-08-18

he said to himself, God does not forget
cruelty of the one or the loneliness of
the other. Youths Companion.
MARK WAS HAPPY.
His Last Laurel Lear Favored the
Beef Stew.
II am happy" said Mark Antony;
perfectly happy"
As he spoke | glanced around the
comfortable room in which we were
sitting.
Then as looked at my friend, stout,
calm and smiling, and remembered
what he had been when saw him last,
excitable, high strung. music mad, his
nervous system like treble string that
was ready to snap, became convinced
that he spoke the truth-that= he was
perfectly happy.
Nothing in his surroundings indicated
artistic taste unless, perhaps the piano;
though that was closed so as to be
utilized for holding vases of fresh flow
ers and above it, hanging to the wall by
faded blue ribbon, was what looked
like the skeleton of a wreath, for sim
gle leaf, the last remaining one,
showed that it had been made of q
branch of laurel.
The sight awoke my memories and
while Mark Antony poked the fire my
thoughts went back to the night Of his
triumph. In his "yirgilian Symphony"
he had set to music the very soul of the
poet, combining in a tempest of or
chestration the Bucolics and the Eneid.
That night, in the midst of thunders
of applause, an unknown woman, beau
tiful as goddess, had presented to the
pride and hope. this laurel branch,
pluclted for him, it was said, from vir-
girs- grave.
"How odd" he said, that you should
have stumbled against me by chance in
this out-of-the way corner OF France!
..You wonder how I came to exile
myself? Indeed, hardly know; but
one day ] suddenly decidedsso go out of
town for a little while-just month
or so-for was sick of Paris, with its
rush and fever.
Fate ordained that l should meet an
old col.ege-mate.-tHe was living as a
gentleman farmer, on his old family es-
tate and had niece who was pretty
girl-not very rich, it is true, but we
pleased each other in an unromantic
way and were married. ~ ~
sit was not by any means my inten-
ton to give up Paris entirely. On the
contrary, we spent two winters there;
the third year, however, our courage
g., x,,ae
and in my loose slippers and corduroy
jacket thought gloomily of always din
ing in evening Dress of making and re-
ceiving endless calls, of pawning in the
theater night after night
$50, little by little l was weaned
from city life, until at last seemed to
see Paris through a mist, and now it is
to me far distant place, to which do
not know the way. ] am thoroughly
provincial
'tAnd the music?" asked.
ooh, have not given il up entirely"
he said, with smile of embarrassment;
''that portfolio in the corner is nearly
full have begun several great works,
but nothing is finished, for, somehow,
between ourselves, ! find that the in
toxicating Paris air is necessary for in
spiration."
At that moment the door-knocker
sounded, heard the servant go through
the hall, and then lady of progresses
ing appearance entered the room, pre-
ceded by two little boys dressed in sailor
suits
my wife," said Mark Antony, pre-
| senting us to each other, and the lady,
after bidding the children to shake
hands with me, asked if ! would not
stay to dinner.
ave have nothing but stew for din
ner to-day" she said; perhaps you will
not like it. My husband told me how
to make it, with pork. wine and spices.
am rather successful with it, l think. +"
"Delicious!'' l said, and she hurried
into the kitchen, which adjoined the
parlor dining room. Soon she rejoined
us, holding spoon into which she was
blowing gravely, with the air OF a
priestess.
Taste it," she said to her husband,
who, having obeyed her, pronounced II
perfect
She yput the spoon to her own lips,
then said slowly: mo, there is some
thing wanting" After thoughtful
pause her face frightened and she
exclaimed: "Of course, ! have forgotten
the laurel leaf!'
She went over to the piano, and smil.
ing gayly, unconscious of sacrilege,
picked with her plump little hand the
last leaf from the Virgilian wreath.
A quarter of an hour after we sal
down to dinner and the stew, with its
slight SAVIOR of laurel, was indescriba.
bly, delicious Y. Recorder
Bebe Ribbon ms n Trimming.