The state herald., 1892-12-30

1
And there are ruby streaks TINT show
Where thorns have pierced tho leather;
and now the lark returns to bed
| For twilight has descended,
Cntrodden Is the track ahead,
And oil the prints are ended.
A LITTLE MASQUERADE.
'Oh, nothing mattcrs" she said,
with soft ironical smile as she
tossed bit OF sugar to the cockatoo.
quite So" was his reply. and Nd
carefully gathered In d l0ose iekf 81
his cigar Then. after a pause and
yet Why SOL It's very pretty world
one way and another"
Yes it's pretty world at times "
At that moment they were both
looking out over part OF tho world
known as the Nindobar Plains and 1t
was handsome to the eye. As fay ~
could be seen was carpet Of flowers
under n soft sunset The homestead
by which they sat was in q Wilderness
Of blossoms 10 tho left was d High
rose. coiored hill. solemn and mysteri.
ans 10 tho right-far off-a forest Of
gum trees pink and purple against
tho horizon. At their feet beyond
tho verahda was garden joyousiy
brilliant and bright-plumaged birds
fnfIfcd baek mud ffer. ehlh--------
Tho two looked out for a long time
then. as II by mutual impulse, aud.
denly turned their Dyes on each other.
They smiled. and somehow that SIN lie
was not delightful to see The girl
said presently. 1T is all on tho sur
face"
You mean that tho beautiful tirds
have dreadful voices; that tho flowers
IRE scentless; that the leaves Of the
trees are all on odge and give no
shade; that where that beautiful car.
pet OF blossoms is there was blazing
quartz plain six months ago and
there's likely TO DO the same again
that, in brief its pretty. but hollow"
He made u slight. fantastic gesture
as though mocking himself for SO long
a speech. and added: Really. l
didn't prepare this littlo grafton"
She nodded, and then said. oh.
it's not so hollow-you would not call
1t that exactly-bu. unsatisfactory"
You have lost your Illusions Miss
Ashforih.
And before that occurred you had
lost yours Mr.. Tom Sherman.
'Do betray it then?' Helaughed
not at all bitterly. yet not with singd.
lar chcerfulnoss
And do you think that you are
Possessed OF such acuteness then, and
l." she paused. raised her eyebrows
liitlo coldly. and lot tho cockntoo
bite her finger.
81 did not mean to be egotistical.
believe me. Tho fact Is live my
life alone and | never hear any re.
marks upon myself. was Interested
for the moment in knowing something
OF how appeared to others You
and have been tolerably candid with
each other since We met for tho first
time three days ago; l know you
would not hesitate to say what was in
your mind. and ask out OF honest
curiosity. One fancios one hides
obN SSAb huu "NOu bccs
You arc forgiven. Of course. DO
you lind 1t pleasant then. 70 be can.
did and FREQ with some onoP''
0"Why with me?" She looked him
'ra1zk ly n. the eyse
Woll. TO 90 more eanaaiAa.Y
aud | know tho world very we'll l
fancy. You were educated 10 Eu.
rope travelled. enioyed-and suf.
fered." (The girl did not even
blink. but went on looking at him
steadily. I'VE have both had our
hour with the world; have learned
many sides Of tho game We haven't
come out OF II without scars Of ono
kind or another Knowledge Of the
kind Is expensive"
y You wanted 10 say all that to mo
the first evening We met didn't you?"
There was n smile OF gentle amuse-
mont on her face.
Il did. From the moment I saw
you knew that We could say many
things to each other without preiim.
inarics' Aud TO be able TO do that Is
a great deal
And it Is a relief To say things
isn't Up"
lit is better than writing them.
though that is pleasant after Its
kind"
Il have never tried writing as
wo talk. There's n good doal OF van.
i,y Mt tho bottom OF /, though. I DO.
iieve."
.Of course. But vanity Ia n kind
OF virua too" Ho leaned over
towards her dropping his arms on
his knees and holding her look. Il
am very glad that mot you In.
tended only staying here over night
but ="
But j Interested you In way
you SEQ am vain enough 10 think
thnt Well you also Interested mo
and urged my aunt TO press you 10
stay. You did. II has been worry
pleasant and when you go II will DO
very humdrum again; our conversa.
ton; mastering. rounding.up bulioeks
and rabbits Which IL interesting in
n why. bu, not for long nt time
lilo did not stir but went on looking
Mt her ''ieI ! believe II has been
pleasant for you. else II had not boon
50 pleasant for mo. Honestly. ! don't
believe ! shall ever got you out OF my
mind
That Is either slightly rudo or
badly cKpressed. 4" she said do
you wish then. TO got mo out OF your
mindP'
no. no You arc very kocn. ]
wish 10 remember you always but
what ! felt at tho moment was thia
There arc memories which nro always
passive mud delightful. We hnyo no