The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-16


vi beg pardn sir! But mind the bull
He's bad"
The voice had silver in it. The haze
eyes brightly dancing drowned mis-
chief in their depths; and the roses il
the checks deepened under their tan a
my eyes rivetted on the sudden appari
tion.
Happy bull! I thought, to pastur
near so enticing a Europa! For tn
tabled daughter of Agenor herself hat
no more graceful curves of buddin,
womanhood than those limited, but no
hidden, by the scant and simple ging
ham gown. A very Marguerite wa
this wild flower of the pasture; ant
my fresh classics conjured up the god
like bull, breathing saffron from hi
mouth, under her caress. Not mawlish
neither, but with all easy purity O
courtesy, she added
You're a stranger, and 1 wouldn
like to see you hurtr'
And the smile that followed shove,
teeth many belle in brocade had Ell
We'd.
A man need not be hyper-susceptiblt
to admire a pretty woman out of hand
Thanking the girl with my best bow,
walked beside her, and began:
Thanks, falrest Europa"
MY names Dolly Vance," she cor
rected simply; and the teeth CLEANED
whittier even than before, between lips
curled like rose leaves after rain. Then,
as l rather awkwardly explained the
somewhat risque myth, Miss Dolly
broke in:
"Glad warned you bout tn bull. l
live here. Good morn'n'."
The little cottage was ideal in vine
clad prettiness; and 1 fingered at the
gate, under interlocking trees, ito
speak again good-by," and to learn that
widow Vance and one fair child abided
there; and that "the Harebranes was
awful good to 'em, always"
Somehow it was very listlessly that 1
lounged home; it was with sharp
twinge of accusing carelessness that I
lifted Betty from the saddle when she
cantered up. There was deeper glow
on her cheek; q softer, tenderer CLEAN
in her dark eyes; more tremor in the
NciSS thbe low.
You are so good to me, always!"
Then-hlushing deeper still, and
tripping on her long habit-she flashed
by me into the house, with downcast
eyes.
That girl did love me! Those tell-tale
emotions We're not to be mistaken! Yet
brute that was! somehow newer,
ruddier face rose between us; a rounder,
richer voice drowned hers, echoing in
my ears:
Mind the bull! He's bad"
Days passed: and somehow l could
not come to the point with Betty Hare
brane. l was attentive, of course; kind,
and sometimes tender, under the moon
light, while the colonel smoked with
Hal on the broad piazza. The consider
ate old soldier gave me every chance.
l knew he felt himself to be a sort of
intruder; but the words / forced N.Y.
self to speak were perfunctory, and
Betty's ever murmured: "Oh! you
met ever-ready obedience, for
Il change. Il did not understand nv
stand myself; for l really did like the
girl, and l knew, as we'll as man ever
can, that she more than liked me. She
was beautiful, accomplished, and had
huge expectations from a grandaunt-
tough, but very warm" and equally
ancient--in a distant southern state.
But, strive as might, could not force.
my tongue to the words she would
Eagerly hearken to- And, even while
with her, the rustic Europa glided
between - goddess-lille, grand-propor-
toned. garlanding her milk-white bull
with the flowers of future hope
Hal kept strangely busy about the
farm; but his gun and dogs were not
left idle. Daily ! secured the woods;
rather poor bag" but deep
into Miss Dolly Vance's ac-
quaintance. "We met by chance;" but
we grew to know each other, in ''the
usual way
More than once had l walked with
her to that tree-shadowed gate; more
than once had l held her large, white
hand and distinctly felt its pressure re-
turn my own. l had quoted poetry and
talked sentiment to her without stint.
She said the one was awful nice;" at
the other she showed her pretty teeth,
but twas only her lips that grew red
der. Still, l knew the girl must be
grateful: that gratitude was danger.
Gus passion in maid; and nobly re-
solved not to trifle with her trusting
purity. Once more / would see her,
hear that rich voice and hold her firm.
white hand. Then ! would explain
that we were very wide apart, SO gent
ly and so gravely that she would re.
spect me ever; and then Agenor's
daughter might go wed the king of
Crete, while would we'd
Still, made pavement in that hot
test of climes with best of resolutions.
Still, ! saw Europa; and still, Betty
was forgiving, gentle, tender, till my
self-reproach grew bearable no longer.
So, just as sunset faded to the long,
clear twilight, wandered homeward
with Dolly Vance. At the gate we
paused spoke gently, gravely, of the
danger of chance acquaintance; of the
sorrow ! would feel did our parting
leave one pang in her palpitating but
tender bosom. She listened silently;
her face turned from me half-hidden
by her hand. More than once a gasp.
ing, gurgling sound came from her
heaving bosom; passing the rosy por-
tails OF speech, but leaving no word on
them. Deeply contrite-pityin8 her
tenderly repentant for the
sorrow had wrought so selfshly II
lnintentionally-I grew pathetic and
seized her unresisting hand. Then