The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-06-21
CHAPTER VI.-COntinued.


and known her intimately can tell how
charming and good she is. She is like
sunbeam in the house."
"No one who was not good could be
absolutely happy, as she seems to be.
Heavens last gift, think, is a mind SO
pure and a spirit so high that it is I'M
able even to see what is impure and evil
in the world around us. For as long as
we can see it, how can we be truly hap
py?"
''She has a deeper side also. She does
natural that she should, for she is very
young. But she thinks and has aspira-
tons of her own"
"You cannot admire her more than |
do. Indeed, Miss Walker, only ask to
be brought into near relationship with
her and to feel that there is permanent
bond between US.
1t had come at last. For moment
her heart was numbed within her, and
then a flood of sisterly love carried all
before it. Down with that dark thought
which would still try to raise it's unhal
lowed head! She turned to Harold with
sparkling eyes and words of pleasure
upon her lips.
81 should wish to be near and dear to
both of you," said he as he took her
hand. II should wish Ida to be my sis
ter and you my wife"
She said nothing. She only stood
looking at him with parted lips and great,
dark, questioning eyes. The lawn had
vanished away, the sloping gardens, the
brick villas, the darkening sky, with half
a pale moon beginning to show over the
chimney pots. All was gone, and she
was only conscious of a dark earnest
pleading face, and of a voice far away,
disconnected from herself, the voice Of a
man telling a woman how he loved her.
He was unhappy, said the voice, his life
was a void; there was but one thing that
could save him; he had come to the part
ing of the ways; here lay happiness and
honor and all that was high and noble;
there lay the soul killing round, the
lonely life, the base pursuit Of money,
the sordid, selfish aims. He needed but
the hand of the woman that he loved to
lead him into the better path.
And how he loved her his life would
show. He loved her for her sweetness,
for her womanliness, for her strength.
He had need of her. Would she not
come to him? And then of a sudden as
she listened it came home to her that the
man was Harold Denver, and that she
was the woman, and that all Gods work
was very beautiful-the greensward be-
meath her feet, the rustling leaves, the
long orange slashes in the western sky.
She spoke. She scarce knew what the
broken words were, but she saw the
light of joy shine out on his face, and
her hand was still in his as they wan
dered amid the twilight They said no
more now, but only wandered and felt
each others presence. All was fresh
around them, familiar and yet new,
tinged with the beauty of their ownnew
found happiness.
Odd you not know it before% he
asked.
II did not dare to think it."
"What a mask Of ice [ must wear
How could man feel as [ have done
without showing it? Your sister at least
knew"
"Ida!"
cit was last night. She began to
praise you, said what I felt, and then
in an instant it was all out"
''But what could you-what could
you see in me? Oh, do pray that you
may not repent itr'. The gentle heart
was ruffled amid it's Joy by the thought