The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-08
ST. LUKE'S SUMMER.
..If she be not SO to me,
What caro- I how fair she he

bay window OF the room surrounded
by bound volumes of Punch.
whats all nonsensep" asked the
singer.
sWhy, that sentiment of yours. It's
.narrer.' Fair for you, indeed That
is q mere detail; the fairness is the
important point, whether the subject
be woman or teapot! That is, OF
course, if you have any taste or decent
feeling; but possibly that is the trouble.
Don't you agree with me, May?" ap-
pealing to the accompanist, who was
still sitting at the pianoforte.
sAsst the 'narrerness' of the senti-
ment suppose you meanP" she said,
smiling. aWell. I had not thought
much about it, to say the truth, but l
did think how well your brother was
singing. and evidently that must have
struck you, too, Lucy, since you at
tackled him on his faithful rendering of
another mans thoughts"
@There, Lu!" exclaimed Ronald, tri-
umphantly, with his eyes fixed eagerly
on the last speakers face. "What
pity it is that you, too, could not take
that view of my performance"
Il should have striven to do so, my
dear, if had any grounds for pre-
suming that my favorable opinion
could affect you SO strongly as-as
~
aMr. Rosseter," interrupted Ronald,
hastily, shave you anything sharp or
sweet to say about my songp | think
it is your turn now."
The man addressed was leaning back
on deep sofa-seat in the shadowed
recess between the windows. One
arm was pillowed on heap of cushions,
the hand shading eyes that looked
steadily toward the pianoforte, the
other lay across an open book that he
had been reading.
@I am afraid, Ronald" he said, let
ting his appraised arm drop, and lifting
himself s1ightly-@I am afraid that l
agree with Lucy in not much admiring
the last words of your song. They
are philosophical, no doubt, and sooth-
ing, but argue rather poor capacity
for enjoyment. 1t is indeed well to
hold as ones own any perfect thing,
whether, as Lucy says, it be teapot
or woman; but "a thing of beauty
should indeed be "a joy forever'-a sad
joy, perhaps, if the treasure be out of
reach, but still joy, by reason OF its
beauty, not of our possession. There
is sermon for you! And all the
time, as Lady May said, you were only
rendering faithfully, as should all good
exponents, the opinions of another
that is 50, Lucy"
Possibly" she answered, rather i'm
patiently. II say, Ronald. if you are
going to ride over to the Sandfords
and be back before dinner, hadn't you
better be Off May and / are going
over to Roseveare. Come, take an oar
won't you, Mr.. RosseterP"
@Yes, with pleasure-nowp"
@We shall be ready in ten minutes.
Come, May" and the two girls left the
room.
@It's rather hard luck having to go
all that way this afternoon, isn't itP"
said Ronald, ajust to take message to
those Sandford girls, tool"
II thought you told me in the winter
that those girls were very pretty and
'awfully good sort9"
"Oh, so they are, of course; but
then-you SEQ"
"Yes, see." said the older man, with
smile. "Well, cheer up, my boy; it
won1 last long, and-you have time
before you."
EYES," rather moodily, 81 have time
before me-and what else?"
Luke Rosseter looked at the hand
some young face, now somewhat down
cast.
ais it not delicious doubt thenP"
he asked.
"Good heavens, mol hats that sort
OF thing. The worst certainty is bet
ter than the fairest doubt-to me-"
"Ah!" he softly whispered the con-
Guiding bars of Ronald's song. "Then
the remedy is in your own handsp"
@Esuppose so. Well, must be
off. wish we could change places,
he said, laughing. "for this afternoon.
@For this afternoon" Rosseter MUIR
INJURED, rs Hume left the room. ais
youth generous?"
"May," said Lucy Hume to her friend
when they were coming downstairs,
Il won't ask you to come up to the
house at Roseveare. If they are out
/ shall only have to leave message,
and if they are in sha'n't stay very
long. You won't mind sitting in the
boat with St. LukeP"
"St. Luke!"
@Oh, that is what mother and I al
ways call him. his name being Luke.
He really is a saint"
"Dear me! l Ishouldn't have thought
it."
"Oh, you needn't be disappointed
not the variety you are thinking of;
only about the best sort of man going.
He was my fathers dearest friend.
And since his death he has been so
good to US, helping us in every con-
ceivable way and only grieving us by
his many absences"
"His- oh, when he is exploring
and shooting. isn't itP And he is just
going againp"
"Yes, Immediately. It is horrid!
And for longer than usual-two or
three years. Most of it right in the
middle of Africa, believe. And he
never seems to get ones letters, so we
may all be dead-or married-when he
comes back, with one arm and half an
eye, perhaps"
"Is it our beauty or your hero's that
is to sufferP" said May, laughing.
"His, of course. But = beauty
Then you don't think him mot the
least handsome as do the Sandford
girlsp"
@II I think his face sometimes
beautiful and always most interest
ing"
Lucy laughed, and opening the
drawing-room door called to Mr.. Ros-
setter that they we're ready. He joined
them and they walked across the lawn
to the river, where the boat lay moored
at the little landing-place.
"OarsP" said Miss Hume.
mo, sculls, please" he answered.
II will take you this last time, if
may"
When they reached the place where
Lucy wished to land she jumped out,
saying:
sIf they are in I must stay mo.
ment, but won't be long. Take care
of May"
1t was still, sunny July day, and
Rosseter let the boat drift few yards
under the shade of some overhanglne
boughs, where he made her fast.