Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-10-10
A MISPLACED KISS.

The sky was torpidly blue, with that
suffocating indigo which seems to let
down the clouds, So. that one fancies
that if one were trihataller one could
touch it with the ferrul.sof parasol
And when night came the stars would
issue from their ambush and stab it
ing points left it bluer even, more per-
sistent than before
The sun, too, seemed to menace. On
every bit of dingy metal ON the boat it
blazed threat, and in the lap of the
waters there was compact with fever.
Beyond to the right was one long level
stretch of yellow sand, on which the
waves fawned with recurrent surge and
swoon, as the unwieldly hulk Of the
river boat wallowed down the current.
Behind it were the grayish green moss
hung ramparts of the forest and swamps,
which seem in the southern country to
follow the water courses. To the left
were the staring white washed sheds
and gray roofs of the landing, piled high
with the yellow brown, pudgy cotton
bales, while in the distance, among the
hills and intervales, the white or red
chimney stacks of the planters mansions
peeped forth.
1t was good looking young fellow
enough that stepped from the gangplank
of the boat, bronzer far than when he
left his northern home. His English
habit of dress made him an unusual
figure on the dingy landing among the
busy half naked black roustabouts, and
the careful parting of his hair and the
nicety of his small, strong mustache
showed that he was not Indifferent to
his own personal appearance.
''De majors compliments, and is yo'
ready, sah?' 1t was the black steward
addressing him with that smiling def
erence which is born of expected tips
Everard Furman had met the major
the preceding winter in New York, and
Of life on sugar plantation that Fur
man had consented to become his guest
in passing to his post of duty as secre-
tary to the consul at Havana. In issu-
ing the invitation the major may have
had some ulterior motive, but in that
case he left no inkling of it escape. And
now, as Furman crossed the gangplank,
the major stretched his hand cordially.
He was man who had long since feted
his iftieth birthday. He had the dor
mant eyes of the southerner, those eyes
in which apathy is screen to keenest
vigilance, and his chin had the tenacity
of a rock. In stature he was short and
slim, and his complexion below the
eyebrows was burned to a swarthy cop
perish yellow.
His greeting to the young man was
cordial, and guided by his host Furman
entered an open trap that awaited them.
Then, after brisk drive along sandy
roads bordered by riceields, now by or
chards and fields of waving cane, at
last, in a grove of giant cottonwood,
the house was reached, two storied
dwelling, quaint and roomy, with wide,
double galleries along the four sides.
In the lower gallery, facing the front
OF the mansion, a gray hammock swung,
bright rugs dotted the floor, and many
daintily shaped willow chairs stood
about. 1t seemed an ideal place in
which to lounge away the heated hours
of the summer morning, and many
traces of feminine occupancy lay about.
A gay colored sun hat hung by it's
strings to the back of one chair, and
ribbon bedecked banjo shared the ham,
mock with an equally adorned tiger cat
Of immense SIZE But Furman caught
no glimpse of the feminine occupants Of
the majors pleasant home until an hour
later, when, with his host, he awaited
dinner on the piazza.
Presently down the broad, shallow
staircase came the tinlzle of light feet
and the light frou frou of silken dra-
perry. The major rose from his chair.
my future wife," he announced in an
aside. "Mrs. Page" he continued,
"this is Mr. Everard Furman.
She was woman such as only the
south and such conditions as exist there
could produce-one whom it would be
proper to describe as queenly were it
not that queens are mostly dowdy. She
just lacked being tall, and her hair was
of that hue Of citron which is noticea-
BILE in very young children.
1t was arranged in fashion we have
copied from the Greeks, but her features
were wholly American, features that
the years would remold with coarser
thumb, but which as yet preserved the
suavity of a pastel. One OWNED that
her limbs were slender, yet strong and
supple She held herself with a grace
of her own, half gracious, half languid.
On her cheeks was flush Her mouth
seemed to promise more than mortal
mouth could give. In short, she was
beautiful, with delicate, brilliant,
semitropical splendor.
-Everard, who had arisen with the
major, stared for an instant, then
bowed; then, moving forward, he took
her wrist, brushing it with his lips
The lady hesitated half an instant,
with quick glance at their host, then
sank into wicker chair. 1.-The major
tells me he knew your father" she
graciously remarked.
eyes," he answered, finding seat
by her sue. SIT may be that we are
connected. A southern lady of the same
name married Furman ages ago. The
major, however, laughingly, "refuses
to claim kin.
IT have forgotten, the major inter-
jected trifle coldly, glancing at his fu-
ture BRIDE SIS not Belinda coming?"
From without came the drone of in
sects, hum as deeply insistent and
enervating and yet SO Wagnerian in its
intensity as to suggest nation of them
celebrating feast of love- Presently
the murmur was broken by the silvery
tinkle of a bell, and shiny black man
in staring white apron and jacket an.
nounced from the door, Dinner, sahi''
simultaneously with the black man a
young girl appeared. The major left his
chair again.
my daughter, F" he said, and Furman
bowed. He remembered that the major
had been a widower before he became