The Dickinson press., 1894-01-13
DAWN.
, the hope Of meeting her at the end

DAWN.
the hope Of meeting her at the end
of 1t.
Long years before Francis Vane went
to live ut the pretty cottage outside
Dunwold. 1t had received the name Of
Sweetbriers. from the simple fact that
the whole garden was surrounded ny
n splendid hedge Of sweetbricr, and
the air for Il great distance around
was perfumed by 1t. Francis Vane
made up his mind to spend the remain
der Of his life Mt. the cottage. From
the window of his study he could see
one Of the lime trees, under the shade
of which his wife slept her last long
sleep. He devoted himself to his books
and. when his child grew older, to her:
With his wife, he had lost the half OF
his income; but, with the aid Of his pen,
he had sufficient to live upon, with
great care and economy, though nothing
to spare or waste. He kept n maid
servant, and gave uD visiting, ms well
as receiving visitors.
Until Hyacinth was eleven years old,
he taught her himself, and it was q
most peculiar education. Had she been
Il boy, it might have fitted her for the
world; as it was, it simply made her
impractical in every way.
He was a visionary himself; he had
superb theories and beautiful, dreams,
but he had not the least knowledge Of
human nature. He believed in the
power of love, the constancy of men,
the honor of women, the earnestness
of life in general; he had no knowledge
of the light loves, the fieeting friend
ships, the want Of care, thought, or in
terest that distinguish the children of
this generation-he was a wise, simple,
kindly scholar, who feared heaven, HON
ored the sovereign, and believed in the
power of knowledge. Admirable, es-
Unable, worthy Of all respect and es-
teen, he was nevertheless not the
teacher to train an imaginative, i'm
questionable child.
For some years he made no differ.
ence in his mode of life: the child was
tended by the faithful servant who
had watched her mother. die-Miriam
Clayc. And to Miriam the girl was
dearer than the light Of her eyes. She
had a large old-fashioned room to play
in. She had a household Of dolls, q
library Of children's books, q number
of toys, and she lived in dreamland.
Francis Vane began to teach his
daughter Latin when she was old
enough to learn it. He provided her
with the best authors, with old-world
poets. 1T was n curious education: but
1t was the only one that he knew how
to give her. "
HIS love for her wis as dreamy IA
his life; he was seldom alive to anv
practical needs. He never gave q
thought to dress or anything of that
kind. He ordered books. music. draw.
ings; he would talk to her at times
an hour with calm, mild wisdom.
lie loved, her with Il great l0ve-but he
was most untitled to train a child
He seemed to wake up from q dream
when Hyacinth was sixteen; his child
was gone, and in her place stood n tall.
beautiful girl, who looked ut him with
her mothers eyes, and seemed to ask
what was her position in this world.
and what she had to do.
Francis Vane thought long and sol.
EMMY about what he was to do with
his beautiful daughter.
Sixteen, beautiful as q poets dream,
accomplished. better educated than hall
the girls in England, graceful, and i'm.
aginative, with q face like q flower,
life was full of fairest, sweetest prom.
Use to Hyacinth Vane. 1t was IN un.
read book, every page of which seemed
to her full of poetry and unknown de.
light. Her world was a very small one;
it consisted of the little household at
Sweetbriers. She had no companions
no play fellows. Francis Vane would
not let her play with village children,
and she had no opportunity of knowing
any other.
She was healthy and strong. She
loved the fresh air, the early morn.
ing breeze; she had the natural high
spirits and vivacity of a young girl;
she was charming in every re4oect.
The rector's wife, Mrs. Morley, meet
ing her one day, was struck with hel
wonderful beauty. She stopped tt
speak to her, and invited her to the
vicarage.
Up till that time Hyacinth had helt
no w%ell-defined position In society. Sht
had always been considered far above
the people in the village. However
small her fathers income was, still h,
was q gentleman Of independent means
But the county people had not recog
nized him. He cared nothing himself
for visitors or visiting. This invita-
ton from Mrs. Morley, however
opened his eyes to the fact that he mus
think for his daughter as he had no
thought for himself.
Hyacinth was almost dazed with de
light. To visit the vicarage, with 1t
charming mistress, the lovely children
the wellselected guests always to b
found there, was a prospect 30 full Q
unbounded delight that she could hard
" hope 1t might be realized.