St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-08
The BEAUTY CHARM.
A Story Of Old Virginia.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.
(Copyrig
CHAPTER XVII.


loaded with provisions and dry goods.
An arm chair had been provided for me
and fur rug for my feet. A little bas-
ket OF luncheon was also near at hand.
Soldiers drove the wagons and were
perched as guards behind. We had
also mounted escort. led by very
handsome officer whom Col. Garthwaite
had introduced as Capt. Anterior.
When we had proceeded some dis
lance over country which reminded
me Of the stony ground which Jack the
Giant Killer found at the top of the
bean stalk, the captain rode up to the
side Of my wagon and inquired If were
comfortable. thanked him and said
that l was. and we entered into CONVEX
sation. Our talk was of the Indians,
the fort and the school to which l was
going.
81 am sorry you are not staying at the
FORT he said at last. Il detest this
business of taking you out to that
lonely place and leaving you there"
The tone in which he spoke was not
one of mere compliment. Something
in II caused me TO lift my eyes to his
face. and Oh the instant l knew, as
romantic girls express it, that had met
my fate.
How it is with others l do not know,
but love came to me in one instant as an
arrow from the bow Of deft marksman
flies to the mark. l knew also that he
loved me, and that we should one day be
all in all to each other. The time came
when he told me that his emotions were
the same and that he felt as though he
had always known and loved me, but at
this moment / learned the lesson only
from those mysterious sources of infors
nation which dwell within us. | read
his heart and read it with JOY. The love
of my life had come to me at last. HAD
found my reason for being and my
reason for longing 10 be beautiful.
l believed, and still believe, we were
meant for each other ere ''ever we were
born" Somewhere, somehow, our souls
had known each other. He was mine,
| was his. 1t had always been so, 1t
always would be. The light in his eyes
and the look upon his face at that ill.,
slant are indellbly impressed upon my
memory.
1t was solemn moment-too solemn
for speech. For a long while we were
utterly silent. He still rode beside me,
and l felt that his eyes were fixed upon
my face, but had cast mine down and
dared not lift them.
Oh. wondIous moment! Oh, hour of
all the hours of all my life! Let me
finger still over the happiness that filled
my soul as we rode Oh. and on, and on
i conscious of but one thing, that he
was near me and that he loved me-
Noon came at last. Recalled to the |
sense of duty, Capt. Atherton CON-
manded halt. The horses were taken
from the wagons and fed, the soldiers
set about preparing their meal, and ono
brought pot of coffee and some hot
cakes to Capt. Atherton.
de helped me to descend from the
wagon and brought my basket, and we
lunched together in the shadow of
tall rock that stood like pe;rified giant
gazing toward the west. All the usually
commonplace matters connected with
the little picnic meal assumed a de-
lightful tinge of romauce-they became
amusing, captivating.
We found our tongues at last, and our
chat and laughter were constant. We
felt as though we had been friends for
ever, yet how delicate was MS manner
In that hour | realized the difference
that exists between the honest, earnest
attentions of a gentleman toward the
woman he hopes one day to WOO and
win and those of the mere gallant.
bluShed as l remembered the broad
and constant compliments of Mr.. Har-
court, the silly Uabble of young Bolivar,
the vapid aud forward attentions of the
young men who made big eyes at me in
Jonah Hancock'S shop. Even the al
tentions of the young officers became
contemplate when | contrasted them
with The respectful homage of
Capt. Atherton, who complimented me
by paying me no compliments whatever,
and yet in some way conveyed to me
his alteration and his tenderness so that
l could not mistake them. Could he
re my heart as well? | asked myself,
and blushed 10 believe he could
blushed, yet was not ashamed, for it
was the pride of my heart to love him
and to feel that henceforth l should
live for hun alone. What delight.
full time that was! AT last Capt.
Anterior said:
II should be quite willing to stay
here forever, but it is necessary to pro-
coed, for we have the worst half Of our
journey before u.s."
He gave me his hand to assist me to
arise to my feet, and lifted me lightly
into the wagon. The air had grown
cooler. and he folded my wrap aboutme.
Then the horses were put to the wa
CONS. The escort, at the command of
the captain, divided itself into two par
ties-one on either side - and Capt.
Atherton rode at its head. The master
the rear, and our journey was continued
III far more careful and serious fashion
than 1t was begun. Now and then, in
the far distance, small bands OF Indian
hunters were visible. Occasionally a
solitary savage. wrapped in a blanket,
doomed up against the sky as he
watched US from some rising ground.
The air grew cooler; the sky faded
from deep to light blue. Then prim-
rose yellow arose from the West and
spread in all directions. and presently
everything became q pale lilac. In this
a gentle slope up which the horses had
slowly dragged the heavy wagons. upon
the wlgwams OF populous Indian vii
lage.
Evidently our approach created great
aud pleasurable excitement. Tall chiefs,
wrapped i'll blankets, and women with
pappooSes In their arms focked toward
the storehouse, all agog for supplies of
calico, manner shirts, groceries and
other necessaries which the wagons had
brought. The music of the reed pipes
which some young men were playing
suddenly stopped, the whole population
hurried to one spot, and while the master
OF the wagons prepared for the busy
scene that was to follow Capt. Atherton
approached me and proposed that we
should walk to the schoolhouse.
was glad TO leave the wagon, and he
offered me his arm, and we proceeded
toward long frame building that stood
stiff, formal and unattractive ut some
distance from the wigwams. AS we
walked he uttered few earnest words.
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