The Opelousas courier., 1895-08-24
and that gave me the better opportun-

form to the canons of orthodox beau
ty, either in face or figure. Her nose
was of no recognized artHi5tic shape.
imagine that her mouth was too wide
by half an inch at the least. She was
tall, certainly. but then her waist was
n~oticeably too short, and her neither
limbs as noticeably too long. She thus
bad an appearance of lankiness (hate-
fui, but indispensable, word) which
would have completely spoiled her for
a s:u1ptor's model. But her eyes and
the expression of her face! This pen
shall not venture to portray them.
The soul that beamed through those
bright windows, and saw an outside
world on which truth and purity and
gentle impotence were alone rejected,
impartedktself to all her smiles ard
looks. y
We had a pleasant luncheon. My
chair was between the wears daugh-
ter and the wears wife. Politeness
constrained me to address much OF my
conversation to the elder lady, in
whom l soon became interested. She
talked well, and in a very pleasant
voice. Her name was gentle and re-
fined. Her face was lined and care
worn, but there were still traces of
beauty visible. l should say that many
years ago she resembled what her
daughter was now.
At about three o'clock the wears
curate, a fellow named Millington, was
announced. He had charge of a dis
trict church some miles away, l was in
formed, but he generally came over to
join Rayner's gathering in the after
noon. He differed greatly in appear
ance from his vicar, for he was scrup-
ulously dressed and carefully groomed.
l thought him a g~ood-looking man in
his way; but 1 did not admire the
saintliness of aspect into which he had
trained his face, nor his confidential
Difference of manner when he ad-
dressed the ladies. He was a gentle
man, however-which always goes for
something-and a pleasant enough fell
low to talk to. l can imagine that he
was quite a godsend in that benighted
neighborhood, where gentlemen of
any sort were rare, and cultured gen
tlemen almost unknown.
He to DIX an early opportunity of CON-
ing over to Miss Darby's side. She
seemed pleased to see him, and was
soon in animated conversation with
him. / thought her face less beautiful
when animated. / joined her young
brothers and made friends with them.
They were nice youngsters and we'll
hammered. Two hailed from Winches-
ter and one from Wellington. l had
supposed that the vicar was a poor
man. But, of course, he must have
more money than l thought, to be able
to send his sons to such good schools.
l talked and chaffed with the lads for
half an hour. Then the youngest of
them noticed that my eyes were con
stantly seeking the rne where Mil
lington and Miss Darby were still con
versing. =
"Ah!" volunteered the schoolboy,
with a grin; Its a regular case be-
tween the curate and Bee"
L could have struck the lad. His re-
mark was in such atrocious taste. But
I looked at the father, and then ex-
cused the son. Even Winchester can
not obliterate innate vulgarity. Miss
Darby was still particularly animated.
| was sure o that, when animated,
her face looked almost plain.
During the next fortnight I saw a
good deal of the Darbys; n day we
took them for q picnic; another we met
them at a garden party; another we
dropped in at the vicarage to tea, and
SO forth. On all these occasions | found
myself a constant attendant at Miss
Drrby's side.
AS she came to know me better she
laid aside her shvness, and talked with
less reserve. Without doubt she was a
charming girl. When her face was
lighted up in conversation it disclosed
fresh beauties which more than ever
dazzled me. These beauties passed
unnoticed from a distance. That is
how / came to make my mistake about
her face being less beautiful in ANNA
ton. At close quarters the mistake
was impossible. Certainly that young
est brother of hers was full of vulgar
ity under his educational veneer. I
heard him whisper to a grinning
friend that "Millington's nose was get
ting out Of joint" l had, however,
grown accustomed by this time to the
urchin's lack of breeding, so it Jared
upon mt less than before.
Our last picnic was memorable. 1t
took place at a spot called Heavens
Gate, which is one of the show sights
of that district. l have only the faint
est recollection of what Heavens Gate |
is like. | dimly remember being called
upon by the vicar to admire a superb
view-by some. n else to guess the
dimensions of certain mammoth trees
which stood nea the crown of the
eminence. An antiquarian gentleman
RECALLED me with the history of Long
Leaf house from the time Of its first
construction. He pointed out to me in
detail its architectural splendors, in
dicating them by pokes with his stick
toward where that majestic pile lay in
the hollow below. I nodded and looked
intelligent. The good gentleman was
satisfied; but I neither heard nor saw.
My eyes and LIS were already be-
spoke. it was useless for the vicar to
descant to me upon the glorious effect
of the sunlight upon these sylvan
] myself was in somber shadow.
My sun had gone behind a cloud.
II say" whispered Miss Darby's
youngest brother, giving me a nudge,
..aiu't that beggar Millington boring
Bee, just? He's been quoting Tenny-
son to her by the yard. / overheard
him. What Tommy-rot the chap did
write to be sure!''