Marshall County independent., 1895-03-29

- u shelyed down into the valley,
where the wood lay black and still.
DaffodilS nodded ana cowslips bowed
rs she passed upon her way. A lark
got up and rose singing to heaven.
She sped out of the meadow and into
Ihe sunlight, and the sound OF her
young laughter fioatcd down the val
ley: echoes joined it there. and the lit
tie ravine Gurgled with merrimcnt.
Miranda stopped, with her chin in the
air. and listened. Was it ali the echo
of her own delight, or was it something
more? The peal of her mockery died
into the somber copse. and out Of it,
fresh and clear. Il voice trilled merrily
Oh its upward way. Miranda stood
and waited.
He came up the bank of wild flow
ers. his face bright with the love of life
and laughter. and ut the sight Of her
he paused. The two faced each other
for while in silence and then n smile
ran round Miranda $ lips. and the young
mans eyes sparkled with merriment.
81 took your laughter for a signal"
said he. making his bcamins saluta-
tiOns; "but L reckoned little upon so
charming an asSignatiOn."
cit was but signal to the spring
SIR" says she. with Il dainty bow
"Nay." he replied; Il make no such
distinctions between the seasons. l
laugh the whole year through; it is the
manner of the wise. You will perceive
M tnonn1 human, fait. mis- Do
lieve me, it's not the whim of an hour
eOntriyed by the guilcs Of spring
morning, bur very settled disposition
OF the mind. | am broad based upon
gayety."
"Ah! to be gay cried Miranda ''to
be gay is to live
Life is at our feet" said the merry
youth. II take an infinite pleasure
in its complexities Believe me. moth
ing should matter. save the twinkling
of an eye or the dimplins of u check"
"YOu are right said Miranda, smil-
ing. GLOW can one have enough of
laughter?'
1--WE are of one mind" lie answered
pleasantly. Let us get into our corner
anu DC MERRY loSctncf
"Why not:' said Miranda why
nOt?"
''There are 10000 pleasures I'm this
silly world" he went on, ''and, for my
self, have not yet exhausted the tenth
part of them. Count my years. then.
and make three score and ten the diyi-
dend, and what remains? Pack them
tnto the hours ever so neatly, and you
Will not exhaust the store And that
Is why l am a spendthrift Of pleas
Nres. | eke not out my delights.
would burn twenty in straw hat put
of sheer caprice and toss dozen to the
ducks upon the lake for pity"
Eyes. yes agreed Miranda
Thine" he continued with fine scorn,
''time has discovered us conspiracy
Of ages to enthrOne this melancholy.
But we are no traitors to our rightful
being, you and i, and we will clap q
crown upon the head Of Laughter, and
lay the usurper by the heels in his
proper dungeon
''He were better there" replied MI
Sanda thOuehtfuEy.
There Is never care. he assumed,
~upon which we may not trample, not
q trouble we may not forget. What a
fool he Is who would nurse lis sorrow
and not bury Il i'll the deepest gravel!
"What a fool!' murmured Miranda
dreamily.
"ShOuld one lose a friend, fig for
friendshipw quoth he. Does one cast
. lover, a snap for hundred lovers!
What has been remains. and what Is
shall be-"
Miranda said nothing.
Subtract love from life" said the
Houng man. "and love remains.
would have the world know that love
n q pleasant cipher, an amiable and
entertaining mood, and that life is
left when love Is lost There Is no
1Ove 1t were more truly writ ia the