Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-03-22
BELLS OF FOLLY.

Miranda ran into the meadow, laugh
ing. The grassy slope shelved down in
to the valley, where the wood lay black
and still. Daffodils nodded and COW,
slips bowed as she passed on her way.
A lark got up and rose, singing &c
heaven She sped out of the shadow and
into the sunlight, and the sound of her
young laughter floated down the val
ley. Echoes joined it there, and the lit,
tie ravine gurgled with merriment. Mi
randa stopped. with her chin in the
air, and listened. Was it all the echo
of her own delight, or was it something
more? The peal of her mockery died in
to the somber copse, and out of it, fresh
and clear, voice trilled merrily ON its
upward way. Miranda stood and wait
3D.
He came up the bank of wild flowers,
his face bright with the love Of life and
laughter, and at the sight Of her he
paused The two faced each other for
awhile in silence, and then a smile ran
round Miranda's lips, and the young
mans eyes sparkled with merriment.
81 took your laughter for signal, I"
said he, making his beaming salutations,
'sbut I reckoned little upon so charming
an designation.
SIT was but signal of the spring,
SIR" says she, with dainty bow.
May" he replied. ST make no such
distinctions between the seasons.
laugh the whole year through. 1t is the
manner of the wise. You will perceive
my jocund humor, fair mistress. Be-
lieve me, tits not the whim of an hour
contrived by the guiles of a spring
morning, but a very settled disposition
of the mind. I am broad based upon
gayety.''
'tAh, to be gayr cried Miranda. ''To
be gay is to live"
Life is at our feet" said the merry
youth 81 take an infinite pleasure in
its complexities Believe me, nothing
should matter, save the twinkling Of an
eye or the dimpling of Cheek
'You are right, said Miranda, smil-
ing. Chow can one have enough of
laughter"
1--WE are of one mind,' he answered
pleasantly. "Let us go into our corner
and be merry together"
"Why not?' says Miranda "Why
not?''
'"There are 10000 pleasures in this
silly world" he went on, "and, for
myself, have not yet exhausted the
tenth part of them. Count my years,
then, and make threescore and ten the
dividend, and what remains? Pack them
into the hours never SO neatly, and you
will not exhaust the store. And that is
why I am spendthrift of pleasures. I
exc not out my delights. would burn
20 in straw hat out of sheer caprice
and toss dozen to the ducks upon the
lake for pity
"Yes, yes" agreed Miranda.
"Time," he continued, with fine
scorn, "time has discovered us a con-
spiracy of the ages to inthrone this mel
ancholy. But we are no traitors to our
rightful being, you and I, and we will
clap crown upon the head of laughter.
and lay the usurper by the heels in his
proper dungeon.
HE were better there, replied Mi.
randa thoughtfully.
There is never care, he resumed,
upon which we may not trample, not
a trouble which we may not forget.
What fool is he who would nurse his
sorrow and not bury it in the deepest
gravel"
"What fool!'' murmured Miranda
dreamily.
"Should one lose friend? A fig for
friendship" 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
young man, 'and life remains. would
have the world know that love is a
pleasant cipher, an amiable and enter
tanning mood, and that life is left when
love is lost. There is no love. It were
more truly writ in the plural and SPELL
ed with small letter. -
Miranda turned upon him swiftly.
"Fiel Fie!' said she, and the light
flashed in her eyes. IT know nothing
Of this love, but dare swear there be
things that matter. Take these from
life, and what will rest over? Is there
not sorrow, and is there not pain? Is
there not re1norse, and is there not
the thing called sin? l know nothing OF
these. I am too young to the world,
But there they stand. sir, importuning
at our doors with outstretched arms.
and one has only to lift the latch to let
them in. You would deny the very pulse
Of human nature when you ignore these
evils. You would forswear the very
weaknesses which have composed for
you your sentiments. -
In the excitement of her retort Mi.
randa's face flushed ard grew bright.
Wide eyed the young man stared at her
and forgot to laugh, and when she had
done his head dropped, and be sighed.
''Ah,'' she said. you sigh. You
yourself have felt and suffered. You
have belied yourself. You sigh. There
are facts in life even for signs"
g IT'S true," he answered softly,
''yet sighed for pleasure"
"What pleasure?" she asked curis
ous1y.
"Or it may be hope" he added.
He looked at her, and his gaze was
mild and wistful. She regarded him in
perplexity, and then wild flush took
her in the cheek and throat
Pooh, pooh!'' she cried, and turned
off, plncking at the hawthorn bush. The
, white may s,nelled rank. but strange
and soothing. The petals shiyered and
fell Miranda's heart beat on, wonder:
: ing. Something elapped at its doors
again and again. Would she open?
: What was this impatient visitor that
pleaded so for entrance? She had so lit
: tie knowledge. She was but newly az
rived upon the world. Her emotions
were still strangers to her. She Was a
pilgrim still among her new sensations
Ought she to open? Nay, to stay SO and
wonder was surely pleasantest. One day
she wonld throw wide the doors and
look. But now it was sweet to feel that
hand upon the knocker, that clutehing
at the latch, and lie trembling within
in feigned insecurity. She turned and
faced him. Straightway the clamor
ecaSed and in her heart was si1anca