New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
AN IDLE SUMMER.

-rbore could be no doubt as to Cyril Dayhtoh . .
popularity. Rich, handsome youne an "mu one
horn ne was thought much Of by every one.
Perhaps certain ladies tinged their ~ Ieiha, IN, n,
concerning him with touch or bitterness, W, :
then certain ladies may nave nau ps' pns.
reasons for their uncharitable comments. fos
sby il he had had sister. a thougn'lul, @ luva.a
1stic girl she might have cured him OF one graz
fault; but he alone except for tne iilVa,'u @ =,
mother who dotted on him. SO he firted his way
through life unreproved by all others as pS
himself 200 A., D,or
was rather more unwell than usual. and at her
request Cyril stayed at home pracucahy al
through the season. 81,
1uaint ivy-clad house where his uncle lived
purposing to spend an hour or two in idie coh-
versaon with his cousin Sybi sraVe dnon'n ue,s,un
cousin in the way and degree OF sister anu
whom he kissed coaxed. teased or scolded as
the humOr turned him. go
ON This afternoon he did not get his idle con-
versation for he found Sybl engaged win
visitor Miss Amy Hatherton. Cyril, AFTER beihe
introduced, was very quiet for some niue 'Iiiie.
and allowed the burden of the conversation 10
be borne by the visitor. He discovered her 10
be a quiet-very quiet girl. who sa" all NE
problems in dim. religious light whose atl,os
phere laden with the incense or deVo'ioi
and disturbed only by the floating echoes or
cathedral anthems. and whose experience or
people and of pleasures had been nmlted III
the extreme Then Cyril talked of churches and
cathedrals: of Durham York and Ply; OF
Amiens, Cologne and ST. Marks he han an
and so he was not led TO say anything against
Miss Hathertons love of one English cathedral
with what Ruskn calls its secluded cohtinu-
Gus, drowsy felicities and It's evidence OF the
sense and steady performance OF sucn klnu
of duties as can be regulated by the cathedrai
clock
little Church of Saint Agnes was surprised 10
find herself followed by Cyril The meeting
seemed accidental. and as cyril did not take
the trouble of informing her that IL was the
first time for eight years that he had ever Deen
at church service-other than weddlng-on
q week day. Amy naturally assumed that he
was in the habit Of going each morning.
She was delighted for she had formed the
idea that young men were all careless OF such
things; as her brother was W,la: ,Rs racKeN
loomed larger than reality in the light or MS
sisters life. Here, Amy thought. on TINS falr
June morning. was one with every attripu'e oi
manhood, strong brave. handsome. yet not
afraid of being good" So she was delighted
and artlessy told him so.
do you know. l am so pleased to have met
sou here?" she said
Are you? Why?' he asked.
oh am glad you can be serious ddn sasr' as wen 10
care about heaven. / am afraid they think
angels would bore Them. she answered
and do your acquaintances think that? ne
rejoined. with very slight yet unmistakable
emphasis on the your.
1t was the same in every conversation be-
tween them. He said flattering things. but IN
an earnest tone and his tender, honest, SEEM
ing eyes went bail for the truth of every re-
mark. If it had not been for his habit OF look
ing at his companion as though she were the
only being in the universe. all would have been
we'll, for otherwise he behaved splenddy. He
drove Sybil and her friend TO every pretty spot
in the neighborh0Od. Took them up and down
the river whenever they felt inclined. He played
tennis with them and with infinite consdera-
tion led Miss Hatherton to think that her aim
less spooning of the ball was really quite ef-
fective play.
The ten days Of Amy's visit came TO end
She took her departure. and a quarter Of an
hour after the train which carried her home
ward had disappeared from his sight. Cyril had
wel-nigh completely forgotten her existence.
What monotonous life that girl must
have he said TO himself as he left the station
and that all he thought or said about her.
But with her. how different. She paid no at
tention to the carefully chosen confectionery,
or the still more carefully selected novel which
he had bought her. She scarcely thought OF
Sybil standing on the platform. Sybil who had
been kind all through the ten days She
had no thought for any but him. She went to
her own quiet home. and all it's dulness shone
bright through the radiant light Of love She
was as merry a lark in the morning hour.
and sang and smiled all through the months Of
that summer The romance Of her life had been
fashioned, but she told no one except her friend,
Daisy Aynshaw. 10 whom she wrote a long con-
fidential letter. "Oh. Daisy" part ran. II
am sure he loves me. l don't wish TO be vain,
but still think because feel it. He used
10 look at me so; his eyes seemed TO
worship me. had to drop mine often.
! think he never spoke because he thought
himself unworthy-unworthy Of poor me. And
he so good and noble that think we'll Of my
self for being able 10 love him. feel so happy.
Daisy, for l know that the feelings Of great,
strong nature such as his are lasting, and !
can wait"
The Miss Aynshaw who received this letter
was a girl OF many friends She was for years
at school-a fact unusual in the case OF such a
girl as she was-and all her school companions
loved her To some-the timid and the gentle
che had been Daisy, a simple-minded, generous
GIRL to others. the merry and thoughtess. she
had been Madge. who was game for every mis-
chief free from malice; while the sad and
thoughtful loved her as Margaret. the just and
high-minded. 1t was Daisy Aynshaw who read
Amy's letter and was glad that the pathway Of
her friends sad existence was turning from the
humdrum, and the sOrrowful highways into the
sunlit land of love.
Three DAYS after Amy's departure. the But
icrs received another visitor. also an old school
friend of Sybil: and Cyril introduced TO
Miss Grace Elroyd. He came to the opin-
ION that TO make himself pleasant to her. no
churchgoing no discoursing cathedral archi-
lecture. no listening to solemn-stealing music,
would be required: nor were they.
The week which followed Miss Elroyds ar
rival passed pleasantly enough. but the mem
ory Of its days and his manner of spending
them ranked in Cyril's mind Although so
much regretted afrerward II never seemed other
wise than enjoyable to kill a few days Of sum
mer weather In the manner he did. He gcner-
ally strolled over to his cousins shortly after
breakfast. and then dawdled about playing ten
mis- at times. but oftener sitting conversing with
the visitor. saying little. implying very much and
meaning nothing.
On two or three occasions excursions were
made up and down the river. OF boating Miss
Elroyd expressed herself "exquistey fond" but
she never anxious for SYPHILIS company. so
perhaps the subtle charm which had given birth
20 the exquisite fondness was to be found only
when the occupants Of the boats numbered one
OF each sex. The evenings generally were spent
In the drawing room. and enlivened by music.
Grace sang fairly we'll but always to her own
accompaniments. and from music. So 1t hap
pened that while Sybil sat by herself and said
that each song very nice" and Mrs. Butler
slept contentedly In an easy chair. Miss Elroyd
sang song after song OF an amatory and ultra
sentimental character. and Cyril hung over the
piano turning the leaves Of the music and max
ing 1attering remarks about the singer. Did he
think we'll of hims III as he told his falsehood 80
glibly. and looked down half-pityingly at the