Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-10-20

81
I retired to q distant window, and toGh
up the Field; but my eyes wandered
from the close, cramped print to the
heads of the girls bending over their
work, and thought what a charming
picture they made In the chastened
golden light and how rehectively my
wife's dark tumbled locks threw out
the smooth coronet of FURNISHED gold
that crowned Edlth's stately head
She was q most beautiful woman
tall, fair with soft blue eyes heavily
lashed, and faultless profile. Never
before had seen her look 80 attract
I've as she did on that evening while
she directed Helen's little clumsy
brown hand across that square of oat-
meal cloth on which such wonderful
birds, butterflies and lowering vege-
tation were to blossom into life. Her
dress, of q light blue stun, trimmed
with delicate lace, fitted her exquisite
ly, and there was suggestion Of grace
ful poetic perfection about her general
appearance, her every movement, that
was most soothing to the senses that
lazy summer day. ! felt as II could
have watched her with unsatiated
pleasure for hours ut stretch-"a
daughter Of the gods, dlvlnely tall and
divinely fair"-whlle Helen, my wife,
was a most distinct child of earth,
small dark-haired, dark-eyed, with
uniformed babylsh features, and a skin
which, though pure and healthy, lacked
the delicate peach-bloom of the other.
Was she ordinarily pretty or almost
plain2 / still asked myself that ques-
ton after nine months OF matrimony,
and could arrive at no satisfactory So
luton. For Helen was seldom tho
same, either In mind, manner, or looks,
two hours together.
One hour she would look, even in
the most partial eyes, dull, common
place, hopelessly unattractive-the
next, for no apparent cause, her APP
pearanee would change, her cheeks
glow, her eyes CLEAN with light that
/ vaguely felt for q moment would, In
most mems opinion, dim Ediths placid
beauty into inslgniflcance. She had
certainly very strange eyes-I never
could ascertain their exact shade.
Sometimes they were Deep dark, still,
like water In heavy shadow-agaln,
they were all life with fickering tawny
lights, as they were that moment, when,
raised to Edlth's in rueful expostula-'
tlon.
ooh, Miss Stopford, please don't ask
me to change my wool again! Let
me finish to the stalk in this browny
yellow"
my dear Mrs, Dennys, impossible!
You have only three shades in the leaf
as yet, and l have changed my wool
as many as three-and-twenty times in
q single spray Of virgin vine"
Have you? Then I'll never be an
artist In crewels!" laughed Helen, the
cloth dropping lazily from her hands;
jim, her little terrier,
thinking the lesson over, jumped
briskly up on her lap, upsetting her
the contents Of which
rolled over the waxed boards-sclssor j
tapes, needles, bodkins went right and
left. A stout reel of black cotton
languidly my way, and, stoop-
Ing to pick 1t up, the golden hair of
the only woman ever loved brushed
my forehead deliciously.
meet me at the end Of the cedar
walk in half an hour" she said in
quick whisper, with downcast eyes,
lumbling for the reel that |, in my agl-
.ation, had dropped again. II have
to say to YOU"
/ nodded, lay back in my chair and
held up the paper to
shade my face from observation.
When my wife called me over to drink
/ cup Of tea, glanced apprehensively
INTO a mirror to see II the color had
AIDED from my temples yet. No, 1t
vas still there, burning brightly, even
through my tanned skin.
meet me at the end of the cedar
walk in half an hour" repeated
stupidity, again and again. as strolled
lcross the lawn towards Breton Hall,
he residence Of General Stopford,
Idith's uncle, and my grandfather's
,rother what does 1t mean? What
AN she have to say to me? I can't
Understand It,"