Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-02-11

IN the morning, sometimes III the
afternoon; and those boating expedi-
tons were extended on many occasions
up the river to Kingston. Molesey,
and Sunbury, and mauy an argument
they had on literature and art-for, as
rule, their opinions on these sub
iects were Numerically opposite-as
they drifted down homeward bound.
One afternoon they were returning
down the river when the conversation
turned upon the wedding of a lady of
property in the neighborhood, who
had recently married her coachman.
''Poor, unfortunate woman" ex-
claimed Geraldine. "HSw bitterly
she will regret it,"
"Why should she?" inquired Jack.
Because happiness is impossible
with such an ill-assorted match"
"How do you know they are ill
assorted?"
"Whyl the man is only common
coachman."
"But you must remember that she
has married the man, not the coach
man; and if they are fond of one
another, why should they not be
happy"
1T is impossible" exclaimed Geral-
dine. How can shea lady of birth
and education-have anything in COM
mon with fellow like that--a newer
of wood and drawer of water?"
Don't be too hard upon u.s. said
Jack, half seriously. Remember that
Homer was slave, Burns a plowman,
and your favorite, Pope, only the son
of linen draper"
"Ah! but genius levels oil things"
replied Geraldine, with smile.
There is something else which
levels all things" observed the young
boatman.
What is that?"
Love" answered Jack. "That
glorious feeling which is the true
Philosophers stone, which glids the
road of life, no matter how rough 1t
may be; makes dry crust with the
object of ones affection more accept
able than feast without her; and
which sweeps away all distinctions of
rank, as the running water washes
away the dull earth and leaves the
grains of gold exposed"
"How eloquent you are this after
noon!' remarked Geraldine, but her
voice was tremulous, and it was evil
dent that her playful sarcasm was but
assumed. "What novel have you
been reading?"
Perhaps am eloquent" replied
Jack. at has been said that all men
deeply in earnest are so, and this is
question that affects me to the bottom
of my soul! In days of old women
married men because they loved them,
irrespective of their banking accounts
or pedigrees. If n man was honest,
brave ana honorable, he was con-
sidered match for any 1adye faire,
and why should it not be soY"
"Times have altered" faltered
Geraldine, her usually pale face a rosy
red; "and we have altered with
them
"Not so," responded Jack. "The
times have changed, | grant you, and,
in many respects, for the worse; but
men and women are still the sNne.
Indeed, so sure am l that this is the
case, that / am about to stake my
whole future happiness upon it l
love you truly and devotedly. / have
never loved before, and / shall never
love again. Will You be mine? Will
you trust yourself and your future
happiness to mel
80! this is unkind and ungener-
ous," cried Geraldine, her eyes filling
with tears. "You should not-you
ought not to-talk to me like this"
"Why not? Out of the fulness Of
the heart the mouth speaketh !
answered the young man, and, leaning
forward, he possessed himself Of one
of her hands. put on one side all
disparities of rank or fortune, and ask
yourself the question: DO | love
him.? Geraldine, dear Geraldine, do
not let the cruel laws Of society come
between us and ruin the happiness Of
two lovers. Speak, darling, and tell
me you love me. l."
"Can You not see," cried the poor
girl, commencing to weep bitterly, "it
is unkind of you to press me further?"
81 want to hear it from your own
dear lips" persisted Jack. 81 only
want you to say, Il love you, Jack, and
will be your wife
ooh, I cannot"
$40 you love me?"
eyes, but oh, look, there is my
aunt" exclaimed Geraldine. "Please
put me on shore at once.
Jack looked around and discovered
an old lady watching them intently
from the towing path, and, turning the
boats head, he sculled in to the bank,
saving, as he assisted Geraldine to
land: