Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-01
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OAK

It was not quite noon OF one Of the
beautiful Sundays with which Norfolk
/ is sometimes favored in late February
I or early March. After everybody has
gone to church. after the curbstone bril-
gade has formed outside the church
doors, and before the congregations
have come out, the streets which the
well-to-do know, are almost deserted.
AN occasional idler may be seen on the
sidewalks, and now and then, in the
street, horseman in neat road wag-
on, his horses coat showing in the sun
shine a sheen which will not be equal
ed by the richest satins in the church
toilets. I was one Of the Sunday
idlers on the perfect morning referred
to. ! had chosen to stay out in the
Great Temple rather than to go into
any when tho bells invited. When 1
looked UP did not see tented ceiling
or exquisite skylight, but the blue
dome shaped by the Master Hand. and
lighted by His own sun. To say there
q Is clear delight in being alive is not to
speak poets vagary; it Is now and
then true of individual CHEEKY souls
In healthy bodies. 1t was delightful to
me simply TO live in the sunshine;
q e.
rial things; walked the earth upon
good-sized feet, and enjoyed the con-
tact 1t was good to be so near nv
mother earth. Beside me now Is the an
cient wall We know so well. Here is
the thick. crooked trunk OF the wish
ing oak the slender shadows Of It's
branches interlacing upon the pave
5nent SO many feet have trod. I was
but an idler; I stopped to look across
at the old mansion with its two-sto-
ried. p1llared porches upon opposite
sides. How much OF the gay life of
nineteenth century Norfolk had gone in
and out of its hospitable, old-fashioned
doors? Just by the old tree the wall
was torn away. leaving the wide lawn
IN open view.
At the quick, sharp strokes of steel
on stone l turned ito look. A man
drove q handsome, dappled gray horse
up the street The animals sweeping,
sHVer-white tail and name CLEANED in
the sun as he passed on; the old clock
on Christ Church doomed out ~. noon.
There, at high noon, In the broad light
broken only by the faint shadows OF
the branches of the wishing oak. had
sense of n presence unseen, yet so
POSITIVE that l was sure was not
alone. Since I can remember I have
now and then had n vivid consciousness
OF some one unseen, never was 1t more
distinct than upon that bright Sunday
noon.
In another minute the presence was
visible. the presence of a very pretty
younF woman. 1t was not of the ira
ditional ghostly sort: why should sub
1ectivc images be unlike In character
to the objective ones which supply the
elements from which they are con-
structed? My lady stood out rounded
and distinct beside the tree, her feet
upon the edge of the lawn from which
In. 4 -
above the level of the sidewalk where
stood. She was little above the me-
dunn height; her face, cXquisitely COL
ored In all Its dainty eighteenth CEN
tury features. was framed in thick
dark curls; her head was we'll set upon
a neck half revealed and half concealed
by the white 'kcrchef Her dress was
such as n wealthy Norfolk girl might
have worn when Talbot street was the
fashionable quarter; petticoat of rich
brown and gold brocade: n gown of
shining brown satin with lace ruffies
In the elbow sleeves; q laced 'kerchief
of finest lawn crossed low enough to
show the beautiful outlines OF her
throat; a great plumed hat of brown
velvet, long mittens and little brown
buckled shoes. My lady's chin showed
tiny crescent of court-plaster. placed
with Judgment. for it led the eye of the
observer to see at once the shining
dimple beside 1T.
You wished just now you might see
some one who long ago trysted at the
wishing oak" she said, the Norfolk
rising infection making of her state
ment q question.
At did, Madame: no other form of
address fitted so well the stately young
beauty.
II knew this tree when the shade of
1T would scarce cover two. and oft
stood by it,
Would you hear more about the old
time when the trunk of the wishing
oak was no bigger than my wrist?"
she continued, perceiving had little
to say.
bowed assent.
"A brave young man met me here In
those days: they were stirring times.
Here he came to tell me OF the Bill OF
Rights, and of the signing OF the Decla
ration of Independence. can see him
now; his color coming and doing; his
curls moved by the river breeze, as he
stood here one summer evening and
told me the story the messenger had
told him of how Mr. Thomas Jefferson
the Lees, and Mr.. Harrison had stood
for liberty: how the boy watched the
Congress through the sey-hole till ell
had signed: how he shouted to the SEX
ton, ring. ring! it's signed, It's signed!
and how the liberty bell rang and the
people shouted. Another evening,
later, he came in the buff and blue, to
show me the uniform and bring me a
knot OF buff and blue ribbons. for we
were staunch patriots. Col. Washing
ton was not half so handsome in the
continental uniform as my own soldier,
with his shining yellow hair and brave
blue eyes"
Are you soldicr?" my lady asked.
"I am not" I confessed.
a.
beloved lady?"
Once more I confessed myself want