The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-06

image Of the girl she described that was
30 astonished l came near shouting at the
top OF my voice. There she is And that
would have astonished the audience.
wouldn't it,"
1t would. indeed she replie.. biushing
just a little.
But In forgetting my mission, Sf-. Gas
ton. Papa sent me to apologize for his alb
, sence to-day. He was called out or the city
on some mil! business. He told me to
bring you home to dine with him. I'm the
secretary. YOU know. and exercise authori-
~ in these matters. so I've fixed thar pro-
gramme. You have no choice. The car
rage is waiting"
On a gently rising hill on the banks OF
the Catawba River rose a splendid old
Southern mansion. its big Greek columns
cleaning through the green trees like pol
ished ivory. A wide porch ran across the
full width of the house beyond the big pill
lars. and smaller columns supported the
fun sweep of a great balcony above. The
house was built Of brick with Portland ce
ment finish, and the whole painted in two
shades of al, ivory. with mosa-green roof
and dark. rich Pompe.iau red brick foun-
datiOns. With its green background OF mag
nolia trees ii seemed like a huge block OF
solid ivory flashing in splendor from is
throne on the hill. The drive wound down
II little dale. around a great circle filed
with beautiful shrubbery and flowers. and
up to the pillared porte-cochere. Tears
sprang into Gaston's enraptured eyes as
the beauty flashed upon him.
"oh. what a beautiful home he tx-
claimed with feeling.
1T is beautiful. isn't it, she said with
simple delight.
81 love every brick in its walls. every
tree and flower and blade of grasst"
He helped her from the carriage and
she ran lightly up tie high stoop.
Now come here and look at the view
OF the river before papa comes and begins
to talk about the tremendous water-power
III the falls"
He followed her to the end of the long
porch overlooking the river. Behind the
house the hill abruptly plunged downward
to the waters edge In a mountainous cliff.
The river wound around this cliff past the
house. emerging into a valley. where Il
described a graceful curve, almost doub-
ling on itself. and rolled softly away amid
green ~overhanging willows and towering
sycamores till lost in the distance toward
the blue spurs OF Kings Mountain.
"A glorious viewr" saidxGaston. looking
long and lovingly at the tilver surface of
the river.
DO you love the water, Mr.. Gaston?"
"Passionately. l was born among the
hills, but the first time / saw the ocean
sweeping over five miles of sapd reefs and
breaking In white laundering spray at my
feet, 1 stood there on a sand dune on our
wild coast and gazed entranced for an
hour without moving. OF all the things
God ever made on this earth. I love the
waters of the sea, and all moving water
suggests it to me. That river says, I must
hurry to the seal"
ut is strange we should have such
similar ~tastes,' she SAID seriously. But
1t did not seem strange to him. Somehow
he expected to find her agree with every
whim and fancy of his nature.
Now we will find mamma. She is such
an invalid she rarely goes out. Papa will
be home any minute"
Certainly not. Miss Sallie. I'll testifr, |
Mrs. Worth. that your daughter has been
simply charming"
She ran to meet hi father at the door.
There was the sound Of a hearty kiss. a ,
little whispering. and the General stepped
briskly into the parlor. where she had left
her guest. |
Pleased to welcome you to our home, !
young man. They say downtown that |
you made the greatest speech ever heard
In Independence. Sorry 1 missed it. Wen /,
have You to dinner anyway. 1 knew your
brave father in the army. And now I come !
to thinkkof it. / saw you once when you |
were a boy. I was struck with your re-
semblance to your father then. as now. You |