The Washington times., 1906-08-26

eagerness when finally she swept
past the bushes. She turned down
the path straight toward him, and
he clasped his hands together IN
delight as he gazed at her.
And truly she was a very vision
Of the springtime, as she passed
down the meadows that were
cleaning with their first sprinkling
of buttercups. She was clad 80 a
dress Of snowy white, which the
wind swept before her as she walk
ed; and il had stolen one strand
OF her golden hair 10 toss about
and play with. She came with all
the eagerness and spring OF the
brOoklet that danced beside her,
her cheeks glowing with health and
filed with the laughter Of the
morning. Surely, Of all the flowers
Of the May-rime there is none SO
fair as the maiden. And the young
man thought as he stood watching
her that IN all the world there was
no maiden so fair as this.
She did not see him, for her eyes
were lifted 10 a little bObounk that
had come flying down the wind.
One does not hear the bObOlink AT
his best unless one goes near him;
for sheer gloriied happiness there
is in all our land no bird Ike him
az the hour Of sunrise, when he is
drunk with the morning breeze and
the sight OF the dew-hIled roses.
At present a shower had lust pass
ed and the bobolink may have
thought that another dawn had
come. or perhaps he saw the maid
en-. At any rate. he perched him
self upon the tOpuost leaf of the
maple tree, still lalf-hyiug, as II
scorniHg even that much support;
and there he sang bis saag. First
ne gave his long prelude that one
does not often heHr-a few notes q
score OF times repeated. and grow
ing swift and loud; and more and
more strenuous and insistent; as
sometimes the orchestra builds up
its climax, so that the listener
holds his breath and waits for
something. he knows not what.
Then he passed q moment azd turn
ed his head 70 see If the girl was
watching, and filed his throat and
poured out his wonderful gushing
music. with its watery and beII-ike
tone that only the streamlet can
echo, from lts secret places under
meath the banks. Again and again
he gave II forth, tho white patches
on his wings fashlngin IN the sun
light and both himself and his song
one thrill Of fov.
The girls face was TIT up with de
light as she tripped down the mea-
dow path. A gust Of wind came up
behind her. and bowed the grass
and the flowers before her and
swung the bird upon the tree: and
so light was the girI's step that it
seemed TO lift and sweep her on q.
ward. AS IL grew stronger she
stretched out her arms 10 il and
half leaned upon it and flung her
head back for the very fullness Of
her happiness. The wind tossed
her skirts about her, and stole am
other tress of hair, and swung the
lily which she had plucked and
which she carried in her hand. II
is only when one has heard much
music that he understands the
morning wind. and knows that il IS
Il living thing about which he can
say such things as that; one needs
only to train his ear and he can
hear its footsteps upon the mea-
dows. and hear il calling TO him
from the tops of the trees.
The girl was the very spirit OF
the wind at that moment, and she
seemed to feel that some music
was needed. She glanced up again
AT the bobolinll, who had ceased
his song; she nodded to him once
as if for q challenge, and then, still
leaning back upon the breeze, and
keeping time with the flower in her
hand. she broke out into a happy
song:
Il heard a streamlet gushing
From out its rocky bed,
Far down the valley rushing.
So fresh and clear it sped"
l1Hl lltFltt t0 II even h'NAAtAA'N-s
were not equal to the fulluess Of
her heart, or because the language
of iov has no words. she left the
song unfinished and swept on In
wild carol that rose and swelled
and made the forest echo The
bobolink listened and then few on
to listen agaIr, while still the girl
poured out her breathless music, a
mad volley Of soaring melody; IL
seemed fairly TO lift her from her
feet. and she was half dancing as
she went. There came another gust
of wind and took her in its arms;
and the streamlet fed before her;
and thus the three. in one wild
burst of happiness, swept into the
woodland together.
There in its shadow the girl stop
ped short, her song cut in half by
the sight Of the old forest in its
majesty. One could not have mag
med a greater contrast than the
darkness and silence which dwelt
beneath the vast canopy, and she
gazed about her in rapture, first at
the trees and then at the royal car
pet of green, starred with its fields
of flowers. Her breast heaved. and