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I VOL. XVIII.
ATLANTA, GA* TUESDAY MURNINGK AUGUST 10 18tJ6
f MCE FIVE CENTS
DIANA’S STORY,
BY LUCY C. LILLIE.
Anthor of “ Nan,” “ Bolf Honaa," “ Jo’s Op
poitunity,” “Music and Musicians," “Do
Bzrbidoesa's Littlo Hoar,” and Na-
merouj Stories and Serials In
tho Leading M magazines.
Copyright 1880, by Lucy C. Lillie.
The picture hangs in ona bend of the wide
hall at Blake Home, so that tbs other day
when my cousin Dorothea Blake was married
to her EuglAu lover, tho eyes and lips of oor
great aunt teemed to bo smiling a wlstfat t >rt
of aisent; brilliant eyes they ware, dark and
lustrous, and with a fringe of cnrling lashes,
which lay ott tnch a cheok! One heart of a
“smooth oval "—one can eee it In tho portrait
of Aunt Dolly’s girlhood. Smooth and fair,
rallfs !, bring just a suspicion of a dimple into
each cheek; the head is a trifle on ona tide,
bnt Mistress Dorothea Leigh is looking at yon
quite fearlessly, meeting the glances of all
posterity with a bewitching air, and at It were,
loveliness over that of her descendants. When
the ceremony was over, Dolly—onr Dolly-
nodded prettily at the pictnro, and said to us
In her little daring way:
”1 wonder if she approved; bnt then she had
an Eogllsh lover—and didn’t grandm
near loving him ?’
always think she came very near
Tho eyes in tho picture teemed to smile
hack. Mistress Leigh wean a ‘
little circlet around
throat, and betidea there la a flue gold chain
rears a drees of pale
Leigh diamonds are
tnd her slim white
dren wo used to say the locket
held the portrait of “the English captain."
Our Dolly told her husband about it before
they left us and he said there was a definite
poetical Justice in tho second Dorothea giving
her heart to England; and then Dolly, who
was growing a bit mournful over the thought
of sailing away tho next day, proposed our
getting out an old manuscript—the story
our great great grandfather had written of his
first loro. He was one Hobart Blake, gent,
who lived In this very house in tho year of
onr lord 1769. Mistress Blake, his wife, was
not only noted for her beauty, but as welt for
the wide tenderness of her charity: every
where there nre ovidences of it and she was a
woman who lived well in all ways, I fancy;
whether she prayed or sang, or ate or drank,
thcro was a touch of doing what sho did in
tho hist way and for tho love of God, and
VJ Utah tvmj uuu iui tuu iuiu vt uuu ( auu
.tiiotic though sho was, and no woman in all
patriotic t.
Berkshire
was more ao, ovary one knew that
n ouriona fancy of her life was this. On the
unnual fourth of July, dinner given at lllako
Home, alter all tho toaeta wore glveo, lovely
Mrs. Blake would rise, and looking at her
husband with those tender ehlnlng eyea of
here, abe would say, "Shell we drink to the
health of our English cousins nokr, Koberi?"
heerty fervor In splto of Bobert Blake’s rovo.
■aid that attach times Mrs Bisks had s wist'
fulness In her beanty not always seen there,
iuilitss sea uvt utaut/ siw* ainn/a ovuu bUUiU.
but If her husband saw it ha adored her and
undsntood every puliation of her heart, and
loved her, I doubt nor, the bettor for it.
Wn found the box easily enough with the
by the library Are, w!
a gleam across thi picture In tho hall, touch
lug the old time beauty of our ancestress with
aew bewitchment. Herein the story just as
cur gieat grandfather wrote It.
BOIIXXT BLAKE’S ROBY.
My Uncle Blake was a great friend of all
the Englishmen In the neighborhood of March.
town, end though this was some years bsfore
tho outbreak of the revolution, his strong
« feeling made him somewhat unpopu
i the American residents of the eona
try. He lived quite by blmeelf In the big old-
* '' | house, but he entertained la a aurnpt*
looking
nous manner, and acemedquIA contented
with his bachelor existence. He had a younger
lister, tbs greet besuty of the family, and ws
all kflew tun sad atory of her marriage. She
hsd run awsy with a penniless young officer,
Tom Leigh, and her brother hsd votred never
to spask to bar again. Bat one day there
was n great sensation np at Blake
house. Diane Leigh had died, suddenly and
her one child, a littlo girl, was bronght'home
by Uncla Blake. How well I " '
J remomber first
seeing* Ar sitting iu'tha drawing room; a pret
ty, proud. Acad little women of ten with n
comical air of superiorly which waalmpossi-
' Bib,"
ble to resist. She called me “Cousin
directly and assumed a tort of right over m s
from tbs outset Aujalr of good friendship was
cstanlished between ns and though I was
nearly 17 we found a great deal In onr conn-
try life to anjoy togethor. I hsd to teach her
to ride and drive and flab, and ail through tho
' > ipring and summer time wa spent tho
„*ld*m*,or on bar gray pony
named condescendingly for me. By the time
•be was 15 tba wholo country knew and talk
ed of Mias Leigh’s beanty and fins airs, but
wheu I went to Virginia for two years D1 held
mo aa the promised in sweet remembrance.
This day I bars the little notes and letters she
wrote me; playfol,scolding,imperious, render,
i mood found her when they were writ-
u tbs. .
ten, but always at tbn end, ‘‘Your loving littlo
Dl;’’ and tho “Come back aoon,” frequently
recurring was n magnet I Ain would have fol
lowed every time. I went bask when the
autumn days were Just beginning—youth and
suLthlne go easily together. I was full of
hope, aspiration and ambition. Dl was at the
heart of all. Llttla Dl was by this time a
drove over to Locle
tome* back to me! Lights were not yet
brought Into the parlor at Blake house; when
I drew near the step* I paused a moment, for I
heard Di’a voice alngAg within; I knew
for £ had tanght It her
tho k'cijg well, m
myself; “When thou ut o’er the seas,
love.” That was tho song—had the
■went girl lab tents deepened? It aaamed to
me, at I stood listening, than was tome new
meeting In them—some tenderer cadence than
vice! heard them hut. I waited until tho
bat cotes died away end then made my way
K iuo thc house and softly opened the parlor
I door, the did not bear me and I stood n ms-
miu(alliance while every Una in her face.
lead the Ufe of annehine that became her
' JC WhTle I locked at her aha dghed softly and
put her little band a moment to her brout.
“Di!” reaid suddenly.
She turned quickly and giving a joyful cry
sprang forward with her hands outstretched.
“Robert, dear old fellow," she said, elloging
to me, “bow glad I am to see yon again.”
Had tho sigh been for me? I held her In my
aims questioning her face—bnt she drooped
her bend n little, and n pink flash dole Into
her cheeks. . ....
“Well, Di,” X raid, releasing her slowly, “ao
I’ve come back, you ace.” ....
“Tea,” eho answered eoftly, and looking at
mo with a merry smile In her eyes, abe add
ed: "how fine yon look in yonr gey clothes,
air.”
I was highly pleased at the approval in her
- ’ —‘T anjaffectatlon of
voice and manner and with _
carelessness walked about the room better to
display my fine anit. I paused suddenly be-
in the garden—a young man,decidedly Engl
and aristocratic In appearance. Were It not
for his limplo dreaa I would havo thought him
an English officer of rank,
•■nil" T •Telalmed. "W
flippancy In her manner pained end annoyed
— —“ ‘ l! iglAhat
mo. Conld it be that she, too, was Em.
heart? Meeting herons day unexpectedly at
our own hones—aho had ridden over for the
first time in weeks—I taxed her with it, at-
i penlon still making hla way, ottering queer
I little moana and groans as ha did as.
The lad started at tho sound of my voice-
turned his Ace upwards suddenly and in splto
Di seemed roused. She looked at
mo with a gentle sort of surprise.
no with a gentle sort of surprise.
"I thought yon at least, knew me, Bobert,"
ha said reproachfully. “And eared for me.”
she laid reproachfully. __
'I thought ao, too,” I answered her, “until I
A lUUUgat ID, A M1IWDIDU U«r. UUMt A
came homo. Twa yean do a great deal. Dl."
8he said nothing, bnt walked away with an
angry light in her eyes. I had, I found, spo
ken rashly. From that day Dl grewoolder
and more distant toward me, until finally all
semblance of cousinly intercourse was at tu
end between ne. Bnt for the intones outer In
terests of tho honr I wonld have found my
heart very heavy, bnt tbaio was no time for
ything leaa serious tliau our country’s des
perate burden of wrong. Hearts, brains,
hands, all went to work to foci, nl*n, woik
for redreis. A fortnight more endows ware at
of the wind and rein and all the etrsngouois
of her coming, I recognized my cousin
Di!
Another moment and her companion reached
ns—Dl’a fait.-Al maid, Xesiab Martini
“Dims!'’ I cried out, feeling almost a suffo
cation in my breast.
She did not speak, and with some difficulty
- into the room, followed by the
made her tvay _
robbing Krxlah. Hurriedly and aearoelyknow
ing what I wa* doing, I relit the light and
held it • • ■ - ■ -
tin oloialy to Diint’i fice.
caught me quickly by the arm, and with a
it rt of horror in her lice, motioned me to bo
silent.
1 Are we quite alone?” eh* whispered.
She wa* breathing quickly, poor child. Her
fere was r*le and haggard. I led hor—almoit
t arried her to a rough lounge nrer the fire. She
glanced down at her dlegnlee, a hlusn covering
ber face, making it for an initant ImpoHiula
“Di!” I exclaimed. "Who is that?"
She gave n quick lock into the garden and
then at a ‘ *'
“Who hi
mo wlthoutapeaklng.
'A fine) looking fellow,” I said,
he?”
“A friend of Uncle Blake’a,” she said quiet
ly. "A young Englishman, come here on hol
iness.”
"Has ho been here long? What It bis
name?”
ontagne. Uncle Blake knew the Montagues
“And what sort of a fellow A bet” I tnqnir-
quarrel
when we talk,'that I let It alone now.”
“Humph! And will ha be hero long?
She eh injured hor shoulders.
“I’m euroLdon’t know. Come, Robert, let
ne talk or tomethlng else. Did Betsy Living
stone send mo my tabinet drew? She prom
lied It last month.”
"Sbt did," I answered, sitting down. “And
yonr cousin Bentley A coming np. And nil
the Hamilton! nre in New York. There la my
bodget for yon.”
“And they any Kitty Schuyler Is qntte
belle, Isn’t she?” mid Dl, with trim feminine
cnrloeity about one of hor sex. “And Nancy
Tbomu baa gone to Philadelphia."
“All tine enough,” I rejoined.
Wo had a pleasant hour’s chat before lupper
uucst, Mr. Monlsgne, came Into tho room.
Thirciwesaomithingvery prepossessing about
tho young mail. At loaet Di emmed to think
She see
i0 scarcely noticed me, hut for all hor Ira-
pciiou:nesr gave her real attention to Mr.Mon-
Ague In niche way,that half annoyed with hor.
I etoed np to ieavo an hour earlturthan I need
ncr of the fireplace, her cheek resting on her
hand, tho glow casting red shadows on her
drew, burnishl; ‘ ‘ ‘
, Jog her b*lr, touching softly tho
white reso in her hand. Sho was a pictnro fit
tor any painter, and 1 stood looking at her
sadly,lovingly, • — *
mm.,}, juv,u£iy, just at I felt, fora moment be
fore 1 raid good night. The rest were all busy
in tho other end of the room looking over n
ccunty map Mr. Montague wanted to ace.
“Well, Di, my dear," I laid, leaning on the
chimney piece, and looking down other with
a emlle, “now that I’va come back yon don’t
em ao vary glad to me mo.”
She lifted her aark eye* with a critical ex
pression in them to my face.
"Ob, yes, Bobert, I am glad,” aha retd, cool-
and broader since yon went away; not quite
the same Robert.”
"And yon look aver to much older and
prettier, and gayar,” I retorted; "will yon go
to ride with me tomorrow?”
I promised to go over to tho Hensleys’ to
morrow with nncl* and Mr. Montague,” she
said, softly. “Ha may hare to leavo soon
and ”
“And you can't afford to lore any of hla
prtclooa time,” I said, scornfully. “Vary
wall—good-night, now, Dl.”
I was stooping down to kiss her check as
had always been my custom, when she drew
beck suddenly, and looked up einiliog. Wo
were both silent an instant. Then she gave a
little shy curtsey, hardly llftlug her eyes from
night, Robert,” she mid, gravely.
I bowed quickly, and with n hurried good
night to the rest, went away.
. mother was waiting for ms when I re
turned, end at one* asked m* how I found Dis
cs. I could not say much; bnt asked if she
[•very curve of her figure, her drew, her sim
ple ornaments, tbe ' *
l<» which she
i stood.
17 mind.
cf Di has beta painted. As it hangs obova
> w it brings Ar back u eke stood before
ipery ol
became indelibly im-
Slnc* then n portrait
hor* me
k -itbri*mberb*dc
then, her Ace uplifted^ theeye* proud and
Jtt soft in their cures. Hu I
going forth to greet her nation you
Would Lave laid down your life that she might
kill reputation in Marchtown fora
great deal,” said my mother.
“For whet?”
“For beanty, of course, bnt also for coquet-
r. Undo Bieke bee bad five offer* for her.
aid the bm refused them ail. People say—”
“What?” 1 inquired.
“That this Englishman will win tho day. Di
trials him with moredtfcreneaaod submission
than she baa any man yet, and yonr Unci*
Elsie A more anxious for it."
II.
In tbe few weebs that followed I saw Di very
rarely, as tbere was much of an engrossing
character on my mind,
War was imminent with England. Every
tine feeling American was roused to excite
ment and Indignation. We began to bold
cruited, there was a wave of warfare through
tba land. The sound of drum and cannon
seemed to bo in onr mi* when era walked or
(Apt. My Uncle Blake’s house was no place
for me at thA time. HA sympathies were in
reality English, though from n policy much
affected at the time, appeared to Avor the
American interests. I conld not talk to him;
moreover, be had an EnglAh (nest, and when
I went to the house It harrowed my deepest
Presently I made an excuse to order nil but
tlree found ourselves, strangely enough, to
gether.
MnnAgue was the first to speak.
“Colonel Blebr,” he aald, coldly, and not
looking 'at tbe little figure' by tbs' fire, but
I ask where I am to
straight at me, “may :
“Probably to Trenton,” I answered, quietly,
and added with as much friendliness ae I
conld put In my voloe: “Captain Montague, I
regret sincerely to find yon my prisoner.”
Ho wared hA band with a bitter emlle.
"Tho Information,” he sold, turning hA
head for half an Initant towards my consln,
■o girl's
nuuiu MUUDi RUU lURb mo llwwlO URDU UUlUlUg
tbe folds of her cloak was drawn together on
her breast with a painful tension.
“There A no mystery,” I aald, “ MAs Leigh
heard of tho plan tnd, with her faithful maid
KesAh Martin >> -----
here, 1
fiartln,” (KesAh's head wagged,
ilnmni vnlrn whlmnnrivl “ (IS
BILL ARP.
THB PHILOSOPHER TBLLS ABOUT
THE CROP PROSPECTS.
The Old tted Hilts oronrala as Described by tbs
jter.SMJonMln sBM*nt*ensoa-Tbf Can
sad Wbstl Crop—Tath.r Adam as a Tar-
tair—Xbo Philosophic St Hams.
and n most dolorous voloe whimpered, “ (
don't Master Bobert, don't elr.") “with I
“IRE INFORMATION WAS BROUGHT YOI) BY MISS LEIGH,”
war, Lexington and other battles fought, for her to speak.
Then tho nation's cry turned to hoaren and
General Washington for help. The very dark
ness of dcepalr seemed closing in around us.
Huebandsand brothers left their homesupon an
hour’s warning, and there aro records of wo
manly courage and derotion within their
houaobolda not oxcelled by thoae of the bravo
heuts and hands stilled on tba field of battl*.
and he upon territory which seem;
equally ao. Of Diana I saw vary little, b it
tba Engliah visitor had disappeared and my
' ' ' Id. dtatn*
cousin had grown pale, cold, dtatraits, too
very shadow of her former brilliant ealf.
The regiment I commanded was stationed
for seme time about ton miles from Marsh-
town and occasionally I tried to boar bite uf
news of Diana. Once I sent ber a little note,
when one of tho rare safe opportunities offer
ed, but I received no reply and I understood
went«
young Montague wherever he had gone.
We bad tome engagements near Mar*
then the enemy withd
omenta near Marchtown,
, tdrow and for abont a
week wo were Aft in undisturbed possession
or tbn field. My regiment was statlonod at
Ibe impromptu fortifications wa had araotod,
while tome go miles beyond General H-——
was quartering with a small detachment of
men for n day or two, in order to make some
special Investigations, the result of which ho
would eommnnicato to me, with pUns for tho
mining fortnight. I was to bo Not for if
needed to Join Areas, for the Aw day’s quiet
hsd produced no peaceful sense of security.
The Eogllsh army lay right across the river.
Danger wu to be hourly apprehended. They
bad taken complete possession of Uoels
'DIan i
explain j
Jn brqt
I wild, anxiously, “for God’s sake,
r coming. What does It mean?”
sentences, almost whispsrlng it,
breast, aha told hor atory. Undo 111
been in losguo with tho English; hsd com
municated with a spy in my regiment A party
of English offleara worn in waiting across tho
river. If wa sent out a* wu expected ~
parly were to bo captured by tbe enemy, per
il, pc, if It were thought beat, killed on tba
■pot. She, bravsllttle Dl, had overheard the
plana that day and had •■ - -
noose bare through mun;
fall, having fairly forced Kc.lsh to accom-
after night-
pany her.
“And I thought” aba said, patting her little
bends together, “If I did not get her* In time,
yon might go, Robert and ’’
Fur nil tba shock and anxiety of tbe mo
meut, 1 thought of nothing tben, but that I
bad Dl’a bead upon my breast Di’a voice ten
der and sweet sounding in my eert!
“God brought yon safely, Dl,” I whinnered,
palling my nrme closely about ber, “let ui
(bank Him for It.”
And then with a littlo sigh of relief or com
fort I know not wbst Di put one of ber litll*
bends np to my face and drawing it down to
hr r own, kissed my ebook passionately.
Wa were only silent and salllihly thought-
fui for on naive* for a moment Actlop wu
m ctaeary at once. DI oonld tall me tbe name
oftho foe within my door. Itwu Alpinltbo
reedy volunteer! 1 told Dl the moat re-
main In disguise while I dlsenmed our plan
of action with onr offleere. 8b* drew her
cloak abont ber and ut Ilk* n sby, pretty
boy, apart in tho shadow of
room. Krslab, still AeKned to b* despondent
end weeping, remained near bjr, bar cloak
drawn u closely u possible, ana her sharp,
imperative
;y. Wowere gradually increasing our
bnt withdrawing thejreconnoltrou there
stented lea dinger abend. Suddenly I re
ceived an Intimation from tbs command*r
that papers of Importance wonld bo unt me—
directions. Instructions, etc. I wu to send a
picked company In dAgnfta acrou the river
and meet the general’s messenger it an ap
pointed poet at midnight and thru by dividing
the work dturm suspicion. I Roll remomber
tbe dsy the nows reached mo. Itwu storm
ing wildly. I spent the afternoon with*
old fixtures grimly cut against tba firelight—
.. - - •— rerity/lndl-
■be imprnonatlon of Puritan severity,
nerading et
ernally in contrast with the muqm
tire ebe bad adopted at her young mistress’!
bidding.
It wu 11 o’clock. We barllly laid our plans.
I wonld remain at bom* lest a surprise wu In-
young lieutenant planning, advAIng, ate., and
it wu after soma deliberation wa decided
upon tho men to bo chosen, wbllo I resolved
myself to bo one of tho number. While we
were consulting eomo one knocked
opon tho door and I admitted
s man named Alpin, recently coma into tbe
service and who had quite distinguished him-
rt If among the soldiers for hA fervor and pa-
triothm. Be bad come, he laid, to bog per.
e ground from boy.
andsbout way to tba
lie knew every Inch of
hoed, and better atlll, n row .
choc on point of meeting. Wa decided t» ad
mit him, and after receiving some special la
st ructions he and the lieutenant both with
drew. Wa bad been discussing tba quastloa
in the little bare sitting room whan snob
ronncils were usually bald and when I
found myself alone, abont ten o’clock, I want
to tbe window and looked oat, with mom
sympathy forth# midnight mamongan, upon
tbe alinoet impenetrable darkness and blind
ing rain. Tba window fronted n narrow strip
of ground tanning along tbs embankment.
Tbere were at thA point no etap* or means of
ascent, save by tha moat caution* and even
icrilcus cumbering. A lantern swung bar*
rom a high post. I was watching it meehan-
I rally u it awssESkfitfally to and fro
in tha wind and TffJ’ when iU lurid
gleam suddenly felJ^WTwo figures evidently
sttemptma tbe ucant. Ones, twice, tha fore
most figure slipped—I uwa wild aflort made
to clutch the* soggy earth. I was In n way
rfi ll bcund, knowing it
conld b* ao ona who
ot bare been chorea. My AcuitA* ssemad
impended; the dull glow of tha lantern Uln-
mn-ated the strangers’ effort to reach tho
npper lodge and with n sort of stupid fasci
nation I watched them. They gained the
ten ace at last—two mu, tha (lighter of tba
two urging the other on, white tho wind and
rain bnffettad them cruelly. A moment more
and on* wu beneath my window. My senate
seemed to return ilka a flash, u I flung open
the sash and but down over tbe half pros
trate form of a slender boy wrapped In along
datk cloak, my eaudrt suowUig *» bit com-
OLdlstorbed, all but Alpin receiving prlval
Instructions. A detachment would cross tbe
river romewbat above half an hoar In ad
vance, and It was hoped to thus capture tha
Enilish party. 1 saw Dl lAtened anxiously,
■ml as soon as our plus were laid and w*
were alone, I went over to report to her. Sho
celight my band nervovsly.
Robert,” she exclaimed, “t
m, “are yon going?”
I explained that it wudffferently arranged,
id eho sighed quickly, taming ber Ac*
away, No victory, no cry of battle, could
have given mi the courage of that little ligh
of relief that I was not to Aav* bn.
Tba party Aft, all bnt Alpin Informed of tba
regiment in waiting lor attack
coaly. We were In an adjoining room to tha
ona in which Dl lay atlll upon tha loungo.
Now and then I went to tho door and watched
heriaslluc*. Sbe had Allen Into a deep sleep
from tba exhaustion and axdtamant of bar
walk. In tbe dim light even, I saw bow pale
and worn ber Ac* bad grown lino* I saw It
last. The outline wu no longer round—tho
hue no longer soft and blooming, bnt it wa* Di
still. Lilli* Di, for ail tha change, and u I
wstcied bar, my heart wonld almost fores me
to kneel down end call upon her to look np
and tail mo ah* had com* for my uk* as wall
as for tbe country I now knew ibe loved u
loyally as myself.
1 think It was daybreak when ws beard tha
tramp of men’s feat outside. Tho ram bad
cesiad—the ream wu All of trembllag grey
light. 1 fund Di by tbs window wbonoosbo
looked out onto tbe eteep embankment eho
bid eo bravely ascended. In n moment tbn
room wu fall of men. OarpAn bad worked
well. There were six English officers nod Al
pin In .captivity. In the coofolloa and ex
citement of their arrival I did not raeogiAo
a familiar Ac»—It wu Di staoding nur me,
who sndduly cried oot: “Montague,” and I
recognized that on* of my prisoners wu my
old rival, UacA Blake’s guest.
Captain Montague looked at m* coldly, hot
on Louing DAna’a vole*. hA wboA expres
sion changed. If# glanced
I swiftly in hor di
rection. surprise, then something Ilk* an
guish, darkening hA handsomeAc*. Nat a
word wu spoken for that moment. Dittos bad
retorned hA look with ons which fur an in
stant tent n tUb of pain to my heart, hot at
mt 6« WUit iwPo4»na*fiet«Mdaw»7.
me tha warning, bnt I am quite rare aho
no Idea yon were In the party.”
8ho moved now, roie and name forward
slowly to hA aide with hor littlo hands out-
etrel
“Bobert wu right,” eho nld In a low voice,
“Idid not know—I am glad I did not—oh!
letna ray, good-by, kindly; 1 ’ there wu »
break A her voloo, and the next words came
with touching emphasis: “ When wo uw each
other lut, Captain Montagna, I arid eomo
bitter thlngi—but It wu because my heart
wuio lore. I did not mean them harshly;
I conld not; I felt I had done wrong loading
von to bclinva — w
yon to believe
Her bead drooped—the color fiemod a rich
scarlet in her cheeks.
MonUguo nailed Ba
“Leading mo to believe,” ko uld. In clear
cold tones, “that perhaps yon would come to
lovsm*. Yea, Miss Leigh, fore time I wu
fool enough to think ao—bnt my folly wu
ihort-llved. It wu over—weeks ago.” *
Hour* of bitter trial end of weariness fol
lowed on that morning; dan of fleroo strug
gle—yean of a life that both in the Intensity
of Joy and sorrow might have made tbs put
faint and dim, yet I find that not« detail oi ’
tho picture hu ever grown shadowy, not an
‘ ppoken grown far
.echo of the words epoken grown Ar away,
Writing u ldo now A my library at Blake
house, seeing u I lift my eyes, my grandchil
dren playing on the lawn before my window
I can yet, by oloslng my eyes, conjure up Aa
flask a pictnro that often riau nnblddon: —
daylight—gray dawn, slowly filling tbe room
wlthlAmntoslguofwarfare—bora enough,
yet somehow coniocrated In my eyosby that
ono sceno enacted thoro,
"TtMft ffifc Ell fstlil ” meal
“It'A at an ontV’aall Montague,bonding
lii* dark ejes upon Diana's trembling itgure
away—If my llfo Is spared—as ,
to England, I desire to think of no future
which shall ntako mo for an Instant forgot
ivo and hold—might cherish and koop groon,
evon though another woman became my wifo.
It A what you cannot tako away from mo—
what you havo no power to witharew—It I
aak you A remember mo at any time It A A
think that I aald this and moant It truly. Re
number always that I. too, bad my country
A reive- that for a brief, base honr I wu week
enough A think nf deserting her—beoanse—
because, Diana, God help me, I loved you eo
madly "
Ha wonld havo tamed away, bnt how could
b* do eo now, that the girl’s face wu lifted to
hla and that the tears I honored her for
8h#
(not check tham—seemed unaware
he not stooped down;
end for an Instant, taking bar In hA trim,
klued bar eyelids, her cheeks, and one*
lightly and reverently the Air proud lips.
My coutln wore tied loosely about bar as.
young threat, a blue scarf, and while h* hold
lire tbet moment to hA breast, ah* was buy
loosening it with uger, nervous llugere.
“I shall prey tor you,’’ ah* said, moving
Ack from Mm, tnd duhlng tho tsars away
with a passionate llttla gesture, “and I givo
' "a u a pledge of my—my sweet ramem.
of you—my cousin will not esn-u
r—we •hall navtr see each other mere.”
ycneay-
Ue tcok it—reverently and oh! ao tenderly,
and bolding It to h A lip* for half an Instant
put it In hA breut.
Montagna wu soon exchanged. As h*
tied, ha returned to EngAnd, an
urdictcd, ha returned to Eng
Tho state agricultural society meeA A oor
town th A week. They aro tho Armen-not
exactly the horny-handed aom of toll, who
pull fodder and pick cotAn nnd dig post holes,
bnt they have it done. They boas. Tkty
follow tbe plow—aAr off, maybe—but they
follow It They u* coming A tako counsel
Agether for the good of tho order. There ar*
no politics A It no Blander, no trick, but It A
nil honest and friendly. It is too big a thing
for politic!. Tbe good of the oonndry de
pends on It. If finning A1A, everything fills.
It A the baeo or all prosperity and
1A foundation la tho aolld earth. Thera are
no strikes among the Armen—no boycotts—
for tho Creator A their employer nnd famishes
their iupplle*. They depend upon Him for
ranshlno end shower nnd hare faith that tha
•eaions will not All. Old Fathor Adam wag
the first fanner, tnd I reckon ho bed a hard
tima of It—harder than wo have, for tho ground
wu curerd and brought fourth thorns and
tbAUea. "Curled bo the ground for thy sake,”
uld tbe Loid. “In tho sweat of thy brow
shall thon ut bread.” I reckon tho
bull nettles and tread nfta and bamboo brlorf
jrstroma a turning and kept the old fellow
bn “ ‘
jusy. For 030 yean ha wu reminded every
day of that apple business. The contrast bo-
tween the brontltal garden of Eden and tha
stlrksi7 field wu ever Afore him. Bnt Cain
couldn’t aland it at all. Ho never ut any appla
and ho Was mad bfc*B» ha had to suiter tor
it. Ha wu a farmer Ao, and hod A work ao
bard, ha Attndged what tho old man Aid him
A give A the laird,i
laird,and eo ho Aok his rcrengs
. AAi, who WM having fill easy timo
■ittlng around A tho ihado and watching
sheep. Bat after the flood tho Lord got sorry
for man and nld: “I will not again curse tha
jeart is evil from his youth, llut white
tho earth remalnetb seed timo and harvest
shall not fail.” So it hu alwaya seemed to mo
that the cone wu then romovod. At all
even A tha farmers do not havo a very hard
time now. Tha land doos very well, especially
good land. .Grass and woods
aro rather frequent sometimes,
hut they are ro offilctlon. They koop tire
boys lively. If they didn't havo anything A
tho crop they wonld bo off in somo dovolmont
half tbe time. Bus bell wouldn't ho u cir
cumstance. Bam Jones couldn't do a thing
with them. Idleness is tbe parentofaii vice,
Work A a blessing—work that A rewarded
with success. Thoro A no greater comfort
than to soo the corn green that wo have plow
ed. Ono of my chief dollghA is A go out
every morning and peruso tho gardon that I
planted and worked. Thoro Is ao carto there.
There A no enrea A tell, and swoat oftho Ail
hu a good reward. I lovo A plan and A
build. If Aiadin wonld lond mo ills lamp I
wonld not build a palace in a nlghl; I had
rather A a year abont It. It A to nice to set
it grow Into Aauty day by day and weok by
Mrs. Arp says tut I am awfully afraid
week. | ■ _ _
I will hurry on romethlog; but sho
won’t think eo when eh* comes back homo
again, for I’ve been fixing A surprise
her. Bhe won’t know this old homo when sho
gsAln sight of It, and will drtvoon by, I
reckon. Sbe won’t reoogniso the green blinds
and tbo brown casings, and tho whitewashed
fence in front. Wa are miking clean the out
side of tha platter, anyhow. I was sitting
behind tbo honeyrackle vine yesterday, and
sente fellers eomo along In a wngon, nnd they
gased and look<d.and I board oneoftlicm say:
“Well, sir,if old Reel Arp ain’t been a p rintin'
of fates house!” Ha wu driving steals, and
talked u slow u he moved.
It will do thee* low-country farmers good
Bartow valley*. It
A sea the big com In onr 1
waaent this part oftho country that Sint
Joni a wu talking nhout when ho spoko ot tho
bare bllA of Georgia that conidcnt make but
tbrrt cr four Luthols of com
A tho sere. Thoro are eomo
each bills, I reckon, and the folks who
live there are awftil poor and no account.
UcaasothohOA are eo bare or whothertho
don’t know. A littlo of both I reckon.
Brother Jones wu Just making a cue A fit
the occasion and had A fudgo a littlo. Wo all
(Jeorgift have eomo to t
Borne flu mere movod off and left them and
tho war killed off ao many morn that
tbrs* old hllla had no attention and grew up
in pin as, and th* pine straw fell year after
year and mulched the ground, and it beesmo
renewed In Its yoath, end A now about tbo
brat cotton And wn hare. Thehlllr of middle
Gt orgA that would not havo sold ter ono dol
lar an acre are now worth ten or twenty. Na.
Are does her work slow, bnt it A rare. But I
am (Ad these visiting brothers won’t nee onr
wheat crop, for I don’t balloro that Brother
Jones misted tho figoru vary much on wheat
this year.
It wu a miserable failure. Thoro wu
enough of it u It wu, I reckon, for tho
Rowltad made thirty-seven l
scree, and aaya b* wishes ha had made less
than be did. One of my nsbors says tho
thresher charged a tenth for threshing, and
be dident mike eaough A pay the A1E
there visiting farmers won’t raffor f
or su umu iu India, and I fluey that my
dsrlAg wu but ■lightly moved by it, tor her
life of
bosy life of affectionate Interests nnd many
occupations bid crowded out many thooghu
of tba pus. Bhe (aid very litdo
however, of her deepest feel-
inn. With the growth of years and mother
hood, my sweat wife hsd baoom* a self-eon-
taned, qnlet woman, always gratia, always
loving, but leas given A ipoatasaona mirth
and ready expression of every pairing mood.
But, when my dear lore Ay dying, ah* revert-
td A that attaoge scene A our barracks; hold
ing my band sh* asked m* if I aver thought
her "flippant” after that. Truly I told bar,
never, and the slghad and said aha never
mat to be; that th* tbooght of having pained
tree a hurt u Montagna’s had always lain'
sad It at her door.
Wei ‘ '
spoko of him, then-sha wondered if the
11'tA token ska had
given him wu long tret
□red, and the dear eyea lookAg AA mine
seemed for an initant like llttla Di’s of old-
tender, wAtfni, ill at one*. When I nld,
feaUng it Ukas throb at my haart, that I be
lieved anything ot hers wonld not havo been
cart Bride by tho most forgetful inan on urth,
she smiled sgsin and aald In a little way she
lad when I toil her till I loved bvr, “inaak
yon. dm,” and Itwu soon after-yerj soon,
(bat sbt tpoke no mors,
Onr folks nre shifty, crop or no crop,
and can entertain a friend pretty well for
■day or two. Talk about poverty. Thera
none of it around me. Onr peoplo nre non
Mcb. rad have few luxuries, but they are not
poor like tha folks ws road about. There ara
enough vegetables A my garden A supply tho
Klmtall house, and I can't (ire them away.
Everybody I uk Alls mothey have got plonty.
What • pity that thaan bountiful supplies
conld act bo pnt within reach of those who
need them, why should anybody suffer when
th* world make* more than It can consumo.
Tba time will come, I believe, when cheap
and swift transportation will remedy
ill this. When there will A a railroad la
every valley and not far from every man's
«7 l
doer. When they will carry everything wa
Are (o spare A the places whore they ara
seeded. Wo are eating posts today tAt A
aThomar"’
good friend shipped from ThomaavIlA yester
day morning. The LeOonA pear tAt Is en-.
ricking those good^pcojfie [icemi A A thfo
tESn
only
pear tAt is proor against
blight. A gentleman wrote
m , tho other .day A know whit
wonld remedytho blight A applo trees. I
wish I did know but I don't. My own are af
fected and though they say nie sulphur, I dra t
know exactly how and haven’t got faith.
Trees have their epidemics just like animals.
Tho postoaks are dying all over our hills ind
that nsver Appcned Afore In thA country-
The sycamores died two yean ago, but they
ate romAg again. Such Id Ufa JJ® auch A
death.