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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.