Only a Girl's Love

eavens with a burst of song; the river running in silvery silence to the sea; the green trees wav

wondered whether her uncle could be mistaken, whether they were not all deceived in thinking the quiet, graceful creature with the beautiful face and dreamy, almost womanly, soft eyes, wild

tella, who had been lost in her specul

Mr. Etheridge takes the change which

with surprise,

n," she said, with that air of meek ar

ter looked

r the presumption of

said S

, the life of a solitary, a hermit; suddenly there enters into that life a young and beau-a

ith pious fortitude." Then she added, in

4

ood, gentle, and loving with any living thing. I have known him since I was a boy," he added. "H

then," said Stella, with her little lau

nge intent look which she had l

ou?" h

, though she kne

nod

in the Thames valley. Are you tired of it already?

him-his eyes were

Sahara is like this lovely meadow. How do I feel? As if I had been translated to Paradise-as if I, who was be

ack waistband to her white dress, said

Will you forgive m

s voic

with a smile shining t

I was quite alone in the worl

with a feather's weight on her arm. "I implore y

ella. "How sh

tter than an unthinking br

ent's pause, th

idea England was like this, t

rs come over to England and put up at some hotel at the west-end, and judge the whole l

t is all. But I heard a great deal about

with great inter

an evening party, and one of the guests took great pains to

oked

4

who she was

but a gentleman. It

ster thoug

delstone. I d

ware of it the retort

nows

her with a th

him. Stay, yes, isn't he a

g eyes on her she blushed faintly. It annoyed her, and she

in dark man. A lawyer, I believe. Yes, I r

urs ago, her color deepened. "He is very amusing and well-informed, an

er tone that made him lo

, "your gratitude

eful of beings. Isn't that uncle sitting ther

ooke

nk I should have won him. It was my sis

r sister," said St

re on her i

oken of he

bitten her tongu

me about her-I asked him whos

?" he said, point

he spoke of your sister that he was fond

lips with soft tenderness. "I think every one wh

thing less imperious at that momen

s fond of pict

s, that little sketch will give her more pleasure than-than

a lau

s, are t

f them?" he sai

x? Yes, I am fond of diamonds. I am fond[47] of everything that is beau

oked

es in their beautiful dresses and shining gems, and I thought that I would give all the world to be like one of them; and the thought spoiled my enjo

ever met any girl-any woman-like her, so frank and open-minded. Listening to her was like

u wiser now

shut up in a dark gallery and look on at others enjoying themselves. Is

aping from under his tawny mustache. "I should be r

dogs back with a crack of his whip so that she might

nter lo

ycester," he said. "Well, Stella

nd looked ove

ncle,"

enty indigestible compounds," he said

h which rose as she remembered how slo

tting on?" said

d man

an I shall now you have

ycester

desired more than our company, Miss Et

and sank down

y of begging us t

ending the dogs off, flung hi

he said, pointing

t is beautiful-beautiful, and tha

say it and not insist upon my pa

ter sprang

4

will not remain to be abus

nd stood over her, looking down at h

were right; they are carpeted with p

to go and get

ed her face

on't care to

e bank, unfastened a boat, and

delight of a girl at the sight of a boat, whe

t-really?" s

d see,"

the water's edge

come there

p a boat from the ski

aid Stella

lau

cross? Did you think I swam

laug

hat; how st

step in?

at her uncle, and

that I shall not d

ou think I am afraid?

moment you are trembling

nwale, and he held out his hand and took hers; it was well he did so, for the bo

asping her hand and the other her arm, he held her for a moment-for longer than a moment.

oman out of twenty who ever sat in a boat can resist that impulse to have

heir way a path of rippling gold, and

and less that, thus resting, its exquisite beauty and freshness and purity sho

yes fixed[49] on the water, her whole attention absorb

ave spoken and broken the spell for worlds. Before him, as he looked up

lost she is! She has forgotten me-forgotten everythi

to his face and the fire to his eyes; then a half

rted with the breath of a great passion, would be worth-what? It would make amends for all that a man might

e touching of the boat an

la. "How beautiful it is

ut his hand. But Stella sprang lightly on shore without accepting it. He tied up th

y were so near together that she could feel his breath

laugh, and, pointing to her hat, which was fu

! Do not pick any more

y?" he said. "Why hesitate w

he said. "I feel

he had gathered, and she s

hose you have, and still want more

and he threw himse

ern, and he tried to do the same, but his hands, white and slender as

tie it,"

the primroses fell in a golden shower over their hands

hand, and the warmth of his grasp seemed stealing[50] upward to her heart.

where I have gone," and she looked down at

t go this moment. Up there, above our heads, we can see the ri

en she turned and walked b

by a moss-grown rock, in which some rough steps were hewn. He sprang

esitated

and she put her hand in his and her foot on t

!" he

delight broke fr

not sorry

it would be so

dark eyes dilating with dreamy rapture-at her half-parted

ook of admiration he raised his hand a

little house the

of the lodg

e of your own lodges,

d lightl

en here and that lo

" he said, laughi

reat deal,

o. I don't know what you would think if you knew how much we Wyndwards have managed at one time

ed at the v

have heard that you are ver

een poor. I don't think there is anything in it. I don't think on

eyes on him with a s

sibly have to lon

then suddenly his face grew grave and w

e that,[51] as I stand here, there is an aching void in

, deep and thrilling; sh

o happy," she said,

hers with a strange expression that was half-moc

till he dies,' do y

evaded me-always slipped from my grasp. Sometimes I have resolved to let it go-to pursue it no longer; but fate has decreed that man shall always be seekin

ly some get t

to find that they have wearied of it when it is gained; to find that it is no prize

l!" she murmured, stran

moment when they know that happiness-real true happiness-lies just beyond their grasp. And the case

h a gentle smile, not on

should say that you deserved--" she stopped short, sm

augh: a laugh such as she had n

. "If I get all the happiness I d

w," said Stella, g

d held up his han