A Romance of the Republic

ing up the Savannah River in a boat manned by negroes, who ever and anon waked the stillness of the woods w

right water here and there gleamed through the dark pines that were singing their sleepy chorus, with its lulling sound of the sea, and filling the a

dn't tell us Tulee w

you a pleasant sur

o them, she half smothered them with hugs and kisses, exclaiming: "The Lord bless ye, Missy Rosy! The Lord bless ye, Missy Flory! It does Tulee'

old home as much as possible. Rosa's piano was there, and on it were a number of books which their father had given them. As Floracita pointed to the o

, "for he was in prison at the time of the auction; bu

ssed her satisfaction in lively little gambols. The sun was going down when they refreshed themselves with the repast Tulipa had provided. Unwilli

rew a fantastic shadow on the ceiling, like a face with a monstrous nose. It affected the excitable child like some kind of supernatural presence. She crept to the window, and through the veil of the mosquito-bar she dimly saw the same thick wall of greenery. Presently she espied a strange-looking long face peering out from its recesses. On their voyage home from Nassau, Gerald had sometimes read aloud to them from "The Midsummer Night's Dream." Could it be that there w

my little one?" said the negress. As she

hat?" she exclaimed

ly Jack," s

kly asked the nerv

ought him for you and Missy Rosy to ride. In hot weather there

horrid noise for?" asked

th music in him, like t

, lau

as she had kissed it ever since the rosy little mouth had learned to speak her name

or Tulee! how dreadfully I should have felt to see you there!

Gerald," she answered; "but I'd

be free, would y

Tulee. "Yo like it yersel

stand, she hastened with intuitive delicacy to change the subject. But the same thought h

was no longer a dismal mass of darkness, but showed all manner of shadings of glossy green leaves, which the moisture of the night had ornamented with shimmering edges of crystal beads. She found the phantom of the night before browsing among flowers behind the cottage, and very kindly disposed to make her acquaintance. As he had a thistle blossom sticking out of his mou

ly breaks t

start by singing into her very ear; while Rosa exclaimed, "What a f

ut in whiteness among a magnificent growth of trees, and a garden gorgeous with efflorescence. The only drawback to the pleasure was, that Gerald charged them to wear thick veils, and never to raise them when any person was in sight. They made no complaint, because he told them that he should be deeply involved in trouble if his participation in their escape should b

s diamond ring, and Flora's was her mother's gold watch, in the back of which was set a small locket-miniature of her father. Their gratitude took the form of tears, and the pleasure-loving young man, who had more taste fo

y. "Floracita has found out that Tulee would l

oined he. "I bought h

me all the same after

e should all

ope you won't propose to make me fre

nd Tulee felt a great deal richer, though t

her, they often forgot that she was present, and never seemed to miss her when she was away. She had led a very secluded life from her earliest childhood, but she had never before been so entirely out of sight of houses and people. During the few weeks she had passed in Nassau, she had learned to do shell-work with a class of young girls; and it being the first time she had enjoyed such companionship, she found it peculiarly agreeable. She longed to hear their small talk again; she longed to have Ro

Avoca! how ca

hade, with the fr

and she pictured herself as the Persian princess listening to a minstrel in Oriental costume, but with a very German face.

h that of Rosa. One day, when she found her in dreamy revery, she patted her silky curls, and said: "Does she feel as if

vely: "Do you think I ever shall, Tulee? I d

, little missy. Do ye s'pose ye had them handsome eyes for nothin' but to look at the moon? But come, now, with m

ch articles as were needed at the cottage, and he always had a budget of gossip for Tulee. Tom's Chloe was an expert ironer; and as Mr. Fitzgerald was not so well pleased with Tulee's performances of that kind, baskets of clothes were often sent to Chloe, who was ingenious in finding excuses for bringing them back herself. She was a great singer of Metho

rdicted such visits in the future. He wished to have as little communication as possible between the plantation and the lonely cottage; and if he had overheard some of the confidences between Chloe an

Madame and the Signor. Answering these letters and preparing bridal presents for their old friends gave them busy days. Gerald sometimes ordered new music and new novels from New York, and their arrival caused great excitement. Floracita's natural taste for dra

, we will do a good deal of embroidery, and give it to Madame. She sells such articles, you kn

ra. "I've been wanting to do so

of the wisdom. Hours were whiled away by the occupation, which not only kept

the shades of silk for her, as well as for Rosa. He more frequently called upon her to sing a solo, as well as to join in duets and trios. When the weather became cooler, it was a favorite recreation with him to lounge at his ease, while Rosa played, and Floracita's fairy figure floate

ch attached to him as she was to Rosa. "How kind Gerald is to me!" she would say to Tulee. "Papa used to wish we had a brot

se stunning blows fell upon her young life; but the natural buoyancy of her spirits began to return. She was always amusing them with "quips and cranks." If she was out of doors, her return to the house would be signalized by imitations of all sorts of birds or musical instruments; and often, when Gerald invited her to "tr

d-vessels, Gerald began to make longer visits to Savannah. He was, however, rarely gone more than a week; and, though Rosa's songs grew plaintive in his absence, her spirits

wont to do. The fresh air was exhilarating, the birds were singing, and the woods were already beautified with every shade of glossy green, enlivened by vivid buds and leaflets of reddish brown. She gathered here and there a p

le hollow drum

tle fifer ha

te the Moo

ted by a clasp round the waist

back!" she exclaimed. "

" rejoined he. "Won't you give me back my

and as he inclined his face toward her,

kiss," said he. "I kissed your

ht," she added, as she tried to extricate herself. Finding he did not release her, she looked up wond

be coy, ma pe

, I don't want to be always called petite; and I don't want to be treated as

ne," rejoined he, giving her a pla

ou have come," said she; a

that Rosa would have noticed it if she had not been so absorbed in her own happiness. Gerald was all af

ell-work for Madame Guirlande, and that she needed so many boxes they would be in the way in the sitting-room. Her passion for that work grew wonderfully, and might be accounted for by the fascination of perfect success; for her coronets and garlan

The conjecture she formed was not very far amiss, for Chloe's gossip had made her better acquainted with the character of her master than were the other inmates of the cottage; but the extraordinary industry was a mys

o be sick for," s

lovesi

he replied, in the s

then, my pet?

ande," responded Flora. "She was s

isit," said Tulee, "and I should thin

go, that it would be dangerous f

ys?" asked Tulee. "He might just as w

y here." But, reproaching herself for rejecting the sympathy so tenderly offered, she rose and kissed the blac

rticles to put in it. But she felt a longing for the fresh air, and the intense blue glory of the sky made the house seem prison-like. As soon as they were gone, she took down her straw hat and passed out, swi

trees. Melancholy as she felt when she started from the cottage, her elastic nature was incapable of resisting the glory of the sky, the beauty of the earth, the music of the birds, and the invigorating breath of the ocean, intensified as th

e, dul

e begone

, dull

shall nev

om ballets and operas, settling at last upon the quaint little melody, "Onc

behind a clump of evergreens, said, "I

se, and recognized a lady she h

Seńorita Gonsalez!" s

ut I little dreamed

any times since I par

hell-work. I am deligh

Delano," replied Flora; "and I am ve

avorite with me from the first time I saw you, and I should like

't live anywhere, I'm only staying here. Perhaps I shall me

But if you would like to call upon me at Mr. Welby's plantation, where I

embarrassment. "I should like to come very much, b

sponded the lady, smiling. "My carriage is waiting on the beach. Trusting you

isticated way she took to tell me she would rather not have me call on her! I observed there se

s; nor did she cast one of her customary loving glances at the western sky, where masses of violet clouds, with edges of resplendent gold, enclosed lakes of translucent beryl, in which little rose-colored islands were floating. She retraced her steps to the woods, almost crying. "

twilight, her sister, observing that she was unusuall

"and of that Yankee lady who seemed to take such a fancy to me

bout her," rejoined Rosa.

r was not exactly flaxen, it looked like ashes of violets. She always wore fragrant violets. Her ribbons and dresses were of some shade of violet; and her breastpin was an amethyst set with pearls. Som

her the Java spa

ow, with pale fawn-colored feathers, and little

ita explained that it was because she had never seen anything like her. She did not mention

rd, Rosa exclaimed, "

as she ran out to mee

sa