124 AMONG THE HILLS.
I raised my eyes to his face; his eyes were;
full of tenderness and passion. He looked
flushed, eager, excited, entirely unlike what I
had known him.
“Do you believe it now, Tony?” he said, drawing me to him.
“I believe you, sir,” I answered, saucily; ‘‘but I think it very presuming to take my consent for granted. Please take your arm from my waist.”
He only held me the closer.
‘But the second condition, Mr. Fauntleroy?”
“It is this,” he said, and he kissed me again and again, so passionately, so hurriedly, that I could scarcely breathe.
Some one was at the door; I heard a step, and breaking from Mr. Fauntleroy, I sprung up, my face burning hotly, and saw Redwood.
“I fear I intrude. Mother is waiting for you, Tony. Deceitful girl!” this last under his breath.
Mr. Fauntleroy seemed much amused at the scene. He gave me his arm, which I took in a very shame-faced way.
The parlors were emptied. Everyone had made their adieus to my aunt, wondering what had become of their host.
Aunt stood ready cloaked in the hall.
«‘Why, Tony!” she cried, pleasantly, “what had become of you?’ And then a look passed between her and Mr. Fauntleroy. She was satisfied with their mute exchange, and said,
“Redwood, bring your cousin’s cloak.”
Redwood obeyed sulkily, and was about to put it on my shoulders, when it was taken from him by Mr. Fauntleroy, and folded closely about me.
“We will see you tomorrow?” my aunt asked, as we stepped into the carriage.
“At one o’clock, if you will permit me. don’t know how to thank you, dear Mrs. Lewin, for doing the honors of my house. Tony shall; do it for me at some future day.” “I am delighted, Antoinette,’’ said my aunt,
as we drove off. "You have really, for once,
shown yourself a most sensible girl.”
“How, aunt?”
“In accepting Mr. Fauntleroy, who, besides his great personal attractions, has both money or position,”
"I did not accept Mr. Fauntleroy for money or position, " I said , somewhat angrily, and, fer the first time, realized for what I had accepted him the one all- powerful reason.
Redwood remained in gloomy silence in his corner of the carriage. When he assisted me to descend at our own door, he looked so extremely black that I tried to make friends with him.
“Don’t be angry with me, Redwood. Indeed,
You don’t care for him, then?” said Redwood.
‘Oh! as for that, I think I do—a little. Please, don’t shoot him, Redwood.”
I am afraid I heard my cousin swear. He tried to leave me, but I persisted in leaning on
“You know, Redwood,” I said, coaxingly, “it
“Oh, Tony!” ‘Say you forgive me, and some day I'll give your favorite a croquet-party, and you shall
“Oh, Tony!”
‘‘And you won’t shoot him?”
“Pshaw!”
We were friends again; but Redwood was
So next summer I shall have the pretty cottage
and its master all to myself. Should you go to
Newport, and take a Sunday-evening stroll along
the Cliffs, you will, probably, see me reclining in
should you chance to see Pug, look out for your blue veil.
AMONG THE HILLS.
BY P. C. DOLE.
HAVE you seen my cottage among the hills,
Where brooklets rimple, and sunbeams stray
'Mong dancing leaves where the robin trills,
With untaught gladness, its roundelay?
And glad and blithe on the dappled green,
My merry children go tripping light,
O'er bright-eyed blossoms looking between
The tufted grasses all fresh and bright;
Where love is sinless, and guile is not,
And the star of peace shines o'er the spot?
Have you seen a form that awaits me there,
When the day is done, and my cares are o'er
A lovely woman, with silvered hair,
Who watches for me at the open door?
Aud her voice is sweet as the Summer wind,
And her smile is bright as a sunlit sky,
And a soul whose powers were formed to biud
My spirit with joyous melody.
Have you seen my Eden among the hills,
Where all my being with rapture thrills?
