The Battle Ground

hed New York some days before, but instead of hurrying on with Champe, he had sent a care

ng all the way to Paris, I can't afford to lose my clothes, you know. I'm not a Leander, my boy, and t

d Champe, and Dan heartily responded,

. It was characteristic of him at the age of twenty-one that he began to regret what appeared to be a pleasure only after it had proved to be a disappointment. Had the New York days been

illiant with golden-rod and sumach, stretched under a sky which had clouded ov

ack his head and whistled gayly into the threatening sky, so gayly that a bluebird flying across the road hovered round him in the air. The joy of living possessed him at the moment, a mere physical delight in the circulation of his blood, in the healthy beating of his pulses. Old things which he had half forgotten app

or the pretty simpletons in pink dresses! Why, in that case one might as well sit in a library and read Horace and wear red flannel. One might as well-a dro

; his second that a girl in a dimity gown and a white chip bonnet should be fleeing from

wer coming, and you

blue strings and swung them over her arm. There was a flush

so suddenly,"

ou know. Come up behind me and I'll carry you to shelter in Aunt Ailsey's cabin; it isn't the first time I've run away, with you, remember." He lifted her upon the horse, and started at a gallop up the tu

cheek was hidden against his coat, and the blue ribbons on her breast were blown round them in the wind. It was as if one of her dreams had

, we might as well go on; but if you're half dry, build a fire and get warm." He put her down upon the square stone before the doorway, and slipping the rei

warm," he said hospitably. "If I may take upon myself to do the duties of free Levi's castle, I should even invite you to make yourself at home." With a laugh he glanced about the bare little room,-at the uncovered rafter

looked at Betty. "Now where's the sense o

ss the fields to the woods, and I was coming home along the turnpike." She loosened her hair, and kneeling upon the smooth

se in that," he returned sl

more than you see," she responded pleasantly, and added, while she sm

so much prettier,"

look grew a little wistful. "The

you had the most beautiful hair in the world. Why, it is always sunshine about you." He put out his hand to touc

nds, which gleamed white in the firelight,

retty as Virginia's,"

he exclaimed, and walked r

own upon the smooth square stone before the threshold. A red maple leaf was washed in from the pa

ed, "and he has rheumatism, too; he was

as if a strong wind had swept over her. Through the doorway she saw th

ng mortar of the chimney, looked thoughtfully down upon her. "Do yo

her head

he night I first came along this road-God-forsaken little chap that I was-and saw you standing out there in your nightgown-with your little cold bare feet. The moonlight was full upon you, and I thought y

es fill with tears. The wavering smile only

s roots with my bare fingers. I remember that I rooted at one for nearly an hour, and found that it was sumach, after all. Then I got up and went on again, and there yo

re a man,"

-an ass. I haven't known my own mind ten minutes during the last two years, and the only thing I've

mean?-I don't understand," faltered

dle dog. It means that I've gotten everything I wanted, until I begin to fancy there's nothing under heaven

hes. "Has the black crow gone?" she asked. "Do you know when I have a gray day Mammy calls it the black crow fl

ay to flap his wings." Then he became suddenly grave. "I wonder wha

pon in the spring woods one day. As she shrank from him in her dim blue dress, her hair fell from i

can I tell?

black and ugly

head, regainin

and beautiful,

ke me as day

nd went on after a moment, her gir

but he will be a beggar with dreams. He will be forever travelling to some great end-some clear purpose." The last words came so faintly that he be

s in his face. Her vivid beauty rose like a flame to his eyes, and for a sing

m in the dust of the road

wet days we should go into the pine woods, and on fair ones rest in the open mea

a dreamer of dreams. With all your pudding-mixing and y

e gesture. "Why, I never pl

ed warningly; "too great literalnes

east for vegetable-growing

s eyes. "Thriftless woman

you coming, I'd lie hidden among the briers, and I'd scatte

" he rejoined gloomily. "I'm not all Lightfoot, though I'm apt to forget

s good," said

look of whimsical tenderness. "Make me

oesn't lie upon the roadside. I see a well-fed country gentleman who rises late to breakfast and s

prophetess!"

whip he drops, and a dozen others to hold his bridle when he pleases to dismount; the dogs leap round him in the drive, and he brushes away the one that licks his face. I see him grow stout

tty," he exclaimed, laughing, "

Shall I touch it up a bit? Just

whole, I think I'd rather not. When all's said and done, I'd rather own my servants and my cultivated acres, and come down late to hot cakes than sit in the dust by the roa

Dan." She tied on her flattened bonnet, and with her foot on the threshold, stood looking across the wet fields, where each spear of grass pieced a string of shining rain drops. Over th

Then he threw his coat over the dampened saddle and lifted Betty upon it. "Pooh! I'm as tough as

upon the blue folds of her skirt. "If you feel yourself go

as singing after the storm, and the notes were as fresh as the smell of the rain-washed earth. A fuller splendour

Betty, wistfully; "are you sure that

f but one thing in this life, Betty, and that

y, ungratefully, "so don't flatter yourself that you have saved even m

,-and I can't honestly convince myself that you have,-I thank my stars I met you, Betty." H