The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-05-06

! EARTH vtrtahl" GHllowS bird
SOW! ooh! o.o-oh!" growled J.p,
sympa.hetically.
"N"w, Jcppy.' I continued, "do you wish
TO know what brought me to this perous !
posi,on.'
"ll-I.tio.o O." he whin"d, encouragingly. !
swell, It's the same that generally ce-
Yates people t" my uneasy poSition-s!riv-
ing for something beyond their reach. But,
Mr.. Sheriff. please cut the victim down or
wait moment, and I'll break down my
own accord"
"IIow? how? ho.o.ow?" inquired Jep
louh,rcly.
"Wat and see" said
"Slre enough in moment did come
down. "all standing" 'twould have been
we'll for nv dignity If I had remained
thus; but as soon as touched the ground,
I shock the vine spieIul'y, saying-"you
obstinate thing; I'll-' But my sem
tencc cut short, for, on turning my head,
| espied y"nng man leaning against tree,
and his laughing face told ne that he had
heard my previous conversation.
Gathering my vines in my arms, pre-
cipiaev fr.i, hut alas for my ingl"ri"ns
retreat! didn't get started right, and my
feet got enranglcl in the unierhru-h. and
fell striking my face srat into dngy look.
ing mud pul'le. The cIavey mud, which
stuck >nugger than brother. sort of blind
ed me; and, er. could regain my feet, the
stranger stood beside me, proffering his as
siS,ance. refused his off,r, and sprung TO
my feet with wonderful aacrity.
Are you hurt, lady!' he inquired,
kindly.
my feelings are" I answered, snaprishlv.
II feel ST. mortified, that I've literally turned
black in the face" and pointed nervously
at my mud becrimmed features, then took,
to my heels again, AMI run for pond that
: sparkle'l in the sunlight but few rods dis
= tant. I heard the stranger laughing. and
: this accelerated my already locomotive
Z face.
: sped down the gently sloping bank
: and stopping on the sandy beach. l slipped
off NY gaitcrs; but had stained my stock,
{ ngs so badly with the mrd thought it
e quite useless to remove them SO, tuckin.
u up my skirts, wa1ed off where the water
was deepest anil coolest. and carefully
= washed my face to remove the veil that con
- cralcd my beauty. q
:" lsplasi'cl round, and spattered Jep will
- water until was tired, then prepared ,e
u walk up ashore; but what WIS my horror
:" whra hr,clh the stranger sitting dernurc
;. ly on Il log, with my bonnet in his hand
which hal lett by the rock.
= didn't even blush when I male this
- discovery; was too provoked and inlig
" nant for tha, so merely glanced at him
"' and walked to my cutters, which, by murI
patien, pulling, | surreedrd in coaxing t,
~ cover my wet, soiIed stockings. calie'
my dog, reached my hanl for my bonnc
and prepared To start for home.
I" II saw your bonnet" he said, apol"get
- - cally. "and brought it 10 you; but you
Y" coo! poIit"ness quite chiIs me-"
"Of course should be coolly polite, a
~ I've jus. come out of the water" was the pro
voking reply; "hut you had no business
.'' sir. to sit on the bank and watch me o
~ the lake.
~ ~ Excuse me but you appear to be {
' mnch at home in the water As a fish, hen.
my desire to see your playful sport"
~ ITO which class of the finny tribe do 20
A " think brlongl'
"ReaIly, cannot TELL" he said, musingl
AT this rctort he laughed so merriIy tn
-, quite ergot my angry feeling, and :
down on the log to weave my wreath.
few moments sileuce followed, and thu
the stranger said.
' "When started out sketching this NOR
ing had no idea If finding ere nighlf.
- a wildwood flower tor a companion"
' "iour mind cha ges. sir" l said, gail
~, "a moment ago was like fish: nov
~ persnuate a flower; but do ,ne the favor
~ u, tell me which wild flower typi6es me m,
truly"
>'''' lle ewas sure he couldn't tell which
'e. liken me to, as there were many beauti
- blossoms, but perhaps would give him :
own idea on the subject. His evident intent
me- was to quiz me. ! nodded assent, and
mes piled.
dan "Perbaps, when first you saw me, tb'
might have been vision of flowers, cal
yself bouncing Bet. brought before YOU"
.ht I lie laughed. but made no reply. ar
rest, to go home, and he gave me his name, +
politely asked mine. gave it, and Il
d to Jep aud ran gaily in the direction Of
u sit house. -