Smyrna times., 1862-03-13
am sure he is a man to be admired"

"Fudge You little enthusiast I'll intro
duee you seme day TO man worth six authors.
The smarest fellow in our class. and the best
crlcketer, boater aud shot in all the college
lie graduated last term; but he promised to come
here this Summer tor holiday"
our hero, Leigh Rivers!"
g Yes. Now he is a man worth breaking /
ones heart about. He is tall as | am, straight
as an arrow, with a forehead like Jupiter, and |
mouth like weman's. Fearless as young
lion and gentle as girl. One day last term
one of our boys in a rage was whipping a little |
fellow from the town for frightening his horse.
Leigh saw him, caught the whip as it fell, and,
with one swing of his arm, threw the young
fellow into the middle of the road. Then, be-
lore could recover voice enough to eXclaim,
he had the little ragamuffn in his arms, and
was speaking to him as softly as mother does
10 US when we are sick. After he had comfcrt-
ed him. he put him down, and then turned to
me with his big black eyes full of tears, and
said,
81 lost my only brother, little fellow like
that, some four years ago, and, remembering
how loved him, it hurts me to see any one
strike a child"
"Wlll HOyt, the man who was pitched so
unceremoniously into the road, made a great
buster for day or two, but think one test of
Lelgh's strength was enough, for he never
sought another, and bore Leigh's contempiuous
indifference in silence"
"Oh. Harry know he is fine fellow, you
have told me SO many such stories; but," she
added, signing "he didn't write Seeweeds''
Two hours later, when Netiie was deep in
the mysteries of Bloomer hats and wind mills
10 the dining room, she heard her cousin Harry
calling,
" Nettie Nette! You must come here
Never mind George and Laura, want YOU"
"Then you nus! come to me, Harry Heed
| less, for am busy"
| quick, light step across the entry and then
Harry opened the dining room door and cam
in; but not alone. Another tall figure follow
| ed him and
"Nettie, my friend, Mr.. Rivers, my cousin
Miss Holmes, Leigh"
Netue could not check one glance of con-
sternatlon atthe disordered room, and her own
morning dress; but she rose with winning,
shy grace and greeted Mr.. Rivers.
"Now, Nettie. ! have got Leigh, and mean
to keep him. Think ofhs having the audacity
to 60 first to old Moore's. down in the village,
the tavern keeper, | mean, instead of coming
here. Mother has sent for his trunks, now,
however,"
"One carpet-bag md valise, Harry"
"Never mind Don't you let me hear the
word go from your lips! Make yourself at
home, for comfortable or miserable, you are a
fixture here for some time
| Nettie, who had resumed her work, and was
; furtively watching Leigh from under her long
eyeashPs, did not wonder, after Harry's story,
TO see his eyes resting with a loving look on
: George, nor at the child's ready answering
: smile.
i" Making a wind mill, are you! used tc
| he af oh ut Toan
help you," and he drew his chair beside the
little boys, and took out penknite from htl
pocket.
Harry, delighted to see that Nettie wa
pleased with his hero, gave his fingers too u
: George't service, and under the combined ex
eTtons CT the young men the toy assumed
sha pc and beauty that drew forth shouts of de
light from the children. With busy fingers
= and ready invention for their amusement, tn
= visitor had his tongue ready for the older ones
and minated conversation flew round till Ne,
= ties cheeks glowed with pleasure. The din
ner tell found the group still busy. Laura
with her blue eyes fall of delight, was on Leigh
knee watching his fingers shape a chair for he
/" doll George, at his feet, was still admirng tb
= wind mill; while Nette and Harry, one ma kin
the cushion, the other the legs of chair, wer
listening with interest to In animated descriT
tion of a shipwreck Leigh himself had witness
= ed off the coast of Maryland.
Three days of rainy weather kept the part
at Mr.. Holmes, house bound, and never di
time fly more swiftly. Books, music, conve
:. sation, and above all, the children furnishe
constant occupation and in those three day
- of quiet home intercourse, the young peopl
= grew better acquainted than they could hav
. done in years of the formal meetings of Ii
- usual social friendship,
- =, Al last the sun shone. II was the afternoc
" of the third day, when the bright monarch brol
through the shifting clouds to bring out tb
- prismatic celors ofa rainbow. All the fam
=, I were gathered at the window admiring tt
VI gorgeous arch, and Nettie stood next to Leig
.. Tomorrow or the next day." said Harr
y, " I'VE can have our picnic. | wonder if yo-
~ ~ hero is stil in the village!'
% "Ion." said Nette, laughing. al hope so
-, "Ion!" cried Leigh.
"Yes," said Harry; "my most remnant
in cousin has fallen in love with an author W
&c Now, Harry, that is too bad. 1t is Il
'' author Of Seaweeds, Mr. Rivers; and do a
!. mire the book and think the man who wrote
~ must be noble aud good"
''0 81 wish You loved him." said Leigh, as /
;, rest Of the party left the window. " lie loI
' you deeply and trueIy Though he has kno'
you but three days NettIe, dear Nette,
e. praise was ever go sweet as that from your Ii
for am Ion!"
."y Through the long summer months Lei
ne c.u - .o;,.,rnod - h,s hon,a in Canado Ne,
ust am ~ II 80. g.. Ill che -,.s hs nnv
}, Ions wife, her parents we're pleased to
their daughter the bride of the wealthy I
- talented Leigh RIVers., Amongst memor
teu brightest spots, Nettie always places the th
see sec rainy days at uncle Holmes house when
,as, could not go to the pic Dc.s s,s,a ems .sfsr
sn't e'a g =