Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-04-24
1)rrttp GittIe 5torp.
KENNETH CLYOE'S FIRST LOVE.
By AMY Randolph.

The hazy veil of Indian Summer lay
like a golden mist over the quiet old for
ests that sweet November afternoon, as
the quick tread of Kenneth Clyde's horse
rusted through the fallen leaves that lit
orally carpeted the secluded road And
the young man let the reins fall careless
ly on Selim's arched neck, as he looked
with a thrill of admiration at the piano.
rama of purple hills that stretched along
the clear horizon, like islets floating in
sea of golden air.
" Now, if | were an artist" quoth
Kenneth to himself, " / should be wor-
rying my brains how to transfer that
lovely sky to canvass; but as I'm moth
ing of the kind, can enjoy it without
any professional drawbacks. Gently, Sc
lim--gently, old fellow-that was a sharp
turn in the road Let me see-I shall
have plenty of time to reach milestone
before dark, think Wonder what time
it is-only four o'clock, and -"
But the half shaped thought never
came to completion in Kenneth Clyde's
mind. At the very instant in which he
glanced at his watch, Selim, terrified by
the swift apparition of velvet backed
rabbit darting across the road, gave a
sudden sidelong swerve, and Kenneth
Clyde remembered nothing more.
And the shadows stretched longer and
longer through the golden aisles of the
woods, and the bright-eyed squirrels eyed
him suspiciously from their messy heights,
and the birds kept up their low-voiced
twittering, while he lay there, stunned
and motionless! All, Selim, that was an
ungenerous trick to serve your trusting
rider!
When he walked to consciousness, with
a dull, heavy throbbing in his head, and
a sharp pain in bis left arm, he was in a
snug, low-ceiled room, with stars shin
ing in through the red-curtained win
dows, and cracking fire blazing on
two gigantic brass fre-dogs, just in front
of the broad chintz- covered lounge on
which he lay. And clearly outlined
against the genial blaze was a pretty
head, with braids of hair knottcd low at
the back and black dashed eyes thought
fully fixed on the fire.
81 wonder how | came here !" was
Kenneth's reflection. 81 wonder who
SUE is! And | wonder confound that
shooting pain in my ARM remember
it all now p
He uttered slight groan as some tri-
vial movement caused him an acute pang
Of anguish.
Aunt Patty, he is opening his eyes"
said the pretty vision by the fire, spring
ing to her feet, and speaking Of him, as
though he were not eagerly listening to
every word
"Gracious sakos alive !" calculated
Mrs. Patty Brewster, trotting nimbly in,
with colossal campbor bottle in one
band, and bowl of sage tea in the 9TH
er. "Well, it's a real marcy, amt it,
that you happened to be out arter moses,
and found him in the woods, Mary. Lie
still now" she added to Kenneth, who
was grimacing vainly against the smok-
ing sage tea, "and take your medicine,
that's a dear !"
81 don't think he likes it, Aunt Pat
ty," interposed the young girl.
Well, it'll do him good" persisted
the old dame.
ILL give it to him, aunty-you see
if the doctor amt coming" said the
young lady, taking the bowl from Mrs
Brewster's hands Aunt Patty hustled
away. and Miss Mary quietly turned the
contents Of the formidable bowl out Of
the window, her bright eyes trimming
with mirth as they met KoDneth's CRATE
full glance.
Don't you think it has done you
good already 2" she asked with admira-
bic gravity.