Nebraska advertiser., 1867-11-14

having formed an attachment, would b
slow torelincuish to it," said Ethel, softly
and dreamily.
"Then why on earth don't you write
to him Elhel?''
"Wr;te to him2' a
Eyes, and tell him that you have beer
a goose, and that you re heartily ashamed
of yourself, and don't mean ever to do il
any more. Why don't you, ElhelI"
Never" The scarlet udes rose to
Elhel's lair temples, like torren.-she
hid her face in her slender hands,
"Never, Cora, never"
Love is a curious kind of an epidem-
ic,' said the blue eyed little philosopher,
thOughtfully tossing bis of grass down
into the water. "And l for one can't
understand its symptoms. Whena word
would SET ell right between you"
"Thal vord win never be spoken, T"
said Elhel, Using with calm dignity
..COme, Cora, it will rain very soon"
But COra's only answer was a wild cry
Of terror.
. 1.-THE boat the boat! Ethel, it has
loo5ed its moorings Ii is floating of.
Ethel stood transfxed with alarm
The little barque bad indeed played them
false, and was slowly receding farther
and farther from The shore, leaving them
almost as desolate and helpless as Juan
Fernandez on his desert shore.
ooh, what shall We doc what shall
we doc" exclaimed Cora, clasping her
hands wildly together.
But The words had scarcely left her
lips when there vasa slight rassls among
the ferns and bushes oVefhead-a part
ing of the silver Baehes that grew be-
side them, and the next instant tall
figure, robed in picturesque hunting cos
tune, plunged into the lake, and striking
boldly out through The clear waters,
caught the floating rope and drew the
light boat ashore. What a welcome
sound was the grating Of thu tiny keel
on the sand and pebbles to COra's strain
ed ear!
Ethel came forward TO thank the tall
apparitiOn who stood dripping among the
trees; but as his eyes met hers, The
words died upon her tongue into faint,
voiceless murmur. Cora uttered little
hysteric cry.
Ethel it is Ruthyn Grayn'
1t was Ru,hyn Gray; but there was a
brightness on his brow, a strange IN.
scrutable light in his eye, that neither
of the girls had ever witnessed there
before. He advanced step or two, and
took Elhel's hand in both of his:
Ethel, had no intention of caves
dropping, but could not avoid hearing
the voices thai aroused me from my
slumbers among the bushes and sweet
ferns overhead. l had been hunting all
the morning, and was tired and wearied
out. and"
"What did you hear r. murmured
Ethel, feeling as if every drop of blood
in her being was concentrated in her
cheeks and forehead.
Enough to make me the haPPiest
mortal in existance. There-.-dOn'i
blush, darling; it has been long enig'
ma. but it is solved at last. Do you hear
The big drops paitering down among the
leavesl Come, Cora, we mus. take
shelter in the ruined cabin that has been
my hunting quarters for the last two
weeks"
"You have been here for two weeks e.
"Yes..-just the length Of time you
have spent at the lake. Do you wonder
at my knowledge of your movements
Ethel, my heart has followed you faith.
fully since last we parted, and l was
content to be near you even though you
were unconscious Of IT,"
HaIs an hour afterwards, when Lake
George was all a sparkle in The Sunshine
once more, and every bush and tree Iha
| lined the shores was glittering will
bright swinging drops, the little boa
again pushed off from the strand an
this time there mere three passengers
Rulhyn Gray sat at The helm, as hand
some as a Pawnee warrior, IN his hunt
ing costume. and the dark hair pushsI
away from his sunburned forehead.
And in all The beautiful experience
of her after life, Ethel held most dea
and precious that summer day upon thr
beautiful banks of Lake George, tht
fairesi jewel in al the Northern diaden n
of waters! ~
..t =.