Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-12-23

I
broke the scarlet worsted she was twisting
her crochet hook in, short of. So you sec
my little heroine was not perfect. ..
In truth, Elsie was not SO happy as she
ought to have been. She was fed and cloth
cd and sheltered, and loved by her cousin
Kate when Katc had nothing else to do; but
Elsie wanted to be first in somebody's heart,
as other people werc. She wanted some-
body to feel the need Of her; and she need
cd somebody to use some authority over her.
and make her ware thicker boots and warn-
or wrappers. Of course she was very fool
ish, but then We ore all given to indulge in
silly thoughts, you know.
But this sweet summer day the soft wind
brought some of Mrs. Grhham's and Prof.
koek$ellts conydrsatioh To Elsic's ears.
"Who is she ?" the widow was repcati6g
after her companion, (which ono do you
mcan?'
'"Thc little mischicvous looking thing with
blue eyes and dress Ono exactly matches
the other"
"Oh," said Mrs. Graham, in an accent Of
supreme contempt, that is Elsie Harper.
A poor cousin, some degrees removed, who
is supported by Kate Delavan. What rcd
hair she has,"
"IIas che p asked the professor. swell,
Of course you ladies arc good judges Of color.
But thought it was beautiful auburn"
And then they went off down the path to
the bowling alley, and the remainder Of the
conversation was lost to Elsie.
Elsie. did not have what some people call
rcd hair, but it was very dark, and had
such brown shades all through it, that the
professionals nearer right in his opinion Of
its color than the widow.
Elsie shook her fist after the rctreati' 6
couple, and said to herself, "Rsl hair, ]
deed I'll pay you for that, my fair wild !!
Sec il don't. And once before You I'D
ono might light candle by my curls! l
know what I'll do! III set myself to fascin-
ate the professor. I know just how the
widow Graham manages with every gen
tleu,an that falls in her way. Int me see
the professor is drealfully learned, and he'll
expect to be looked up to. ] must listen
when he speaks, as If Socrates were deliver
ing an oration, and when he has finished, |
must be fairly struck dumb by what he has
said No matter # It is only q stupid re.
mark about the weather. must scream if
sce snake, anl excailn over the sunsets,
and always have my boots getting unlaccd,
and l must drop my handkerchief whenever
can think Of it, and kiss all the babies l
see and call them darlings! That's the role
i wonder If can play it?"
Elsie made the promised attempt, and
succeeded beyond her most sanguine expec-
tations. Before three days, Professor Rock
well got into the habit Of following her with
his eyes, and answering Mrs. Graham's $
questions with no, when he should have
said yes.
Generally, Elsie was all attention and obc
liencc to him whenever he spoke, but
so,netimes::she took the liberty Of being just
as contrary as only woman can be.
The Dehvan House party went into Ais.
ton woods to walk one day, aud Elsie sped
tu,Eh of scarlet columbine growing far
up on u rock. She expressed a detcrnlina-
ton to have them.
Kate exclaimed against it, and Professor
Rockwell said nothing but squirrel would
not think Of climbing that rock, and Mrs.
Graham leaned on his arm aud wondered
how girls could be so rude.
Aud all this made Ei>ie tho more deter
mined, and darting of by herself, the next
thing they saw Of her, she was Oh the very
pinniclc Of the rock, waving the gorgeous
blossoms above her head.
Let INC help you down" said the Pro.
icssor. You cannot get dow without assis-
tancc. told you you would Gnd:: yourself
in difficulty ifyou climbed up there.
But Elsie answered haughtily that they
might 90 about their business. She should
stay on the rock to see tho sun set.
And they took her at her word and went
on. El>ie was sorely troubled, for she great
ly doubted her ability to get down alone
The rock was so slippery, and she was fully
ten feet from the ground, and it was SO
stony all around the rock that she was a.
fraid to jump. So she put her head down
on the columbincs- crushing them oil to
pieccs-and cried softly. lie wouldn't have
gone and left Mrs. Graham SO, she said Bit
tcrly.
But by and-by she heard step, and look
ing down, saw Rockwell had returned.
"Come, Elsie," said he, II cannot 80
homo and leave you here. The owls will
carry you of. Come" and he smiled and
held out his arms to her.
Elsie had great mind not to 80, but she
was desperate little coward after dark, and
Rockwell looked good.natured. So she slid
down to him. ....
"Put your arms around my neck-so-
there; )" and he lifted her down very gently,
and was great whilc longer in doing Il
than was strictly noces. ary and somehow,
o..o. u~..1I All l,o,u n