The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-01-15

song, Miss Willard" '"- - - 1hii'--
Miss Willard, abashed, sprang up, half in
fright, half in girlish embarrassment and
pleasure Snatching at the discarded sun
bonnet to hide her confusion, she overturned
the basket of berries gathered with so much
care. Poor Agnes looked annoyed and rea-
dy to cry at the stupid accident, but Robert
Steward stood calmly smiling down on her
in that easy, careless attitude which so pro-
vokes us when we know we are appearing
particularly fustered and awkward. His as
suring smile and roguish, admiring black
eyes sent all the blood in her fast beating
heart to her crimson cheek; not knowing
what to do with her distressed little self, on
ly to shrink and tremble blooming and pal
ing alternately, before the self-possessed
young man, who said TT -- --... b
II fear have ruined your afternoons
work by my abrupt intrusion. Allow me to
assist you, as | am in part the cause of the
accident. ' 100 a'..i
Without waiting her answer, he began to
pick up the scattered berries; not very brisk
ly, for he liked the task, and would fan pro-
long it under the shy glance of Agnes Will
lard's brown eyes. gi .-,H- t.....1t..1 49,
'He calls me Miss Willard" she thought,
blushingly drawing her stockingless foot un-
der the scant gowh-thinkiBg, in dismay, of
her frowsy, unbecoming pig-tails and hard
scratched Misunderstanding that her dress
sleeves were getting shorter every moment,
and the skirt more narrow and faded. Me-
chanically her nimble fingers picked up the
luscious ''black caps" but all the time she
was hoping in her heart that he would not
think her ugly and untidy 'Indeed have
no time to properly arrange my hair or dress.
| wonder if he will not guess as much2" was
the mental vindication of her shabby appear
ance. s,-... .a.. .. -....1-.
For the first time a new wish to be beauti-
full in his eyes came over her. A sweet chord
was struck in her innocent heart, dumb be-
fore, silently awaiting the master hand that
should change the world giving smiles for
tears and joy for sorrow. .-
We have all recognized the touch of our
other life, whether for good or for ill
1t was the first pure love that dawned on our
ideal youth. 1t may have been but shadow
"a delusion of the heart; yet, oh, how we
worshipped and hugged - our bosom the
fitting dream-the dearest and best of all
others. @
Agnes could not understand why she should
tremble when. Mr.. Stewards strong white
hand touched hers. She was quite sure that
neither AIS nor Johns clasp affected her
thus, though given as warmly. Whence came
the wild tumult throbbing in her breast?-
Truly Robert must have possessed some mar
vellous power to send the warm blood so elo-
quently to the cheek and brow of the simply
country rustic.
Furtively she watched the glitter of the
opal ring on his finger, glancing about over
the berries comparing it TO the miserable
little jet on her own hand that AL had made
.ot. lla .A,.A @f ILL L.
comb. Once she had been proud of it. For
opal mad destroyed its value.
The faint perfume of his garments seemed
to Agnes like the scent of some balmy gar
ment. with the flowers pressed with dew
violet, geranium and rose altogether ming
ling in one soft, sense-lulling ordor How
elegant, handsome and good he looked,
kneeling on one knee beside herl She could
hear his watch tick the moments away
What pretty chain. How everything about
him charmed and fascinated her naturally re-
fined mind. .
Apparently he took no notice of her shah
by attire. But she instinctively felt that he
had noted everything from the hideous sum
bonnet to the lily fitting shoes. Suddenly
she became painfully ashamed of her
dress, brown hands and bare ankles, wishing
that the earth would open and hide her from
view.
Robert Stewart, the only son of the
wealthiest man in Chester, had just gradua-
ted at Harvard, and, after short vacation
at the old homestead, was to commence the
study of laws in the city. ..-
Agnes had often seen, but never spoken to
him during his boyhood, being not only much
younger, but; as society goes, much lower in
the social scale than he. Accordingly their
paths in life seemed far apart. Bob had not
been spoiled neither at home nor at school,
returning with smile and kindly greeting
for all his old associates .-,...--
Full of fun, gay, clever, fond of pleasure,
but true, he came again to the home of his
childhood. Had he been other than true he
might have proved dangerous friend to Ag
mes, who would have made him. hero, had
he been the most treacherous Of men, all the
same. He had called tue first warm glow to
her cheek, the first futter of pam and plea
sure to her heart, troubling the dull waters
of her life with loves magic wand, causing
the once stagnant current to musically mur.
muir in and out among the little care and tri-
ais of my daily existence. She had shrin,
ed her saint and was doing homage, uncon-
scious of the new poetry of life awakened in
hor soul. .-....l I'D
Look back, fair lady, and recall bow ten.
derly you chronicled the first sweet love
dream of your girlhood. How long that
first kiss fingered on your lips. A flower,
passing breeze, has power to revive it yet,
in spite of the years that have slipped
between the now and then. Other love
may claim US, but the memory of that deal
first remains sunbeam of the heart which
passing clouds may shadow, but never OBJ
literate. -'l ID. ....r..'... ........... .
Presently Agnes looked up, forgetting ev
rything but her friendless situation. .-.,
"Has Al gone, really gonef" she asked
anxiously. ,o..s s., .-':.','-fr,.. ''
here in this grove, with my best wishes anC
ample funds for his journey as we'll as TO
suitable clothing, together with letter t,
my uncle John, a wealthy merchant in New
York, who will do we'll by him. Al will sue