The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-11-17


you cut any oapers with Miss Leon, I'll
peach to Nellie" rg....'
"Stuff" cried Jack, jumping up has
tily. al shan't firt, SO you needn't be-
gin to preach. When I've made Miss
Icons acquaintance, you will be glad
enough to do the same thing" M
d" You're engaged, and 1 amt"
To this Jack vouchsafed no reply, but
went into the house to hunt up Nellie
and make inquiries. Unfortunately
Nellie could not help him. No one
seemed to know the beautiful stranger
or to have learned much about her, ,ex-
cept thai she was travelling with hel
father al elderly gentleman, answering
very we'll to Tom Aldine's epitomized
description. But although Jack finally
despaired of getting into Miss Leon;
graces by any of the conventional meth.
DDS, his luck, always famous, had not
deserted him. A golden opportunity
was thrown in his way the very next
morning. ....
He was strolling down to the beach
for his daily constitutional dip in the
surf, when clatter of horses hoofs, and
little scream behind him, caused him
to look around, to see Miss Leon de.
scending the hill on horseback at rapid
pace, with her saddle-girth broken, ano
her own pretty self Just disappearing
over the animals side.
"By Jove |" thought Jack, here's Q
chance" ...
In an instant he had caught the bri
die, and was assisting the lady to the
ground. 1t was a very trying moment
for the young rascal, as he held hel
plump figure in his arms, and felt, for 6
brief second, her heart beating against
his own. She clung to him in delight.
fully terrified way, too, and as she slipped
to the ground, Jack had a glimpse of G
ravishing foot, and an anlkle-oh, Chris.
topher Columbus! ...
When the lady had regained her feet
she looked flushed and pretty.
81 am very much obliged to you, sir,
she said.
Don't mention it, I beg replied
Jack, in his politest manner. "Wha-
shall we do with the saddleI"
eff you will help me up again." she
said, smiling, 81 will not be so awk
ward"
"But the girth is broken, m-ademoi
selle." She looked so bewitching as sht
stood there, rosy and dimpled, that Jacl
came very near saying "my dear " bu
an afterthought saved him.
"Oh, DEAR" she cried, with look O.
real distress, 81 can't walk home in these
long skirts"
NO" said Jack, looking at he,
critically. "I'll tell you what we car
do, though. The saddle will stay if yor
don't ride faster than O walk. 1 viii
help you on again, and, If you will LEI
me, l will lead the horse"
"But it will be so much trouble : she
said. .. .
"Not bit. Nothing will give mt
greater pleasure (which was true.
He took the horse to a great stone by
the roadside, and easily lifted his lovely
charge into the saddle again. Then hi
grasped the beasts bride, and led hin
slowly back toward the hotel, Will,
Miss Leon clung tightly to the name
In this way they climbed the hill, anC
advanced along the Bath Road, the lad,
profuse in her thanks, and Jack making
himself as agreeable as he knew how
His new acquaintance, however, re
quired great deal of attention.
First her foot refused to stay in tn
stirrup, and Jack was repeatedly re
quired to fix it. Then the saddle began
to slip again, and so Jack gave his hant
to the lady to steady her, and she elapsed
her little, soft fingers so tightly arounC
his digits that his arm thrilled clear VI
to his shoulder.
During the entire journey she kept VI
continual fire of witty pleasantly ano
naive nonsense, which soon reduced
Jack to a state of utter imbecility
When they reached the hotel he woul,
have stood on his head at her command
and the lady herself was quite wei
aware of it.
1t was somewhat provoking that Mel
lie should be standing on the piazza witt
Tom Aldine as Jack led Miss Leon
horse to the hotel steps, although til
look of evident chagrin on Toms fac
was almost compensation for jack
annoyance on Nellie's account.
Nell needn't look so troubled" nut
tered Jack, to himself. II haven't fallel
in love with Miss Leon yet, by lonl
way" .............. ....s.. ..
The romantic introduction of tha
morning was the commencement of
very intimate and familiar acquaintance
1t was the most natural thing in th
world for Jack to meet Miss Leon, &C
cidentally, of course, on the beach nearl
every day. Then, the evening hops a
the hotel furnished further opportuni
ties for ripening their friendship. 7aI
Jack could not be expected to dane
with Nellie all the time, and Miss Leon
although perfectly aware of. Jacks en-
gagement, seemed to do her very best t
monopolize his attentions as far as posi-
BILE. In this, she appeared in fair wa
of succeeding.
Poor Nellie looked on in silence, bu
gradually fell into pitiful habit Q
crying herself to sleep nights in tn
privacy of her room. She loved Jael
and had been happy in the thought tina
he was really fond of her. 1t was crue
to be obliged to stand helplessly by an
see her golden castles tumble slowly t
the ground. But she came of famil
renowned for indomitable pluck, and sh
would have given her ears before betray
ing the first evidence of pain to tn
pretty rival who was SO successfully be
seiging Jack. - t' 10. -.aap.l9s
As for Tom Aldine, he, too, watche
Jacks unfortunate infatuation silently
and, although he made no remark, b
still did what he could to offer Nelli
! his sympathy, She was never Withou