Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-09-22

rono Hollow was filed with rumors Cf the
colonel's nishap. 1t was asserted that he
had been invited 20 withdraw his female
companion from the floor Of the assembly
ball at the Independence Hotel, and that
failing to do this both were expelled. 1t is
to be regretted that in 1854 public opinion
was divided IN regard to the propriety Of this
step, and that there was some discussion as
TO the comparative virtue Of the ladies who
were not expelled, but it was generally con-
ceeded that the real caSus Jeli was uolitical
- Is this dashed Puritan meeting p had
asked the colonel, savagely. otis no Pike
county shindig, had responded the floor
manager, eheerfully. You're a Yank -
had screamed the colonel, proianely qualify
ing the noun. ''Get You border rufian -
was the reply. Such at least was the sub
stance Of the reports. As, at that sincere
epoch, expressions like the above were usually
followed by prompt action, fracas was con
tidently looked for.
Nothing, however, occurred. Colonel
Starbottle made his appearance next day up
on the streets with somewhat Of his usual
pomposity, little restrained hv the presence
OF his nephew, who accompanied him, and
who, as a universal fayorite. also exercised
some restraint upon the curious and imper-
unent. But Culpepper's face wore look Of
anxiety quite at variance with his usuai
! grave repose. The don don t seem TO take
the old mans set back kindly, observed the
/ sympathising blacksmith. P'r'aTs he was
sweet on Dolores himself, suggested the
sceptical expressman.
/ 1t was a bright morning, week after this
! occurrence, that Miss 10 Folinsbee stepped
/ from her garden into the road. This time
/ the latch did not click as she cautiously
/ closed the gate behind her After few mo-
mcnt's irresoluton. which would have been
/ awkward but that it was charmingly employ
| ed. after the manner Of her sex, in adjusting
/ a bow under a dimpled but rather prominent
/ chin, and in pulling down the fingers of a
neatly fitting glove, she tripped toward the
/ settlement. Small wonder that a passing
| toamster drove his SIX mules into the waysde
/ ditch and impcrilled his load, to keep the
duet from her spotless garments small Won
der that the lightning express withheld It's
] speed and flash TO let her pass, and that the
/ exprcs-man, who had never been known 20
( exchange more than rapid mon0sylables with
his tcllOw-men, gazed after her with breath
less admiration. For she was certainly at
tractivc In a country where the ornament
al sex followed the example 0l youthful
nature, and were prone to Oycrdrcss AID
glaring efloresceucc, Miss JO's simple and
tasteful raimcnt added much % the physical
charm Of, if it did not actually suggest
sentiment to, her presence. 1t is said thar
Euchre-deck Billy, working in the gulch az
the crossing, never saw Miss E9linshte pass
but that be always remarked alphabetically
to bis PARTNER. that '.hc believed be mast
write a letter home. Even Bill Masters,
who saw her in Paris presented 70 the tav0ra-
bic criticism OF that most iastidi0us man. the
late emperor, said that she was stunning.
but big discount on what she wls mt Mld-
rouo Hollow.
liwas sull early morning, but tte -uu,
with California oxuavagauce. had already
begun to bes hotlv on the little chip hot and
blue ribbons, and Miss Jo was obliged to
seek the shade Of a bv-uath. Here she re-
ceiyed the timid advances Of a yagablnd yell
low dog graciously, until. cmboidened by bis
success, he insisted upon accompanying hc-,
and. becoming slobbcringlv domon-rrlyiye,
threatened her -potless skirt with his dusty
paws, when she drove him from her with
some slight acerbity. and stone which hap
" fell within fifty feet OF It's destined mark.
herself with chamctar inconsistency she took
a smoll panic. and, gathering her white
skirts in one hand, and holding the brim ot
her hat over hcr eyes with the other. she
ran swiftly at least a hundred va-d- before
she stopped. Then she began picking some
ferns and few wild-f0wcrs still spareI u the
withered fields, and then q sudden disrrust Of
her small ankles sg izad her, and she inspected
Al l.. & 81. }. @
snakes which are supposed To lie 10 wait for
helpless woman n-hood Then she Tlucked
some golden heads of Wild oats, and With a
sudden inspiration placed them in her black
hair. and then came quite Unclnsci0usly up
on the trail leading TO Madrono Hollow.
Here she hesitatcd. Before her Kan the
little trail, vanishing at last into the h)-ky
depths below The sun was very hot. She
must be very far from home. Why should
she not rest IA while under the shade Of "a
madrona2
She answered these questions by goin.
there at once. After thoroughly eyplorin.
the grove, and satisfying herself that il con-
tanned no other living human creature. she
sat down under one OF the large trees. with
d satisfactory little sigh. bliss Jo loved the
madrona. 1t was c!eanly tree no dust
ever lay upon It's vanished leaves ifs i'm
maculate shade never was known TO hayhor
grub or insect.
She looked up at the rosy arms interlockcd
and arched above her head. She looked
down at the delicate ferns and crypto-ams at
her feet. Something glittered at the root o.,
the tree. She picked 1t up It was bracelet. /
She examined it c1reiuliY for cipher or ln-
scriutiOn there was none She could not