The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-02-24

pest oil evidence that he failed to pui
in an appearance at that time and place
At the same hour the bright an6
dashing little yacht Fairy set sail from
one of the up town piers ON the NortI
River, and, with a fair wind, glided
beautifully out toward the bay.
On the quarterback of the yacht
were grouped In picturesque and mu
tually agreeable attitudes about twenty
young ladies and gentlemen, while II
the bows a charming band made the ali
melodious; and amidships heteroge
neous gathering of baskets of wine
hampers of provisions, and boxes ot
cigars promised even more than ga feast
| of reason and flow of SOUL" and seat
ed on an afghan, and leaning over the
side of the yacht in friendliest com.
munion, were Mr.. John Rutledge and
that wickedest of young coquettes-
Miss Lille Gordon.
It is not the design of the present
writer to condemn Miss Lilies fault IN
thus comforting herself during the alb.
sence of her lover from her side; but
we may privately state that that young
lady had been seriously displeased al
the GOODNESS of Mr.. Hartley's manner In
the matter of breaking engagements on
several occasions, and had chosen this
method designedly with the hope OF
bringing him to book, and indicating to
him path for his future pursuit more
congenial to her own feelings. Add to
this the feet, known to this writer, that
Mr.. John Rutledge had, by his good
conduct, taken position in Miss Lii.
lies esteem of no trifing Importance,
although she herself was hardly aware
of it, and there are but few of our
young lady readers who will not be able
to find excuse for her-particularly
when they have read the remainder OF
this story.
The day was full of the beauty OF
early autumn The clear blue sky
framed in the feecy cloud pictures; the
soft and tender sunlight cleaned sill
very and bright upon the pure white
sails; the great city, with its hundred
steeples, faded away in the distance
Staten Island and its pleasant home
steads delighted the eye; and SO down
through the "Kills" the Fairy foated
swiftly and gracefully toward the spot
which was to be the scene of their after
noon merry-making.
A couple of hours sail brought the
yacht in front of dense growth of
old oak trees; and there, hauling it to
the bank, the anchor was thrown over,
the sails came clattering down on the
deck, and the party disembarked, full
of glee, and making the ancient grove
resound with laughter and with song.
Seated under the brave trees, while the
fresh western winds trembled musically
among the branches, and the many
hued leaves came hu.tering down into
their laps, they discussed wine and
viands, drank toasts and sang songs,
and were as merry and happy as could
be reasonably expected. John Rutledge
gave himself up with dear delight to
the generous pleasures of the passing
moments; and if at times the black
vision of their feetingness came to dis
turb him, he put it aside, and dwelt
only on the blissful present, consider
ing not that this must doubtless be the
last occasion when he could thus tran
gully enjoy to its fullness the charm
that the graceful girl so subtly threw
around him.
A loud whistle, apparently proceed
ing from locomotive, at lengths tart
led the air, and caused one of the
young ladies to ask what it was. The
answer was simple enough-that ID was
the engine on a railroad only mile
back of the grove.
And does that road go to the city?n
asked the inquisitiye young Lady afore-
said,
at goes to Jersey City," was the
reply.
And conversation and song and
laughter went on, none dreaming of
how much importance to two of the
party were those simple questions and
answers.
After a while, the party separated
into couples, as is the custom for such
occasions made and provided; and John
and Lille, like the rest, strolled away
by themselves.
Now whether it was Lilies remarka-
bly, good spirits, or the Juice
of the grape that completely de-
stroyed Mr. Rutledge's self-possession,
it is difficult to say; but certain it is
that that young man took advantage of
the occasion, and the comparative Sc
clusion afforded them in their stroll. to
make, in The most unmistakable and
unwarrantable manner declaration of
love to his fair companion; and as if
his passion, which had been so long
bottled up, rejoiced at its escape from
bondage, he poured forth the widest
rhapsodies on his love for her, COM
pletely ignoring the existence and prior
claims of the absent one-a course of
conduct which could not fail to i'm
press unfavorably the well-regulated
mind of the one to whom his words
were addressed.
At first, unable to stem the torrent
of his passionate language, Lille stood
silent and amazed, or apparently so
but at length, when he paused to take
breath, and for moment gave her an
opportunity, she did Lot hesitate In her
reception of this unexpected onslaught
Stamping her pretty foot upon the dead
leaves beneath her, she said, passion
ately:
"Mr. Rutledge, I am ashamed of
you. To take advantage of my kind
ness to you, when you know that / am
engaged to anotherl I would not have
believed it of you. Now, Sir, you can
go ba csu>sxhe party, and say I am 60
ing the train. I'll not speak
to V ..n-never.n
Az - saying, she turned from his
side, and hurried off in the direction
whence she had heard the sound of the
whistle. Rutledge ran after her few
steps, called to her, begging her to for
give him, and then, as she continued
rapidly on her course, returned to the
yacht, intending to tell their friends
that Miss Gordon had concluded to re-
turn by the train, and that he should
accompany her. And with that design
we will leave him for the present.
Lille hurried on precipitately, little
needing the nature of the course she
was following, or the many obstacles of
root, rock, and dead limb that obstruct-
ed heEwsy, so fully was her mind alb
sorbed with the occurrence of the pre-
ceding moments.
While her face burned, and variety
of sensations, occasioned by the mad
advances of poor John Rutledge,
troubled her mind, she thought little !
~ ha, er1rro1n1iporu o1l ruoe oy,I-- ~