The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-10-27
IDA's LOVER.
BY r. ]. CHAMBERS.

l
BY r.J. CHAMBERS.
"0h. rpved in my youth . lady fair,. >,
For her azure eyes md her golden hair. :"
High and clear the sweet tenor
voice rang out through the bracing
frosty air. 1t was an OptObef morn
ing; the woods were glorious in GRIM
son and gold, the fields were white
with frost, and the wind, cool and
delicious, blew gently from the west,
carrying health and strength to frames
debilitated by summers suitry heat.
"Who Is that singing" called Ida
Miller, from the boughs Of Chestnut
tree, to her cousin Lou, seated under
meath, gathering up bright nuts as
II don't know; It's some fellow over
in the next field. He's good singer;
hope he won't come along this way:
Give that bOugh another shake, Ida, "
replied Lou.
Ida did so, and the nuts came down
in torrents. Deeply absorbed in
gathering them into her basket, Lou
Miller did not look up until her cousin
called out again, in q half-frightened
voice.
"Lou, as sure as you live, that fel-
low is coming directly towards us; he
sees the limbs shaking, / suppose, and
wants some chesnuts. He's a young
man in brown, suit with gun on
his shoulder, and oh! so good-look-
ing
"Come down, quick, before he gets
here"
"Not l." replied Ida. I can't get
down, without climbing all tire way
along this slender branch. I'm going
to hide in the leaves until he passes
on"
"Oh, Ida, come down; he'll see you,
anyhow, and a pretty figure you'll
cut, perched up there like squirrel;
come down, quick" cOaxed Lou. ~,
81 won't tell you; I've got secure
resting-place, and mgoing to remain
here.r
Meanwhile the stranger approached
and saluted Lou Miller with a grace
full bow anda pleasant "gOOd morn
ing" which the lady returned as
gracefully. -.
He was wonderfully good-looking;
as least 80 thought little Ida Miller,
surveying him from her airy look
out. A tall, erect form; brown hair,
glossy and curling; frank laughing
blue eyes; and handsOme lips, adorned
by adroOping. light brown moustache.
surveying the branches overhead, his
ewes caught the figure of Ida hid
among the leaves. Raising his rifle
to his shoulder, he said, laughing.
"Is that lawful game, or do your
laws In this State forbid the shooting
of such rare and beautiful birds?"
Lou laughed.
"Our laws forbid it, certainly" she
replied. tTFFg. - -.
Poor Ida was covered with confusion
when she found herself discovered;
and i'm endeavOring to change her
position, her feet slipped from the
main branch, and she only saved her
self from falling by grasping slender
branch with both hands. This bent
with her weight, and she found her
self swaying between "heaven and
EARTH" but fortunately only few feet
from earth. The young man caught
her in his arms, and deposited her
safely Oh solid ground. Between
fright and shame, the poor girl was
speechless; she could only glance shy
ly at the stranger, while hot bushes
dyed her face and neck.
The young man regarded Ida's rosy
face with undisguised admiration.
Never, he thought, had he seen any
one half so lovely. Her short, curling
hair, black a. jet, hung i'm picturesque
! confusion over neck and forehead;
her cheeks were red as June roses;
while the great brown eyes above them
were half-filled with tears, and the
scarlet lips beneath parted in a be-
] witching smile. Her small, but round
and graceful figure, was clad i'm a CO.
quettish walkiny-dress, revealing feet
and ankles of exquisite mould and
| fairy-like proportions. Lou broke the
| embarrassing silence by busting into
a ringing laugh, in which the Others
joined heartily. ..-..
"You must not undertake climbing
again, my girl, or you will he certain
| to break your neck" said Lou.
"But the chesnuts-I'd only got one
| branch shaken" replied Ida ruefully.
"well we must fet squirrels have
them, l suppose"
"By no means, ladies'" said the
stranger, 81 am Il good climber, and
will gladly shake the tree for you, il
you wish it." tf- ..Nlt z
1--WE would be much obliged to you,
but the trouble would be to great"
"No trouble at all, | assure you, he
said, taking off his coat; and in Il mo-
ment he was gliding up the tree with
the ease and agility ola squirrel. The
bright nuts came rattling down like a
shower of hail, and soon the ground
was almost covered. 70 gather them
up was work of time, and / am
afraid the young man did but little
good i'm filling the basket, for he kept
such continued conversation that
they gave but little attention to the
business on hand. And l think that
little Ida almost lost her tender heart
as she watched his handsome face, and
listened to his pleasant, musical Voice.
The baskets we're filled at last, how
ever, and the young ladies were ready
to go home.
"Can you tell me were DR.. Miller
lives?" asked the young man, throw
| ing his rifle over his shoulder, and
taking a good long look at pretty Ida.
81 ought to he able to do so, as he is
my father" laughed Lou.
"YOur father? Then you are my
cousin, Louisa" said the stranger, i'm
| a pleased tone. p
"My name il Louisa; but 1 don't
think you can lie my cousin, rs i
never saw you before"
"Yes you have, but you have for
gotten me. ] am Rafe Darrel-eou-
| sin Rafe, whom you used to play with
when yAg were q very young lady, in
short dresses: ] have been in foreign
countries for ten years, SD of course
you don't recognize me-" ...-
"Rut ] do now. Your eyes and
smile are just the same. Oh, cousin
Rafc, am very glad to see you, after
all these years." and they shook hands
heartily.
rs this your sister," asked Rafe
/ L L..