Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-02-16

celYe In milton is genuine pNf
me as a tribute to my womanhood
pure and simple--and how much il
due to the fact that | am Mis-:
Amesbury, a well disposed, well
born and well-dressed young wo
man, with property in my OWL
right. You see, Harry, like the
Queen of Sheba, who waxed Sc
confidential with Solomon, I've
told you all that is in my heart. "
Doubted" and Harry smiled
down into the sunny face, whose
swift bushes the poke bonnet did
not entirely conceal just now; she
had pushed it back for air during
her rapid walk.
Miss Amesbery had two lovers
Charley Weir, a resident Of Mil
ton, and Leigh Crawford, who was
quite ready to become such, for
her sweet sake.
Weir was a druggist, and had
built up good business in Milton,
by four years, steady effort. Craw-
ford was boarding at a hotel for
the summer attracted to the neigh
borbood by Miss Amesbury's pres
ence. He was reported to be rich,
and a speculator, which name con
veyed vague idea Of greatness to
the more simple country people,
while another class were less daz-
zled by his profession and display
of wealth
Whatever his duties were, they
did not bear heavy upon him. On
the whole, he was rather popular
than otherwise. He scattered his
money with a liberal hand.
His blooded horses had stood
many morning this season, at Mr..
Horizons door, when Miss Ames
berry chose to ride.
She was fastidious in her tastes !;
there was a longing of hers graft
fed when she rolled along luXuri
ously, leaning back upon the rich
cushions of Crawford's elegant car
riage.
But when Charles Weir stole in
at night fall, and she walked up
and down under the stars, by his
side, listening to his deep voice,
she felt the eradication of a higher
need in her nature, than the desires
of luxurious surroundings. She
was barely tweGty one, and young
er than her years indicated. Still
she was literally endowed with will
and energy-seDsitive in one par
ticular, almost morbidly so. That
development she owed to an aunt,
a narrow, bitter woman, who had
received her into the Only home
her childhood had known. She
had learned to distrust those who
approached her, as seeking for a
fortune.
The two were nearing the pest
office. Looking up, Rose saw the
usual crowd Of loungers occupying
the piazza of the building. The pi-
azza was accessible only by means
Of flight Of wooden steps, few
in number, but steep, and ruinous
from age. There was always this
throng about the Office on Summer
evenings. She knew well enough
how Miss Amesbery would have
been received, if she had come up
the street in her own proper person.
There would have been defercn-
tial raising Of hats drawing back
right and left, to leave a broad
space for her passage, and perhaps
even an outstfeched hand to assist
her over the worn boards, in cease
of need. She was known person
ally to many of the village people,
and had speaking acquaintance
with most all.
Presently she recognizedI partly
by his voice, Leigh Crawford. He
stood directly in front Of the door
way, the center Of the throng. She
took a sudden resolution.
Don't stop, Harry. Go to the
end Of the block and wait for me
at the drug store. On the whole,
I'll go down with you and walk
back alone. / can mail the letters
well enough, but if there is any
thing in our box, we will have to
devise some plan of getting it. Mr..
! CRANES would not entrust our
mail to either of us unless we re-
vealed our personality. Now wait
here, please, snd I'll be back in five
minutes"
Reconnoirting through the win
dow, she had seen that her lover
was within. Harry obediently seat
ed himself upon a bench in front
of the store and waited. Miss Rose
walked back with a step less spring
inc than usual-the stiff boots were
getting tiresome.
At the foot Of the stairs she hes
itated slightly. Two or three NOV
ed to make room for her to pass,
gray haired men these, the fathers
of the town. instinctively polite to
women, as is the wont of gentle
man of the old school. Leigh
Crawford, standing directly across
her path, looked superciliously at
the sun bonnet, without stirring,
nor fora single instant dreamed
whose dark eyes were flashing be-
meath. She made a little imperi-
Gus gesture with one hand, a char
acteristic movement Of Miss Ames-
bor,,'e clio woo fOrOettinp her dis