The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-10-31
IDA'S LOVER.
BY t. ]. CHAMBERS.

"Oh, / loved in my youth a lady fair,
For her azure eyes and her golden hair"
High and clear, the sweet tener
voice rang out through the bracing
frosty air. 1t was an October morning;
the woods were glorious in crimson
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 debilita
ted by summers sultry heat.
"Who is that singing called Ida
Miller, from the boughs of Chestnut
tree, to her cousin Lou, seated under
meath, gathering up the bright nuts as
they fell.
II don't know; it's some fellow over
in the next field. He's good singer,
hope be won't come along this way.
Give that bough another shake, Ida"
replied Lou.
Ida aid so, and the nuts came down
in torrents. Deeply absorbed in gath
ering them into her basket, Lou Mil.
Ter did not look up until her cousin
called out again, in half frightened
voice.
Lou as sure as you live, that fellow
is coming directly towards us he sees
the limbs shaking, l suppose, and
wants some chestnuts. He's young
man in brown, suit, with gun on
his shoulder, and oh SO good looking"
"Hush, he'll hear" said Lou. Come
down, quick, before he gets here"
mot J." replied Ida. Il can't get
down, without climbing all the way
back along this slender branch. Pm
going to hide in the leaves until he
passes on"
"Oh, Ida, come down, hell see you,
anyhow, and pretty figure you'll cut,
perched up there like squirrel; come
down, quick" coaxed Lou.
II won't | tell you; I've got Sc
cure resting-place, and I'm going to
remain here"
Meanwhile the stranger approached
and saluted Lou Miller with a grace
full bow and a pleasant good morn
ing" which the lady returned as grace.
fully.
He was wonderfully good-looking ;
at least so thought little Ida Miller,
surveying him from her airy out look.
A tall erect form, brown hair, glossy
and curling frank laughing blue eyes;
and handsome lips adorned by a
dropping, light brown moustache. Sur
veying the branches overhead, his eyes
caught the figure of Ida hid among
the leaves. Raising his r.de 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.
Poor Ida WAS covered with confusion
when she found herself discovered, and
in endeavoring to change her position
her feet slipped from the main branch
and she only saved herself from fall,
ing by grasping slender branch with
both hands. This bent with her weight
and she found herself swaying between
"Heaven and earth," but fortunately
only few feet from earth. The young
man caught her in his arms, and de
posted her safely on solid ground
Between fright and shame, the poor
girl was sbeechless; she could only
glance shyly at the stranger, while hot
bushes dyed her face and neck.
The young man regarded Ida's rosy
face with undisgused admiration. New
er, he thought, had he seen any one
half SO lovely, Her short, curling
hair, black as, jet, hung in picturesqu,
confusion over neck and forehead ; he
cheeks were red as June roses; while
the great brown eyes above them wer'
half filled with tears, and the scarlt
lips beneath parted in a bewitchinl
smile. Her small, but round anC
graceful figure, was clad in coquett
ish walking-dress, revealing feet anc
ankles of exquisite mould and fairy
! like proportions. Lou broke the em
barrassing silence by bursting into
ringing laugh, in which the other
joined heartily.
"You must not undertake climbing
again, my girl, or you will be certail
to break your neck" said Lou.
"But the chestnuts-Pd only 60
one branch shaken" replied Ida rusiul
ly.
"Well, we must let the squirrel
have them, | suppose"
"By no means ladies'" said tn
stranger. 81 am good climber, an
will gladly shake the tree for you,
you wish it,"
ave would be much obliged to yol
but the trouble would be too great"
"No trouble at all, / assure you," h
said, taking off his coat and in m,
, ment he was gliding up the tree wit
, the ease and agility of squirrel. I'll
! L -. 4. "a ktIapr. y Iii