The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-10-17

4
and her uncle found her fully set upon
going to California; r'ssi 1 i-i'-' -
Mrs. Applebee imagined everything
and worried herself thinner and more
dyspeptie than ever. Her dreams
grew ominous and signs namberless,
all indicative of stern trials and per-
plexities, so that 1t was really relief
when Mr.. Applebee arrived with his
charge. 10 -usl ilitF ot# 9at .iaa-i--
There seemed to be weighty reasons
why the Applebees should desire their
niece to marry, before she came OF
age, but anxious as they felt, they
dared not move in this direction. for
she, with the most charming naivete,
was sure to do the opposite from what
was expected of her.
When she had been there a week or
two, she announced that she had only
met two persons who interested her
in the least. except the Indians: she
| thought them vastly superior to the
white people.
+" Tell me something" said she, 3" of
/ Mr.. Brayton, who seems to be the ma
bob of the place. Is he rich as Cresus
| and wise as Solomon, and are you all
4 unanimous In conferring every honor
in your gift upon him ?D nift89 t2ti
Ben Bray ton is the richest man
this side of the Sierra Navada noun
/ tains, owns more stock in our mines
than any six men, is gradooate of
some of the crack schools of the East,
is big at law, and free-hearted as a
/ prince, besides-"'1a4 70" y Pa
"0h, don'ttell me anything else, l
shall never want to set eyes on him
again. Now, what can you say for
| that man with the long hair and buck,
skin suit, who looks like a hermit P"
"Oh, that is Pluck Armstrong, the
queerest man living some say he is
little cracked, but don't believe if.
He's been through everything but
death, and came so near that that his
grave has been dug three times, but
be come to, and objected to the ar
rangement.G The Injuns say he has a,
charmed life, and that when the Great
Spirit gets ready for him, he will take
him without deaths touching hun
He served in the Mexican War and in
the last war on the Plains; was left
for dead on the battle field, bnt all
Injun crawled Back and carried him
off and brought him to. There isn't
an Injpn that would hurt him. His
long, red curls are their greatest ad-
miration, and his word is like an ora
Gle TO them."'J - go 49, ....a,5a
The summer following was unusu7
ally dry and dusty, and Sybil declared
she must be taken to Lake Tahoe.
Mr.. Brayton urged a visitto '.'soThe
Big Trees and mentioned Yosemite,
which was then just becoming access
ible to ladies with courage enough,
but Sybil preferred the lake, and she
carried her. point, as she always did. 4
1t wassa merry, party that set off, and
Sy bill was the lille of it. She laughed
and sang, gave glowing word pictures
of the scenery, and carried them all
captive with her 'fascinatiohs. Even
her aunt forgot TO sneer, and Ben.
Brayton, who had been desperately
smitten before, became hopelessly en-
tangled them lnods si-2lt3lzi 3l
The first walk by the crystal lake
brought iSybil Applebee the story. OF
leve, which, if the teller was true,
had never been ogered to other woman
and which might we'll be likened to
the mountains that snrrounden them,
for strength and endurance, or to the
clear sparkling waters before them,
for its. purity and truth. ........
- Sybil listened like one in dream,
e Do .yen mean all you have said /; is
it true.;" she asked, aitcas9h fla EgiS
Then came the ardent protestations /,
which lovers make, only this mans |
wooing was something more than
common, and his words flowed like
the rythm of some improvised melo-
dy, rich, full and unique, but he could
not tell if they carried with them
Sybil's heart and assent.
" We are to stay here ten days." she |
said. g Will you leave me that time to
decide in? l will give you my answer
the evening before we are to Leave"
= For a moment he seemed tempted |
to press his suit, then begged her par
don, and said her wish was law to |
him. 'sGrant me one favor however,
he said," and he took from his pocket |
tiny case, of workmanship, touch-5
ing spring he revealed his own face
confident and youthful in it's own ex-
preston. " Wear this while you are
here, it shall plead for me while I am
compelled to be silent and he fasten-
ed it to her watch chain. Sybil made
a faint protest. but he told her she |
could not remove it, the clasp had q
secret spring that would not yield to
her touch. n y,,.r.. ,...., .,553tIfal ait ra
All, those days upon the pebbled
beach, with the shadowy pines for
background. Sybil strayed off alone
whenever she could make her escape |
from the others, and several days she
was missing for hours. together; she |
came back with her hands full of
flowers, and comedians, besides many |
quaint and curious stone that looked
like bits of antique earthenware, bro
ken under foot. 49, II l...--:..,l - 4
Mr.. Brayton complained that he
wasn't allowed the privilege of escort |
and protector, and he only prayed for |
patience. until the willful beauty
should confer upon him the right TO |
dictate, instead Of suggest, sybil
seemed to lose her spirits. and as the
time drew near for them to leave, she !
grew pale and silent. Her aunt said,
"Itwas all airs" but Mr., Applebee
was really alarmed. Sybil petted him
and snubbed him, according to her
mood, and his heart, which had never |
known the. joys OF fatb erhood, had
gone out to the young girl with an
unselfish love, that went farther to-
ward redeeming him from his world
illness than he was aware of. j
=" "Uncle, darling, will you do some-
bU1uS lOI tlftO lfi w uOil NO t1OOAA 9OhO
an hour, please give this note to . Mr..
BraytoD, and do your best to keep the
company from walking on the beach
tonight" 7egf 1l.o hae .uoit I'd
The note was faithfully delivered
on the moment, and the next, Mr..
Brayton was walking rapidly down
the worn footpath TO the lake. Turn
ing to the right according to directions
he soon came in sight of the grove,
and in the dusky twilight he could
discern the futtering of SYPHILIS white
dress. mss .i1i1i ;.i.i
He would haye placed himself be-
side her., but she rose; "Shall we
walk ? Pm trifie cold sitting here"
. AS he folded her shawl around her,
he could hardly resist the temptation
to fold her in his arms, but he was
wise enough to bide his time.s
s s. .g ohnnl1 hou