Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-01-03
vol. XVIII.--N0. %.

like reed before that wcl-amcd blow.
The second time he fell. Houghtop
stopped down and lifted him as If he had
been child and fairly flung him out
side the door. Seymour, confused and
amazed, staggered down to the brook to
wash his face, and reflect on Tie wonder
full forco Of that slight arm. And
Houghton, turning TO the school without
a word of comment on the scene, COM
mcnced the Rotations Walker was
mum. Scymour's fate had appalled, him,
and, in fact, the entire mtitiuous spirit
of the scholars Of Russian Bar was in u
fair way of being totally subdued.
When the trustees heard of the affair,
they unanimously commended the school
inarter's pluck.
s" tell you what boys" said Perkins
to crowd who were earnestly engaged
at game of old sledgo in his bar-room,
'that IIoughton knows a thing or two
about managing boys He'll fix en- off,
or my name is not Perkins, aa
SEw rsRsuIT
Houghton was Hospitality treated by
the folks Of Russian Bar They felt him
to be man Of refinement, brought down
in the world, but showing no offensive
superiority in his intercourse with them.
The doctors wife pronounced him to be
the best New Yorker she had ever met.
and the gossips insinuatcd that Mrs.
Blunt, the widow, was setting her cap
for him.
Gypsy Lane, the daughter of ! leading
man in the Russian Bar, and Made
wealthy by saw-mAl, which all day
long groanel and screamed some distance
down the river, did not express her opin-
ion as to Hougfton's merits, but in the
Summer evenings, when the schoolmas-
ten, rod in hand, wandered along tho
stream, aud threw his limo across the
mill-dam, Gypsy was seldom far away.
Lane, bluff, hearty old follow, FREE
quently asked IIoughton to spend the
evening with him, aud told his advcn-
lures in early California to a patient lis
tenor, while GYPSY dutifufly mended her
fathers socks on the vcrandah.
Mrs. Lane, when Gypsy was but
baby, was laid to rest iii Lone Mountain,
long before Lane ever thought Of settling
at Russian Bar. Seymour and Walker
were the best and most industrious pu-
pills the young master had, and were hap
Ply when accompanying him on his fish
ing excursions In fact, all agreed in
declaring that the educational depart
lnent III the village was full success.
One pleasant evening IN June, Gypsy
lane, twirling her straw hat thought
fully, picked her way across the broad
fields that lay hctween her house and the
mill. The stream was n winding one,
and as she placed her tiny foot on tho
first stepping stone, she saw straw hat
OH the stone which she knew we'll
g How is Miss Lane this EVENING"
said lfoughton, lozily, from beneath
Nqnzanita bush where he had been en-
joying book and pipe
" Well, thank You. How is Mr..
Houghton Y rcplyod Gypsy, shyly.
Warm, but not uncomfortable. Arc
you going to the mill p
Yes; I have letter chat has just
come for father"
May | accompany your
Certainty, if you choose "
Houghton put on his hat and helped
Gypsy across the brook.
. had letter from. New York a few
days ago said he, after they had left
the first bend of tho river behind.
A PLEASANT one 2"
9 Well, although in one sense it
brought good news, still can hardly
call it pleasant letter"
They walked on, and Gypsy swung
her hat pensiyely, longing, with u wo-
mau's curiosity, to hear more about the
New York letter
4 lam going to leave Russian Bar"
said Houghton, abruptly.
g Indeed; how soon n
% don't know yet; possibly within a
week"
The hat was swayed from side to side
with increased energy.
Do you care much, Miss Lane p
This with an earnest look into hazel eyes
that were steadily kept on the parched
grass beneath her feet.
Yes, Of course we shall be sorry to
lose you" returned Gypsy. cyasively.
20 If I come back in few months with
something for my future wife, shall / see
this ring on her finger r. whispered
Houghton, capturing the little hand that
held the hat and slipping a pearl ring
on the delicate finger.
GYPSY said nothing, but her eyes
turned for moment on the schoolmas-
ter's earnest face, and in the next her
soft cheek was resting on his shoulder.
Russian Bar, to man, turned out TO
bid Philip Houghton God speed on the
morning he took his place by the driver,
who one year before, had set him down
at Perkins Hotel.
Winter had come, and the river was
swollen and rapid, and many lofty tree
from the pine forest had found its way to
the hearths at Russian Bar. One deli
cious morning. crisp and cold, after
nights rain, the stage passed by the
large white oak, ind, splashed with mud,
halted before Perkins Hotel. 1t bad
been all night on the way, for the roads
were very heavy.
The worthy proprietor Of that excellent
house was in the act Of tossing his first
cocktail. when hearty hand was laid on
his shoulder. and Philip Hangbton said |;
Perkins, old boy. how ara your
Six weeks afterwards the old mill was
hung with evergreen wreatbs, and fes-