The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-12-11
9G55Gst5s@s Stories.
LEoNE,s RoMANCE.


idea you'll never find your estimate Of a
man Is too high"
mo, Arthur, 1t is but great estimate,
and you have no right to judge me harsh
ly, because l will not throw my lie away
upon some society man of to-day. l am
young yet, but twenty you know, and there
Is time enough yet"
"Yes, time enough, Leone, bat l agree
with Arthur that you have too high a
standard of manhood, a romantic school
girl admiration Of qualities that few, il
! any, may possess"
Complimentary, very, to youl husband,
Sis: but | wish for my husband strength
either of soul or body, mind tar above the
average, and determination and purpose
sufficient to raise him from the level of
the human herd; and mark me, if l never
find such one, 1 will ever remain Leone
Lightfoot, an old maid fond of tea, cats
and gossip; but see Charles has brought
my horse around, so au revoir."
The speaker was woman Of twenty,
queenly in form, and whose face, though
possessing character beyond her years
stamped thereon, was radiant with lowell
ness.
ROBBED in q dark blue riding habit
which chung gracefully around her superb
form, and the face half shaded by the
dropping plumes falling from her jaunty
czp Leone Lightfoot was indeed what she
appeared-a SURPRISING lovely woman Z;
one who had visitors by the score, for
she was rich as well as accomplished and
| beautiful - --.'--
Three years before she had been left, by
the death Of her parents, under the guar
dianship of her only brother, some ten
| years her senior, and at his elegant coun-
try seat in New York State she had lived,
the idol of society, and the pet Of Arthur
Lightfoot and his pretty but weak little
wife.
Between the three, Arthur Lightfoot.
Leone and Mrs. EightfooHWas the conver-
satIon held that opens this story, and the
cause thereof was the refusal by Leone of
the heart, hand and fortune of a worthy
bachelor neIghbor. - =.
'"She is incorrgible; the old Judge wo'd
have made her good husband" said Ar
thur Eightfoot to his wife, after they had
seen- Leone mount and dash away at full
speed down the grand avenue.
"Yes, she'll never marry, fear, sighed
Mrs. Lightfoet, who always echoed TIE
sentiments of her husband.
In The meantime, Leone rode on at a
pace that chimed In with her humor, and
/ -
well IN rein, and enjoyed the springlng
/ fleet motion as mile after mile was cast
behind --......-.-.-
But suddenly her horse SHE'D violently
and gave tremendous leap, almost IN
seating his fair rider, who recovering her
self quickly ,spoEe soothingly tethe fright
4 ened animal, and glanced backward to note
| the object that had so startled him.
The color fed from her face as her eyes
fell upon the form of a man lying by the
roadside and apparently lifeiess; bu
nerVing herself by a hard drawn sigh, the
brave girl sprang to the ground and aP
preached the spot, glanclng lntently doWT
In to the pale, upturned lace. =
The features were nodded with remark
able regularity, the psrtly-opened mouth
displayed even white teeth. and the darl
brown hair and mustache presented
marked contrast to the white face, from
which every tinge of color had faded
Dressed In a light summer suit, Leon,
even then discovered 1T was we'll aud sty
lishly made, while the gauntlet gloves an'
riding whip proved that the stranger ha'
been on horseback. ---- --..--.. .
HE mas been thrown, doubtless, bu
God grant he be not dead" exclaimed tn
maiden, as she knelt beside the prostrat
form, and drew aside the coat TO place he
hand upen his heart.
With cry of terror she sprang- to he
feet, her hand stained with blood, for froR
his side small stream welled up slowly
"He is dead, and has been murdered
"No."
1t was almost a whisper, and the heav
} lids raised from the dark eyes-eyes file
with anguish, but yet strangely dark an
g fascinating:
Thank God, there is yet hope; be qui
ct, sir, l implore you, and l will aid yo
ali in my power" exclaimed Leone, an
drawing her habit around her, she ra
rapidly q few PAGES down the road t
where it was crossed by a small stream
and saturatIng her handkerchief returned
and without hesitation drew aside th
: clothing andpl=ced it upon the wound
small bullet wound IL the left side owe
the heart.
"You must keep perfectly quiet, and
will soon return" she sald softly, hardl
knowing whether she was heard or moi
and then in an instant she was IN her sad
die, dasbing at her utmost speed towar
the nearest farmhouse.
Dashing like the wind up to the dool
and stalt ing quiet farmer Jessep and hi
family out of their wits, Leone cried {:
"Mr. JessOp, let your son ride at ono
to DR.. Wells, and tell him a gentleme
lies dangerously wounded on the road ,nea
Hillside Spring; tell him to come at ones
and you, Mr. JessOp, please come en- wit
your carriage, and bring all that you thin
necessary.
Everyone in the county knew and lov
ed Leone Lig htfoot and rapidly her order
were obeyed, which observing, she wheel
ed her foaming horse, and again spe
away upon her return to the wounde
stranger.
There he lay just as she had left hin
but groaning slightly: and each instau
dampening the blood stained handkerchiei
the girl awaited the coming of the sui
geon.
Would they ever come she thought
but at length, when it seemed hours in
stead of minutes, the sound of wheel
broke on her ear, and the next instant th
surgeon drove up at rapid pace.
"You are noble woman, Miss Light
foot, and if this man lives he owes his Iii
to YOU" said the good old physician, as b
approached and knelt beside the prostraI
| form.
"But will be live, doctor2
For some minutes no reply was give
by the man of silence, who carefully prof.
ad and tbsa XuOuud hut then l.