Connecticut western news., 1874-03-06
LEONE'S ROMANCE.

LEONE'S ROMANCE.
 "Mark my words, Leone, your beau ideal you'll never find; your estimate of men is too high"
 "No, Arthur, it is but great esti- mate, and you have no right to judge me harshly, because I would not throw I my life away upon some society man of to-day. I am young yet, but twenty, you know, and there is time enough yet" =. .-a
 "Yes, time enough, Leone; but I agree with Arthur that you have too high standard of manhood, roman tic school girl admiration of qualities that few, if any men, possess.
 Complimentary, very, to your hus- band; but I wish for my husband strength either of soul or body, mind | far above the average, and determina- ton and purpose sufficient to rise him from the level of the human herd mark me, if never find such one, I will ever remain Leone Lightfoot, an old maid fond of tea. cats ond gossip; but I see Charles has brought my horse around, so 6u revoir."
 The speaker was woman of twenty, queenly in form, and whose face, though possessing character beyond her years stamped thereon, was radiant with love- liness.
 Robed in a dark-blue riding habit, which chung gracefully around her su- perb form, and the face half shaded by the dropping plumes falling from her jaunty cap, Leone Lightfoot was in- deed what she appeared-a surpassing lovely woman; 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 guardianship of her brother, some ten years her senior, and at his elegant country seat in New York State she had lived, the idol of society and the pet of Arthur Lightfoot aud his pretty but weak little wife.
 Between the three, Arthur Lightfoot, Leone and Mrs. Lightfoot, was the con- versation 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 incorrigible the old judge would have made her good husband, " said Arthur Lightfoot to his wife, after they had seen Leone mount and dash away at full speed down the grand | avenue.
 "Yes, she'll never marry, I fear,' g sighed Mrs. Lightfoot, who always echoed the sentiment of her husband.
 In the meantime Leone rode on at a pace that chimed in with her humor, and an elegant horsewoman, !she held her steed we'll in rein, and enjoyed the springing, fleet motion as mile after mile was cast behind.
 But suddenly her horse shied yio- lently and gave tremendous leap, al- most unseating his fair rider, who, re- covering herself qusckly, spoke sooth- ingly to the frightened animal, and glanced backward to note the object that had so startled him.
 The color fled from her face as her eyes fell upon the form of man lying by the roadside, and apparently ifeless; but nerving herself by harddrawn sigh, the brave girl sprang to the ground and approached the spot, glaneing in tently down into the pale, upturned face.
 The features were molded with re- markable regularity, the partly opened mouth displayed even white teeth, and the dark brown hair and mustache pre- sented marked contrast to the lwhite face, from which every tinge of color had faded. Dressed in light summer suit, Leone even then discovered that it was we'll and stylishly made, while the gauntlet gloves and riding whip proved that the stranger had been on horseback.
 "He has been thrown, doubtless, but God grant he is not dead p exclaimed the maiden as she knelt beside the prostrate form, and drew aside the coat to place her hand upon his heart.
 With cry of terror she sprang to her feet, her hand stained with blood, for from his side small stream yelled up slowly. .r
 "He is dead, and has been murdered
 "No."
 "It was almost whisper, and the heavy lids raised from the dark eyes eyes filled with anguish, but yet strange ly dark and fasinating. | "Thank God, there is yet hope; be quiet, sir, implore you, and will aid you all in my power" exclaimed Leone, and drawing her habit around her, she ran rapidly few paces down the road to where it was crossed by 8 small stream, and saturatng her handkerchief returned, and without hesitation drew aside the clothing and placed it upon the wound-a small bullet wound in the left side over the heart.
 "You must keep perfectly quiet, and I will soon return," she said softly. hardly knowing whether she was heard or not, and then in an instant she was in her saddle, dashing at her utmost speed towards the nearest farmhouse.
 Dashing like the wind up to the door, and startling quiet Farmer Jes- sup and his family nearly out of thei1 wits. Leone cried j:
 sMr. Jessup, let your son ride al once to Dr. Wells, and tell him a gen tleman lies dangerously hurt on the road near Hillside, Spring; tell him te come there at once, and you, MT. Jes