Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-03-19
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 estimate, and
YOU have no right TO Judge me harshly, be-
causeI would not throw my life away upon
some society man OF to-day. | am young yet,
but twenty, you know, and there is tune enough |
YETI
Eyes, lime enough Leone but agree With /
Arthur that you have too high standard Of |
manhood, q romantic schoolgirl admiration OF
qualities that few, il any, men possess"
complimentary, very, 10 your husband but |
wish for my husband strength either of soul
or body, mind far above the average, and de-
termination aud purpose sufficient to raise him
fro IN the level OF the human herd, mark me,
if l never find such a one, l will ever remain
Leone Lightfoot, an old maid, fond OF tea, cats
and gossip but l see Charles has brought my
horse around, so dd rerolr."
The speaker was a woman OF twenty, queen
iy IN form, and whose face, possessing character
beyond her years stamped thereon, was radiant
With loyeliness
ROBBED 10 a dark blue riding habit, which
clung gracefully around her superb form, and
the face half shaded by the dropping plumes
falling from her Jaunty cap, Leone Lightfoot
vas indeed what she appeared-a surprising
lovely woman one who had visitors by the
seore. for she was rich as well as accomplished
and beautiful
death of her parents, under the guardianship VI
her brother, some lsn years her seuior, and at
his elegant country seat in New \ ork state she
had lived, the idol OF society and the pet OF
arthur Lightfoot anu his pretty but weak little
wife.
Between the three, Arthur Llghtfoot, Leone
and Mrs. Lightfool, was the conversation held
that opens IL is story, and the cause Thereof was
the refusal by Leone of the heart, haad and
fortune Of worthy bachelor neighbor
"She Is incorTigiole the old judge would
have made her a good husband" said Arthur
Lightfoot TO his wife, after they had seen Leone
mount and dash away st full speed down the
grand avenue.
"Yes, shen never marry, fear" sighed
BIS Lightfoot, who always echoed the senti
nent OF her husband.
In the meantime Leone rode on at a pace
that chlmed in with her humor, and an elegant
norsewoman, she held her s;eed well In rain,
and enjoyed the springing neet motion as mile
after mile was cast behind.
But suddenly her horse SHE'D violently aud
gave tremendous leap, almost unseating his
lair rider, who, recovering herself quickly 81 oke
sootbinely to the frightened animal, and CLAN
ced backward to note the object that had 10
startled him.
The color lied from her face as her eyes fell
upon the form Of man lying by the roadside
aud apparently lifelessi but nervlng herself By a
hard-drawn sigh, the brave girl sprang to the
leotly down into the pale, upturned face.
The features We're nodded with IemaI kahle
regularity, the partly opened mouth lisplayed
even white teeth, and the dark brown HAIR and
nustaehe presented marked contrast TO the
white face, from which every tinse of coo
mad faded Dressed in light summer suit
Leone even then discovered that it was wei
and stylisbly made while the gauntlet glove,
and riding whip proved that the stranger ha,
teen on horseback.
"ile has been thrown, doubtless, but Go,
grant he is not dead"' exclaimed the niaidr
she knelt beside the PROSTATE form, and drey
aside the coat TO place her hand upon hi
heart.
With a cry ofteIror Sue sprang to her fee
her hand stained with blood, for from his side
small stream welled up slowly.
ale is dead, and has Teen mmdere
No"
II, was almost a whisper and the heavy lid
raised from lie dark eyes-eyes filed with al
gaish, but yet strangely dark aud tasina
Ting.
Thank God, there is yet hope; be quiet, s
| implore you, and will aid you all in IN
power, exclaimed Leone, and drawing he
habit around her, she ran rapidly few pace
down the road to where it was crossed by
small SIT cam, and saturatng her handkerchi,
returned. and without hesitation drew asid
tie clothing and placed il upon the wound
small Uultk Nolhu III illt ltit size over I'll
heart.
"You mus, keep perfectly quiet, and | wi
soon return" she said softly. hardly KNOWN
whether she was heard or not, and then in a
instant she WAS in her saddle, dashing at h,
almost speed tJH ards the nearest farm house
Dashing Ike the wind up TO the door, al
startling quiet Farmer Jessup andi his fam
nearly ont pl their wits. Leone cried;
'Mf. Jrs,uO, let your son ride at once to u
Wells, and tell him gentleman lies ddngerUu
iy hurt on the road near Hillside Spring; IL
him % come there al once. aud you, Mr.. Je
sup please CONS on with your carriage All
bring all that you think necessary
Every one ia the country knew and love
Leone Lightfoot, and rapidly her orders We
obsyed; observing which, She wheeled Ia
fosming horse, and again sped away Oh her !
turn to the wounded stranger.
There he lay Just as she had ei hun. 10
sioaning Slightly, and each instant da'npenii
the blood stained handkerchief lAr gun ava
FL the coming Of The siIrgeon.
W5.Ai hey never Gomez she thought, b
al Length, " hen 1t seemed hours Instead
minutes. ti,c ,u,nd Of wheels broke On her ei
and the next instant the surgeon drove up 81
rapid pace.
"You are nphe woman. Ms Light foo
and If this man lives he owes Il 10 yOu," sa
The good old physician, AS he approached Al
knelt beside the PROSTATE iouu
"But will he live, doctor
For some minutes no reply was gwen by /
man of science, who carefully probed aud E
smined tile wound, but then he SAID Eio
~
at is q serious lnjury-hai here have I
call; yes, hope he will lives" and Dr., We
took from the wound small bullet, while
continued
"Now he meets the most careful nursing,
HE shall have Il. Thank God here com
Nr. Jessup," aud Immediately after the C
rage drove up, and telling the doctor to col
on with the wounded stranger 10 her brother
house, Leone again mounted her horse al
rode on 10 have all i'll readiness for his
rival.
1t was week before ths stranger was SUI
cisntly recovered 10 tell his story regarding |
wound that had so nearly proved fatal 10 hi
and then by careful nursing, he inform
Leone, who bad been uutiring In her deyol
care Of him, thai his name was Clarence Ali
he-he was All Englisbmsn, who nearly ye
before bad come 10 America, aud, purehs
!ag rev acres Of land in the Wes;, N ade
us home.
He also stated that business hsd called hi