Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-03-26
LE0NE'S ROMANCE.

Mark my words, Leone, your beal
ideal you'll never find; your estiniats
Of men is too high
NO, Arthur, it is but Il great esti
mate, and you have no right To judge
me harshly, because l would not throw
my life away upon some society mar
of to-day. l ain yUung yet, but twenty
you know, and there is time enough
yet
Yes, time enough, Leone; but
agree with Arthur that you have tOt
high standard of manhood, romantic
school girl admiration of qualities tha
few, ifany men. possess
Complimentary, very, to your hus
band; but wish Tor my husband
strength either of soul or body, mind
far above the average, and determine
ton and purpose sufficient to rise him
from the level of the human herd
mark me, if L never find such one,
will ever remain Leone LightfOot, an
old maid fond of tea, cats and gossip;
but l see Charles has brought my
horse around, so auTeU0ir.'
The speaker was woman of twenty
queenly in form, and whose face,
though possessing character beyond
years stamped thereon, was radiant
with loveliness.
ROBBED in a dark-blue riding habit,
which clung gracefully around her SUI
perb form, and the face half shaded by
the dropping pluInes falling from her
jaunty cap, Leone Lightfoot was in
deed what she appeared-a surprising
lovely woman; one who had visitors
H. ,I,r., rsnI,
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 and his pretty
but weak little wife.
Between the three, Arthur Lightfoot,
Leone and Mrs. Lightfoot, was the
held that opens this story,
and the cause thereof was the refusal
by Leone of the heart, hand and for
tune of worthy bachelor neighbor.
She is iucorrigible; the old judge
would have made her a good husband
said Arthur Lightfoot to his wife, after
they had saw Leone mount and dash
away at full speed down the grand
avenue.
Yes, she'll never marry, / fear,'
sighed Mrs. Lightfoot, who always
echoed the sentiment of her husband.
In the meantime Leone rode on at
pace that chimed in with her humOr,
and an elegant horsewoman, she held
her steed well in rein, and enjoyed the
mile was cast behind.
But suddenly her horse SHE'D vio-
lently and gave tremendous leap, al
most unseating his fair rider, who, re-
covering herself quickly, 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 life
less; but nerving herself by hard
drawn sigh, the brave girl sprang to
the ground and approached the spot,
glancing intently down into the pale,
upturned face.
The features were moulded with re-
regularity the partly opened
mouth displayed even white teeth,
and the dark brown hair and mustache
presented marked contrast to the
white face, from which every tinge of
color had faded. Dressed in light
summer suit, Leone even then discov-
cred that it was well and stylishly
made, while the gauntlet gloves and
riding whip proved that the stranger
had been on horseback.
He has been thrown, doubtless, but