The Placer herald., 1874-05-02
OUT ON A RECONNAISSANCE.

"This must be the house," said Colonel
Manners And he checked his horse. before
the low gate of brond-eaved, rambling old
farm house, hung with climbing vines and
shadowed with dense lilac bushes while at
the same time he drew out bis sons letter,
written a week or two previously, and
glanced with curling lip over its enthusiastic
phrases.
GA wild flower Of the desert-beautiful
without being aware of it, and no less lovely
in mind than in pelson-impossible to be
happy unless life is shared with her.
"Pshaw-a pair of sentimental young fools!
when Robert has lived as long as I have,
he will discover that men are treacherous
and women false. He has started home
ward to ask my consent; very well, when be
reaches Manners grove he will find his bird
flown, and while he is searching for me,
will improve the opportunity to test this
precious diamond of his in the fires of
trial"
He dsmounted as he spoke, and throw.
ing the bride rein lightly over the fence, en-
tered the broad, low porch where farmer
Weldon was quietly smoking his evening
pipe.
Good evening, frend-a pleasant place,
this of youts. -
"Evenin', Squire--yes, reckon it is cool
and comfortable" For Mr.. Weldon would
not have been at all astonished if Prince
Albert had walked in and saluted him
somehow the element Of wonder was left
out when Mr.. Weldon was made. And be
could not have suited Col. Manners better
than by his phlegmatic indifference. The
Colonel chuckled, and went on:
1've taken fancy to the old trees, and
| would like to spend few weeks here
with you, if you have no objection
OVAL" sail Mr.. Weldon, 81 didn't cal
cate to take no boarders this Summer,
but if you've a mind to come, why come on,
and well make you heartily welcome.
"Stephen, take the Squire's boss round to
the barn"
And thus briefly was the bargain con-
cluded between these two originals.
"Father," said musical voice, sounded
out from among the leaves that curtained
the kitchen window, like the carol of bird,
"tea is ready"
"This is my daughter, Squire-I didn't
catch your name, said Mr.. Weldon, shak-
ing the dead ashes out Of his pipe, and lay
ing it on the doorstep.
"Harvey."
"Oh, aye, Squire Harvey"
And a fair vision glided out on the porch,
as unlike the the stunted, weather-browned
old man, as a cluster Of ripe, dewy cherries
is unlike the gnarled branch on which it
grows. Scarcely seventeen, with COM
plexion red and white like a sun-touched
nectarine, and blue, tmid eyes, an earPs
daughter could not have welcomed him with
more modest grace. Colonel Manners
noted it all-he saw even the scarlet lip
curved like miniature Cupid's bow, and the
dark brown curls looped away from the
face, and confined with a simple comb.
every pretty to look at" quoth the Col.
to himself, "but we'll see-we1l seel !
can't allow Robert to peril his whole hap
piness on the turn Of long eyelash, or the
dimpe in cheek. What fool l was to
send the boy off to college-but one would
have supposed there could have been no
danger in this secluded neighborhood."
All, Colonel Manners, Colonel Manners,
you argue like man Of sixty! was there
ever neighborbood so secluded but that
the tiny good god found bis way within its
precincts?
The days came and went; the moon,
which had been but line Of pearl when