The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-22

llht lilt noubt WIS lict lIpln uuHl-lAt
one most obtrusiye and penetrating
visitor of Five Forks The floors and
carpets had been recently swept, the
chairs and furniture carefully wiped and
busted. If the house was haunted, il
was possessed by a spirit who had none
Of the usual Indifference to decay and
mould And yet the beds had evidently
never been slept in, the very springs oi
the chair in which she sat creaked stiff.
ly at the novelty, the closet doors opened
with the reluctance of fresh paint, and
varnish, and in spite of the warmth
cleanliness and cheerfulness of furniture
and decoration, there was none of the
ease of tenancy and occupation. As
Miss Nelly afterward confessed, she
lcnged to tumble things around" anC
when she reached the parlor or drawing
room again, she could hardly resist the
desire. Particularly was she tempted by
a closed piano, that stood mutely agains
the wall. She thought she would oper
it just to see who was the maker. Tha
done, 1t would be no harm to try its tone
She did so, with one little foot on the
soft pedal. But Miss Nelly was toe
good a player, and too enthusiastic 9
musician to stop at half measures. She
tried it again-this timeso sincerely thai
the whole house seemed to spring into
voice. Then she stopped and listened
There wasnO respOnse-the empty rooms
seemed to have relapsed into their old
stiffness. She stepped out on the veran.
da-a woodpecker errecommenced his tap
ping on an adjacent tree, the rattle ofa
cart in the rocky gulch below the hill
came family up. No one was to be seen
far or near, Miss Nelly, reassured, re.
turned. She again ran her fingers over
the Keys-stopped, caught at melody
running in her mind, half played it, and
then threw off all caution. Before five
minutes had elapsed, she had entirely
forgotten herself, and with her linen
duster thrown aside, herstraw hat flung
on the piano, her white hands barred
and black loop of her braided hail
hanging over her shoulder, was fairly
embarked upon flowing sea of musica
recollection.
She had played perhaps half an hour
when, having just finished an elaborate
symphony, and resting her hands on the
Keys, she heard very distinctly and un
mistaKably the sound of applause from
without. In an instant the fires of shame
and Indignation leaped into her cheeks
and she rose from the instrument and
ran to the window only in time to catch
sight ola dozen figures in blue and RED
flannel shirts vanishing hurriedly
through the trees below.
Miss Nelly's mind was instantly made
up. think | have already intimated
that under the stimulus of excitement
she was not wanting in courage, and as
she quietly resumed her gloves, hat and
duster she was not perhaps exactly the
young person that it would be entirely
safe for the timid, embarrassed or mex.
perienced of my sex to meet alone. She
shut down the piano, and having care.
fully reClosed all the windows and doors
and restored the house to its former des.
olate condition, she stepped from the
veranda and proceeded directly to the
cabin Of the unintellectual Hawkins that
reared its adobe chimney above the um.
bragg quarter ofa mile below.
The door opened instantly to her im.
pulsive knock, and the Fool of Five
Forks stood before her Miss Nelly had
never before seen the man designated by
his infelicitous title, and, as he stepped
backward in half courtesy and half as.
tonishment, she was for moment dis
concerted. He was tall, fine formed and
dark bearded. Above cheeks a little
followed by care and i'll health shone
pair of hazel eyes, very large, very gen
tie, but inexpressibly sad and mournful
This was certainly not the kind of maI
Mi $ Nellie h d eq e2ted to see, yet afte
her first embarrassment had passed, tn,
very circumstance, oddly enough, addeC
to herindignation, and stung her wound
ed pride still more deeply. Neyerthe
less, the arch hypocrite Instant.
changed her tactics with the swift intui
tion of her sex.
81 have come" she said, with daz
zling smile, infinitely more dangerou
than her former dignified severity, "
have come to ask yourpardon for a grea
liberty have taken. / believe the new
house above us on the hill is yours.
was so much pleased with its exterio
that left my friends for moment be
low here, " she continued artfully, with
slight wave of the hand, as ifindicatingi
band of fearless Amazons without, anC
waiting to avenge any possible insult of
fered to one of their number, "and ven
tured to enter it. Finding itunoccupied
as had been told, ! am afraid had tn,
audacity to sit down aud amuse mysel
afew moments at the piano--while wait
ing for my friends"
Hawkins raised his beautiful eyes b
hers. He saw very pretty girl, will
frank, gray eyes glistening with excite
ment, with two red, slightly freckle,
cheeks glowing a little uuder his eyes
with short scarlet upper lip turned bacl
like a rose leaf, over a little line of whit
teeth, as she breathed somewhat hur
riedly in her nervous excitement. III
saw all this calmly, quietly, and save 70
the natural uneasiness of a shy, reticen
man, / fear without quickening of hi
pulse.
Il kn0Wedlt," he said, simply. u heer
ye as | KEN up"
Miss Nelly was furious at his grammar
his dialect, his coolness, and still more a
the suspicion that he was an active mem
Der of her invisible clique.
"Ah," she said, still smiling, "then
think heard you"
81 reckon not" he interrupted gravely
81 didn't stay long. / found the boy
hanging round the house, and / allowe,
at first I'd 60 in and kinder warn you
but they promised to keep still, and yo
looked so comfortable and wrapped up i
your music, that hadn'tth heart to dis
turb you, and KEN away. / hope" h
added earnestly, "they didn't let on e
they heerd you. They amt a bad lot
them Blazin' Star boys-though they'r
little hard at times. But they'd N
more hurt ye than would a-a-a-catl
continued Mr.. Hawkins, blushing with
faint apprehension Of the inelegance. q
his simile.
"No, nop said Miss Nelly, feeling sud
denly angry with herself, the Fool, an
the entire male population of Five Fork
~ 4 L r. n