The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-06-25
AUNT CHARLOTTE'S YARN.

AUNT CHARLOTTE'S YARN.
"Now, Ida, my dear girl, take my
advice" said Aunt Charlotte to her
giddy young niece, "and don't imperil
your future happiness nor be guilty of
injustice by sighting the man to whom
you have given your troth, or by fool
ishly teasing him in order to test his af-
fections. There is a story in my own
memory that I have never told you
and L could not-now bring myself to do
so only that see you do not like me to
lecture you, and L wish you to learn
wisdom by an easier method than that
of bitter experience.
"When I was young girl we lived,
as you know, in Canada, in one of the
small lake-shore towns between Toronto
and Kingston. Your grandfather was
man of note in the town, and L was
good deal sought after. was giddy,
too, and selfish, though did not then
mirers and suitors, among whom the
one liked best was Harry Vane. From
my very infancy Harry had been my
gallant, and though 1 sometimes pre-
tended to be, and sometimes really
was, 1culDuS Oi HUI VI OllltIWioC OltlNt-
cd, and he the same with regard to me,
we always made up again and were bet
ter friends than ever. There was not
really any engagement between us,
though Harry had asked me to form
one; but my parents objected to long
engagements, and we were not ready to
marry. Matters stood thus when, early
one spring, we had an addition to our
-, i,o of ,1ocl,,,,o,
young fellow, an Englishman, sent out
by wealthy firm OF the mother coun-
try for the purpose of establishing an
agency in their line of business. His
Headquarters had been in Montreal,
but he now announced his intention of
making our town his home during the
summer.
"He had a good deal of leisure, and
spent no inconsi6erable part of it at
our house. or in promenading the
streets with me. 1 could scarcely set
my feet on the sidewalks without en-
countering him. His name was Downs,
and he claimed to be of aristocratic
parentage.. He was handsome and
affable, though rather superciiious,
withal very distinguished in appear
ance ; SO no wonder the girls OF our set
wished to attract his attention, and
were envious of me. OF course [ was
proud Of my conquest, and perhaps
Acarried myself little haughtily in con-
= I'squence. For some time Harry pouted,
'n 1 M openly demonstrated, even plead
osNan,d :" lbut as [ angrily asserted my inde-
lence, he finally desisted from all
parent notice of the matter; and
Whenever we met he treated me with
indifferent courtesy, aul altogether
showed manly self command which 1
did not fail to note aud admire. Still l
must confess that at that time gave
very little thought to Harry or to any
of my old admirers it seems wonder
full to me how completely was fasci-
mated by the prepossessing stranger.
"T0 he sure he hattered my vanity
not a little, and my empty head was
turned by his lavish, adulatory style of
compliments. He raved about my eyes
of heavenly blue, the golden glory of
my p2crmaid locks, my swan-like neck,
ard an endless flow of bathos that
ought to have disgusted me, but did
not and so listened and he ranted.
About the middle of August we made
up among our set picnic party to
drive out to Rice Lake Plains and spend
the day in boating ON the lake, gather
ing huckleberries, wild flowers, etc.,
and generally amusing ourselves.
"You must know that there is an ir-
regular chain of small lakes extending
transversely from the Bay of Quinte,
near the eastern end of Lake Ontario,
to the eastern end of Lake Superior
Rice Lake is the first OF the chain count
ing from Ontario, and it lies at dis
tance of from two to three hours drive
from several small towns ON the frontier.
We had an early breakfast, and set off
at eight o'clock, SO that we need not be
on the road during the heat of the day.
There were several carriages the one
in which | rode was handsome ba-
rouche hired from livery stable for the
occasion, and by my side sat the all
conquering Mr.. Downs.
For some unexplained reason Harry
Vale did not go in any of the carriages,
but was mounted on horseback, and he
rode gayly by the side of first one We
hicle, then another. When we had
gone Ii tile distance out of town the
country air, sights and sounds were so
exhilarating that we in our carriage
began to sing. Harry, hearing us, rode
up and Joined in the song, he being
particularly fond of singing. Shortly
we struck off into an old ditty which he
and had sung together countless times
when we stood each first in the esteem
of the other and no gay stranger had
come between us. For a stanza or two
Harry sang bravely, but when we came
to the refrain suddenly his horse bolt
ed and he rode off, catching at his hat
with one hand and seeming to draw
rein with the other. The remainder of
the party thought his horse had SHE'D
and run away with him, but saw thor
oughly the whole manoeuvre, and sud-
den pang shot through my selfish
heart.
son reaching the lake at the point
agreed upon, We separated into little
companies, and wandered about at will,