Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-12-17

from mountain to mountain, embracing
the entire valleys ito ascks and herds
ted upon an hondred hilla The family
mansion was situated two 1ailes from
the towh, in the midst of charming
grounds, beautifully planted and laid
ont. 1t was q plain, substantial, COM
Portable home, with broad porches.
wide halls and ample rooms, wonder
fully suggestive of hospitality.
From the first, Mrs. Carlton had
taken to Fanny; frequent invitations
had been extended for her to pass the
weekly holidays st ssThe Grange as
the place was called Harry, the
only son and heir, . stout, manly young
fellow dtwenty.6ve, helped amaxingl,
to make the hours pass pleasantly There
we're walks, and drives, aud dinners
and croquet parties under the trees
aud music and dancing in the Ineon'
light. Now, alas! Mrs.. Carlton anc
Harry were absent. and our heroine
depressed by the weight of All intanyi-
| bic something, YEARLY bore the new
burden. s} .e'9a
It was the last day of the term o,
the following Monday, the list of Ma,
! va. to be held the annual picnic, IN
old country fete, revived BY Colonel
Carlton for his people, - he wa,
wont to call them. Delightful ground
in the hills, two miles away, had bee,
Get apart for this purpose: there wer'
groves of trees, plants Of greensward
and charming bits of scenery; noun
tain stream came tumblisg down FROM
the hills in succession Of waterfalls
forming at their base tiny lake, where
the. ferns and the flowers seemed mos
t. luxuriate.
The May-day sun broke bright and
clear, as it always does in this Arcadia
tinging the mountain peaks with
crimson and filing the valley with
yellow amber. There was an early and
and unwented stir in tho village and
farm hcsses; troops Of merry children
were csngregatsd in the streets and
lanes, happy as the birds which gave
them greeting Vehicles Of all de-
scnptiens we're to be seen vending
their way to the grounds. Tables had
beeu spread, booths had been construct
ed, May pele gsrlanied with flowers
had BEEN erected. There WAS to be q
dinner, . poem, songs and dancing, and
some one was tc be crowned "Queen Of
May"
The farmers for miles around the
countryside had come with their wives
and their little ones; the parson aud
the deacon, the lawyer and the doctor
were there; was Steve, the blacksmith,
his face washed white for the occasion;
Briggs, the landlord Of the Golden
Swan, with the 'proverblal. rotundity;
Tony, the shoemaker, with his halt
dozen children out at the toes rs usual
Uncle Billy Rogers, who had crossed
the plains with Colonel Car lton in '46,
and, as he said, twas raised III the same
town, and know'd all the Colonel.
kinsfolk." Uncle Billy's talk Away,
opened or closed with some allusion to
his departed friend.
Tom Brown, the stage driver, had IA
ken day off tohe present. With just
the proper amount of dash he drove 81,
horses to the grounds, dressed in char.
aeteristic garb-Mexicsn son.drero, i'm
maculatc shirt, red sash, high-hee led
close fitting boots drawn over his pan.
falcons. After slight excess of anxi
ETY. in the proper disposition of his team
with the Undesirable isssosc;n,st air q
his calling, he lounged over to where
mine host of the Golden Swan was stan
ding, gave scarcely perccptible nod o.
recognition to Uncle Billy and Tony
and remarked patronikingly: ai 81
SAY, Briggs, what's oil this yers
talk bout the schoolmarm don't set
that shes to bssme; she seems to be ?
kind dispositioned cri,ter, and has all
ers done her work well. As for me
I'm blowed if l don't think she's 20,
good blood in her-thin in the nostril
wide between tire eyes, clean limbed
you bet your life, thars no mustang in
her"
"Yes, Tom" said Briggs, ''but 20,
know women are women, and natural '
hate one another. If they catch one q
their own sex out alone, without a pro
tector, they all 60 for her. And thi.
girl seems to be in that fix just now"
"Oh. Tom,' said Briggs, with half
defined side motion of the head, at thu
same time pointing mysteriously to his
pocket
As Tom would have said, "a wink te
blind man is sufficient" and the three
that is, Briggs, Tom and the flask
went quickly into the shadow of tn,
trees.
Uncle Billy looked querulously aftel
the departing worthless, and said sadly te
Tony, 'Thc Colonel wouldn't a done
that"