National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-02-27
LEONE'S ROMANCE.

y
ideal you'll never find; your estimat
of men is too high" .-4It
"No, Arthur, it is but q great esti
mate, and you have no right to judg'
me harshly, because I would not throw
my life away upon some society man o
to-day. 1 am young yet, but twenty
you know, and there is time enough
yet" '.....-.t
eyes, time enough, Leone; but
agree with Arthur that you have too
high standard of manhood, a roman
tic school girl admiration of qualities
that few, if any men, possess.
Complimentary, very, to your hus
band; but I wish for my husband
strength either Of soul or body, mind
far above the average, and determine
tion and purpose sufficient to rise him
from the level of the human herd mark
me. if never find such one, will
ever remain Leone Lightfoot, an old
maid fond of tea, cats ond gossip; but
I see Charles has brought my horse
around, so au revoir."
The speaker was p woman of twenty,
queenly in form, and whose face, though
possessing character beyond her years
stamped thereon, was radiant with love-
liness. ...-..-......s
ROBBED in dark-blue riding habit,
which clung gracefully around her su-
perb form, and the face half shaded by
the dropping plumes falling from her
jaunty cap, Leone Lightfoot was in
deed what she appeared-a surprising
lovely woman; one who had visitors by
the score, for she was rich as well as
accomplished and beautiful. sI
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 aud his pretty but
weak little wife. .-..--
Between the three, Arthur Lightfoot,
Leone and Mrs. Lightfoot. was the con.
versation held that opens this story, and
the cause thereof was the refusal by
Leone of the heart, hand and fortune OF
a worthy bachelor neighbor.
"She is incorrigible the old judge
would have made her good husband"
said Arthur Lightfoot to his wife, after
they had seen Leone mount and dash
away at full speed down the grand
avenue. 10" f"' 4'i'
"Yes, she'll never marry, I 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,
ard an elegant horsewoman, lshe held
her steed well in rein, and enjoyed the
springing, feet motion as mile after 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 qusckly, spoke sooth-
ingly to the frightened animal, and
glanced backward to note the object
that had SO startled him.
The color fed from her face as her
eyes fell upon the form of a man lying
by the roadside, aud apparently lifeless;
but nerving herself by hard-drawn
sigh, the brave girl sprang to the ground
and approached the spot, glancing in
tently down into the pale, upturned face.
The features were nodded with re-
markable regularity, the partly opened
mouth displayed even white teeth, and
the dark brown hair and mustache pre-
sented marked contrast to the lwhite
face, from which every tinge of color
had faded. Dressed in light summer
suit, Leone even then discovered that
it was we'll and stylishly made, while
the gauntlet gloves and riding whip
proved that the stranger had been on
"He has been thrown, doubtless, but
God grant he is not dead |" exclaimed
the maiden as she knelt beside the
PROSTATE form, and drew aside the coat
to place her hand upon his heart.
:, With q cry of terror she sprang to her
feet, her hand, stained with blood, for
from his side small stream welled up
slowly. - ....',.,,.yl n.
"He is dead, and has been murdered
"No." ,+'',- ta1s
cit was almost a whisper, and the
heavy lids raised from the dark eyes
eyes filled with anguish, ,Ibut yet strange
ly dark and fasinating..
"Thank God, there is yet hope; be
quiet. sir, I implore you, and I will aid
you all in my power, exclaimed Leone,
and drawing her habit around her, she
ran rapidly few PAGES down the road
to where it was crossed by small
stream, and saturatng her handkerchief
returned, and without hesitation drew
aside the clothing and placed it upon
the wOund-a small bullet wound in the |
left side over the heart.
"You must keep perfectly quiet. and |