The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-02-12

more than you will ever be with any
body-firt -
"Ah-," and Tom began on another
blade of grass.
Eyes. Now sit up and let me put
your hat on. See how delightful it
looks. Sit up, sir Don't lie there like
meditative sheep"
Tom, thus admonished, lifted himself
TO sitting position. "You don't mean
to say you're going to make fellow
wear that thing" he said. gazing at the
hat, which now bore a strong resem-
blance to a sort of diminutive oak tree.
Certainly; and you ought to feel
very much Obliged to Miss Van Kort-
land for dressing it up SO prettily, ip-
stead of laughing at her in that un-
grateful way"
'Oh, L do; excessively so. Let me
see it a moment" and he held out his
hand.
No. I'm going to put it on your
head myself, and then you mustn't touch
it."
"Please let me look at it first. I'll
only admire It,"
g You can admire it in the glass when
you get home. Now hold your heaa
still. There that looks charming !'
cit feels like the deuce" observed
Tom, rather uefully.
Don't swear"
deuce isn't swearing, is it ?"
Certainly. Now let's go up through
the woods and find out where the rest
of the party is. 1t must be almost
time to go home," and, in spite of the
young nobleman's assertions that it was
only two o'clock, and that he was pos
tive he could never climb up the hill
unless he rested there another hour,
Miss Jenny drew her light shawl about
her shoulders, and taking Toms cane
in one hand, and her vinaigrette in the
other, Certainly a combination of ar
ticles which would never occur to any
one but a young woman), began 10
make her way through the woods, up
the incline.
But though the worthy daughter
the Van Kortlands was of an ambitious
and adventurous disposition, she had
not succeeded in climbing many feet
above the level of the creek near which
they had been sitting before she came
to large rock, upon whose top she
fancied it would be we'll to rest awhile
say for five minntes-and in clutch
iBg rather frantically after a hemlock
bough, with which to assist herself to
tempting seat near by, the vinaigrette
dropped from her hand, and rolling
slowly and gracefully outward settled
itself, in the most contented manner
possible, on the very verge of the rock.
"Good gracions exclaimed the
young lady. "There so my salts "
"There go what ?" said her escort,
who was somewhat behind, and mad not
noticed the little accident.
"My salts-my vinaigrettel Oh
don't you see them-I mean fright
out there on the edge of the rock
more to the left-there I" and Miss
Jenny pointed imploringly out toward
where the article specified nestled under
the shade of a protecting fern.
"Ah yes, recognize the piece of
furniture. said Tom presently. every
touching situation, is it not?"
1t would be a much moro touching
one G ahem, poor pun" interrupted
her listener) if you would go ont and
get it for me. Why don't you be gal
liant fnd go2"
81 intend to, thoufh 1 shall prob,
ably break my neck. Good by. Fare
thee we'll, and ii forever, then forever
fare thee WE'LL" and Tom began to
crawl out toward the edge of the rock
But, wait a moment-Mr. Willing
please stop-you don't think there is
really any danger, 10 yon?"
"'Drop tear on his bier" quoth
Tom, who was by this time pretty far
out, aud was stretching his hand eau
tiOusly toward the vinaigrette. Present
~ the hand went down over the bottle,
and the next moment the owner of the
hand, distressing to relate, also went
down over the rock. An Immediately
following splash certified to all above
that Mr.. Thomas Willing, of 81 Walnut
street, Philadelphia, but at present
visiting in picturesque town near New
York, had descended into the stream.
Jenny was up in an instant; she
could not help q slight scream escaping
her as she saw the sudden disappear
auce of her companion. What if he
should be seriously injured by the fall
What if he should drown? She ran to
the edge of the rock, further up toward
the left, where it was not dangerous,
and looked over.
At a short distance from shore, with
one hand holding something high above
the water, and the other diligently en-
gagged in supporting himself, appeared
the drenched figure of the preserver of
the vinaigrette, his ooUntenance consid-
erably enlivened by his plunge. Some
what lower down the stream floated the
fantastic chGpeGu, and Jenny, in spite
of he's alarm, could not entirely repress
G smile as she surveyed the truly ro-
mantle scene.
give got it-see!' gasped Tom, as
soon rs he could articulate anything,
and waving the vinaigrette rather wild.
" above his head. The result of this
theatrical display, however, was only to
send him under the surface again, from
whence, after swallowing five or six i'm
mense mouthfuls of water, he presently |
emerged in a parozym of coughing.